Veteran actor of stage and screen Tom Troupe passed away on Sunday morning, July 20, in his Beverly Hills, California, residence at the age of 97, as confirmed by his representatives. Troupe died of natural causes, just five days after celebrating his 97th birthday.
Troupe, who was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 15, 1928, began his show business journey in local theater before relocating to New York City in 1948 to pursue acting professionally. His Broadway ambitions were briefly interrupted by his service in the Korean War, during which he was awarded the Bronze Star for his dedication.
After finishing his military duty, Troupe made his Broadway debut in 1957, portraying Peter van Daan in “The Diary of Anne Frank” alongside Joseph Schildkraut. A year later, he moved to Los Angeles, where he embarked on a long and successful career in television and film spanning over sixty years.
Throughout his career, Troupe appeared in more than 75 television series, frequently as a guest star. Noteworthy roles included Lt. Harold in the original “Star Trek” series in 1967 and David Day, an IMF operative, in “Mission: Impossible” that same year. He also played Judge William E. Grey in a 1987 episode of “Cheers.”
His vast television portfolio featured parts in shows such as “The Fugitive,” “The Wild Wild West,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “CHiPs,” “Quincy, M.E.,” “Archie Bunker’s Place,” “Cagney & Lacey,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Knots Landing,” “Frasier,” and “ER.” Troupe’s on-screen presence stretched from the mid-1950s well into the late 2010s, reflecting remarkable career longevity.
In film, Troupe took on memorable roles in movies like “The Big Fisherman,” “The Devil’s Brigade” with William Holden, “Kelly’s Heroes” starring Clint Eastwood, the comedy “Summer School” with Mark Harmon, and “My Own Private Idaho” with River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. He also co-wrote and starred in the 1968 film “Sofi,” an adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s “The Diary of a Madman.”
Alongside his screen pursuits, Troupe maintained an active stage career, often collaborating with his wife, actress Carole Cook, whom he wed in 1964. The pair shared the stage in numerous productions, including “The Lion in Winter,” “Father’s Day,” and “The Gin Game.” In the late 1970s, Troupe toured nationally in “Same Time, Next Year” with Barbara Rush and later appeared in the Broadway run of “Romantic Comedy” with Mia Farrow.
Troupe received formal acting instruction at the Herbert Berghof Studio in New York, where he trained under the esteemed Uta Hagen and was awarded a scholarship based on his promise.
In 2002, Troupe and Cook became the first married couple to jointly receive the Theater Ovation Award for Career Achievement, earning the affectionate nickname “the Lunts of L.A. Theater” within the Los Angeles theater community.
Cook, recognized for her own successful career as a protégé of Lucille Ball, with credits including “The Lucy Show,” “Here’s Lucy,” and “Sixteen Candles,” preceded her husband in death, passing away from heart failure in January 2023 at the age of 98.
News of Troupe’s passing was confirmed by his nephew, Mark Cocanougher, who posted a tribute on social media. Cocanougher shared that his uncle “led a wonderful, fulfilling life and left peacefully,” noting that Troupe’s son Christopher visited the day before his death, which brought solace to the family.
Cocanougher also paid tribute to the couple’s influence, saying that Troupe and Cook “touched many lives” and expressing appreciation for the positive impact they had on friends, fans, and the wider community through their work and kindness.
Troupe is survived by his son, Christopher Troupe, daughter-in-law Becky Coulter, granddaughter Ashley Troupe, and several nieces and nephews, as confirmed by his representatives. Those wishing to honor his memory are encouraged to make donations to the Entertainment Community Fund or the Pasadena Humane Society
