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 Tom Bower: A Busy Character Actor Remembered

Tom Bower, a prolific character actor who graced both the big and small screen for over five decades, passed away peacefully in his Los Angeles home at the age of 86.

Bower's career highlights include his roles as Dr. Curtis Willard on the beloved family drama "The Waltons" and Marvin, the helpful janitor in the action classic "Die Hard 2."

Early Life and Career Shift

Born Ralph Thomas Bower in Denver in 1938, Bower initially dreamt of baseball stardom. However, his aspirations shifted towards acting in high school, leading him to enroll at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York in 1956.

After realizing acting was his true calling, Bower honed his craft at the John Cassavetes Shadows Workshop. He even dabbled in private investigation for a couple of years in Boston, working alongside renowned lawyer F. Lee Bailey. Interestingly, his sister-in-law claims he even provided acting lessons to a young Al Pacino during this time.

From Stage to Screen

Bower's acting career officially kicked off in 1972 with a role in David Rabe's play "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel." This play eventually made it to Broadway in 1977, with Pacino winning a Tony Award for his performance.

Driven by his passion for acting, Bower relocated to Los Angeles and quickly landed guest spots on popular shows like "Get Christie Love!", "The Rockford Files," and "Kojak." This eventually led to his breakthrough role on "The Waltons."

"The Waltons" and Beyond 

Bower joined the cast of "The Waltons" in its fourth season, portraying Dr. Curtis Willard. He became a series regular, marrying Judy Norton's character Mary Ellen Walton and starting a family. However, his time on the show was cut short in 1978 due to a contract dispute. The character was written off as killed in action during the Pearl Harbor attack.

In a later interview, Bower revealed with a chuckle that he'd requested a small raise, leading to his character's demise. Ironically, when the showrunners decided to bring the character back, they recast the role with a different actor.

A Prolific Filmography

Despite the "Waltons" setback, Bower's career continued to flourish. He appeared in a vast array of films throughout the 80s and 90s, including "Die Hard 2" where he shared memorable scenes with Bruce Willis.

Some other notable films on his resume include "Two-Minute Warning," "Wildrose," "River's Edge," "Beverly Hills Cop II," and "Clear and Present Danger." He also collaborated with acclaimed directors like Oliver Stone ("Nixon"), Werner Herzog ("Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans"), and Scott Cooper ("Crazy Heart" and "Out of the Furnace").

Bower remained active well into his later years, appearing in projects like "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie" (2019) and "Raymond & Ray" (2022).

A Dedicated Actor and Supporter

Beyond his on-screen achievements, Bower was a strong advocate for actors' rights. He was a dedicated member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and a supporter of the Syracuse International Film Festival.

Sadly, Bower's wife of 51 years, Ursula, passed away just a few months before him. They are survived by their children, grandchildren, siblings, and a legacy of captivating performances.