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| {{Cast Data|series=RDM| | | {{Cast Data| |
| image= Tom_Bower.PNG | | image= Tom_Bower.PNG |
| | credit= | | | credit= |
| | character= [[Joe]] | | | character= [[Joe]] |
| | born_month= 1 | | | born_month= |
| | born_day= 3 | | | born_day= |
| | born_year= 1938 | | | born_year= |
| | death_month= 5 | | | death_month= |
| | death_day= 30 | | | death_day= |
| | death_year= 2024 | | | death_year= |
| | nationality= US | | | nationality= |
| | imdb= 0101005 | | | imdb= 0101005 |
| | sortkey= Bower, Tom
| | }} |
| |image2=Barkeep Joe Headshot.jpg}}
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| '''Tom Bower''' (born Ralph Thomas Bower; January 3, 1938 – May 30, 2024) was an American actor and producer born in [[w:Denver, Colorado|Denver, Colorado]].<ref group="external" name="bower_imdb_biography">{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0101005/#:~:text=Tom%20Bower%20grew%20up%20in%20Denver|title=Tom Bower|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref> He portrayed the bartender [[Joe]] in the ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' Re-imagined Series episode "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]".<ref group="external" name="imdb_bsg_takingabreak_credits">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944310/fullcredits/#:~:text=Tom%20Bower|title=Taking a Break from All Your Worries - Full Cast & Crew|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref> A prolific character actor with a career spanning five decades, Bower appeared in more than 180 screen productions and was recognized particularly for his recurring role as Dr. Curtis Willard on ''[[w:The Waltons|The Waltons]]'' and as the janitor Marvin in ''[[w:Die Hard 2|Die Hard 2]]'' (1990).<ref group="external" name="tapp_deadline_bower_obit">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/tom-bower-dead-actor-the-waltons-die-hard-2-1235961050/#:~:text=more%20than%20180%20screen%20credits|title=Tom Bower Dies: Veteran Actor Best Known For 'The Waltons,' 'Die Hard 2' & 'Lucky Hank' Was 86|author=Tom Tapp|publisher=Deadline|date=June 6, 2024|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref>
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| ==Career==
| | '''Tom Bower''' is an actor who was born in [[w:Denver, Colorado|Denver, Colorado]]. He has played a number of characters throughout his career which include: Congressman Jeffrey Cooperman in the ''[[w:The Rockford Files|The Rockford Files]]'', Dr. Curtis Willard in ''[[w:The Waltons|The Waltons]]'', and John Pierce in ''[[w:The Practice|The Practice]]''. |
| Bower grew up in [[w:Denver, Colorado|Denver, Colorado]], where he played varsity baseball, basketball, and golf, and ran track, expecting a professional athletic career that did not materialize.<ref group="external" name="bower_imdb_biography" /> Following graduation, he spent a season of summer stock at Elitch Gardens Summer Theater in Denver — described as the oldest summer stock theater in the United States — before setting off for New York City.<ref group="external" name="bower_imdb_biography" /> In 1956, he enrolled at the [[w:American Academy of Dramatic Arts|American Academy of Dramatic Arts]], where [[w:Robert Redford|Robert Redford]] was also a classmate.<ref group="external" name="bower_foxnews_aada">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/die-hard-2-the-waltons-star-tom-bower-dead-86#:~:text=Bower%20attended%20the%20American%20Academy%20of%20Dramatic%20Arts%20in%201956|title='Die Hard 2' and 'The Waltons' star, Tom Bower, dead at 86|publisher=Fox News|date=June 6, 2024|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref> After a year and a half at the Academy, he shifted to studying under [[w:John Cassavetes|John Cassavetes]] at his Shadows Workshop, and participated in the making of Cassavetes's debut feature ''[[w:Shadows (1959 film)|Shadows]]'', shot in 1957.<ref group="external" name="bower_imdb_biography" /><ref group="external" name="bower_thedailybeast_obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/tom-bower-private-eye-turned-die-hard-2-star-dies-at-86/#:~:text=He%20moved%20to%20New%20York%20City%20and%20joined%20an%20acting%20workshop|title=Tom Bower, Private Eye Turned 'Die Hard 2' Star, Dies at 86|publisher=The Daily Beast|date=June 6, 2024|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref> | |
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| Returning to Denver each summer to support a young family, Bower worked a range of jobs before spending approximately fifteen years as a private investigator.<ref group="external" name="bower_imdb_biography" /> He later moved to [[w:Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], where he continued working as a private detective between acting engagements,<ref group="external" name="bower_thedailybeast_obit" /> before eventually relocating to [[w:Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] to pursue a full-time acting career.
