Tom Pittman

Born: 1932-03-16

Tom Pittman (March 16, 1932 – October 31, 1958) was an American film and television actor. After his death at the age of 26, the Los Angeles Times called him "one of Hollywood's most promising young actors." Pittman was born Jerry Lee Alten in Phoenix, Arizona. His father was television and radio actor Frank Alten. Pittman began his career in acting in 1956 with a guest starring role on Science Fiction Theatre. He made his film debut that same year in D-Day the Sixth of June. Pittman went on to roles in numerous television Westerns including Gunsmoke (playing “Jimmy McQueen” a young affable yet smart herder who seeks revenge on a career horse-thief in the 1956 S1E32 entitled “Dutch George” and in 1957 as “Budge Grilk”, a psychotic step-son in S3E5’s “Potato Road”), Cheyenne, Have Gun – Will Travel, The Restless Gun, and Cimarron City. He also appeared in the 1957 drama The Young Stranger (1957) and the musical comedy Bernardine (1957). His final two roles were in the films Verboten! and High School Big Shot, both released in 1959, the year following his death. On October 31, 1958, Pittman was driving home after a Halloween party when he ran his Porsche Spyder off the road at a sharp curve in the Hollywood Hills. After he failed to return home, his father filed a missing persons report. On November 19, Los Angeles police officer Roy Kerton retraced the roads Pittman's father said his son liked to drive and found the wreckage of Pittman's Porsche at the bottom of a 150-foot ravine. Pittman died after crashing through the guard rail, his car landing at the bottom of the ravine where it remained out of sight. (Wikipedia contributors. "Tom Pittman (actor)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.)


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The Proud Rebel

as Tom Burleigh
Released: 1958-07-01

Searching for a doctor who can help him get his son to speak again--the boy hadn't uttered a...

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Apache Territory

as Lonnie Foreman (as Thomas Pittman)
Released: 1958-09-01

Logan Cates sets out to rescue a white woman captured by Apache Indians and prevent a war. On...

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The Young Stranger

as Lynn Spears
Released: 1957-02-01

The lack of communication between a wealthy film producer and his troubled teenage son after the...

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Verboten!

as Bruno Eckart
Released: 1959-03-25

A young American serviceman stationed in Germany after the fall of the Third Reich, jeopardises...

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High School Big Shot

as Marvin 'Marv' Grant
Released: 1959-10-16

Unpopular at school because of his high I.Q., neglected by his weak and alcoholic father, Marvin...

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Black Patch

as Flytrap
Released: 1957-09-15

A New Mexico Town Marshal, Clay Morgan, known as 'Black Patch' since he had lost an eye in the...

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Bernardine

as George Olsen
Released: 1957-07-24

A teenager pines for (and sings about) his dream girl.

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The Way to the Gold

as Sid Songster Jr.
Released: 1957-05-10

Following his release from prison, an ex-con heads straight for a cache of gold buried somewhere...

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No Time to Be Young

as Stu Bradley
Released: 1957-08-01

A melodrama about young adults growing up and facing the pressures of life.

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Gunsmoke

as Jimmy McQueen
First aired: 1955-09-10

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman...

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Gunsmoke

as Budge Grilk
First aired: 1955-09-10

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman...

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Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Joe
First aired: 1955-10-02

A television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock featuring dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.

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