| | ==External links== |
| | *[[w:Tom Bower (actor)|Tom Bower (actor)]] |
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| Bower accumulated over eighty stage credits across productions in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis, among other cities, and was a founding member and board member of the Met Theater in Santa Monica.<ref group="external" name="bower_industrycentral_profile">{{cite web|url=https://www.industrycentral.net/features/working_actors/tom_bower1#:~:text=he%20is%20one%20of%20the%20founding%20members%20and%20is%20on%20the%20Board%20of%20Directors|title=Tom Bower (1938-2024): he's been in hiding for a long time!|publisher=IndustryCentral|date=June 5, 2024|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref> In 1981, he was invited by [[w:Robert Redford|Robert Redford]] to be a resource actor at the [[w:Sundance Institute|Sundance Institute]] for film and television, remaining active there for years and serving on its nominating committee.<ref group="external" name="bower_industrycentral_profile" /> He was also a member of the [[w:Actors Studio|Actors Studio]].<ref group="external" name="bower_industrycentral_profile" />
| | {{DEFAULTSORT:Bower, Tom}} |
| | | [[Category:A to Z]] |
| His screen career began in 1973 with a television film and quickly expanded into regular guest work across the major network dramas of the era. His early television credits include ''[[w:The Rockford Files|The Rockford Files]]'', where he appeared as Congressman Jeffrey Cooperman and in another role across two episodes (1974–1976), and ''[[w:The Waltons|The Waltons]]'', where he was first seen as stunt pilot Rex Barker before being recast more prominently as Dr. Curtis Willard starting in Season 5.<ref group="external" name="tapp_deadline_bower_obit" /> Bower appeared in 27 episodes of ''The Waltons'' as Willard, a romantic interest for and eventual husband of Mary Ellen (portrayed by [[w:Judy Norton|Judy Norton]]).<ref group="external" name="tapp_deadline_bower_obit" /> The character was written out in 1978 when he was killed off-screen at [[w:Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]]; Bower later recalled that his departure followed a request for a modest pay increase.<ref group="external" name="bower_thr_obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tom-bower-dead-waltons-die-hard-1235916410/#:~:text=Bower%20later%20said%20he%20was%20written%20off%20the%20show%20after%20asking%20for%20a%20small%20raise|title=Tom Bower, Actor in 'The Waltons' and 'Die Hard 2,' Dies at 86|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 6, 2024|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref>
| | [[Category:Cast]] |
| | | [[Category:Cast (RDM)]] |
| Additional early television work included ''[[w:The Blue Knight (TV series)|The Blue Knight]]'', ''[[w:The Bionic Woman|The Bionic Woman]]'', ''[[w:Baretta|Baretta]]'', ''[[w:Kojak|Kojak]]'', ''[[w:Lou Grant|Lou Grant]]'', ''[[w:Barnaby Jones|Barnaby Jones]]'', ''[[w:Hill Street Blues|Hill Street Blues]]'', ''[[w:Miami Vice|Miami Vice]]'', ''[[w:Dallas (1978 TV series)|Dallas]]'', and ''[[w:Murder, She Wrote|Murder, She Wrote]]''.<ref group="external" name="tapp_deadline_bower_obit" /> He continued into the 1990s and 2000s with appearances on ''[[w:NYPD Blue|NYPD Blue]]'', ''[[w:The X-Files|The X-Files]]'', ''[[w:The West Wing|The West Wing]]'', ''[[w:The Practice|The Practice]]'' (as John Pierce), ''[[w:Law & Order|Law & Order]]'', and ''[[w:Cold Case (TV series)|Cold Case]]''.<ref group="external" name="tvinsider_bower_obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1138948/tom-bower-dead-the-waltons-die-hard-2-lucky-hank-criminal-minds/#:~:text=guest%20appearances%20over%20his%20long%20career|title=Tom Bower, Actor in 'The Waltons' & 'Die Hard 2,' Dies at 86|publisher=TV Insider|date=June 6, 2024|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref> In later years he had recurring roles on ''[[w:It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia|It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'' (as Pop-Pop, 2005 and 2012), ''[[w:Ray Donovan|Ray Donovan]]'', ''[[w:Bosch (TV series)|Bosch]]'', and ''[[w:Lucky Hank|Lucky Hank]]'' (2023), where he played the father of [[w:Bob Odenkirk|Bob Odenkirk]]'s title character.<ref group="external" name="tapp_deadline_bower_obit" />
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| On film, Bower collaborated with a range of prominent directors. His feature credits include ''[[w:The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez|The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez]]'' (1982), ''[[w:River's Edge (film)|River's Edge]]'' (1986), ''[[w:Beverly Hills Cop II|Beverly Hills Cop II]]'' (1987), and ''[[w:Die Hard 2|Die Hard 2]]'' (1990), in which he played Marvin, the airport janitor who assists [[w:Bruce Willis|Bruce Willis]]'s Lt. John McClane and is present at the film's conclusion.<ref group="external" name="bower_thr_obit" /> He portrayed Francis Nixon, father of the 37th President, in [[w:Oliver Stone|Oliver Stone]]'s ''[[w:Nixon (film)|Nixon]]'' (1995).<ref group="external" name="bower_thr_obit" /> Additional film appearances include ''[[w:Pollock (film)|Pollock]]'' (2000) and ''[[w:Appaloosa (film)|Appaloosa]]'' (2008), both directed by [[w:Ed Harris|Ed Harris]]; ''[[w:Crazy Heart|Crazy Heart]]'' (2009) and ''[[w:Out of the Furnace|Out of the Furnace]]'' (2013), both directed by [[w:Scott Cooper (director)|Scott Cooper]]; ''[[w:The Hills Have Eyes (2006 film)|The Hills Have Eyes]]'' (2006); ''[[w:Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans|Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans]]'' (2009), directed by [[w:Werner Herzog|Werner Herzog]]; and ''[[w:El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie|El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie]]'' (2019).<ref group="external" name="tapp_deadline_bower_obit" />
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| Bower served on the Board of Directors of the [[w:Screen Actors Guild|Screen Actors Guild]] and was active in advocacy for working actors throughout his career.<ref group="external" name="bower_industrycentral_profile" /><ref group="external" name="bower_industrycentral_sagadvocacy">{{cite web|url=https://www.industrycentral.net/features/working_actors/tom_bower1#:~:text=His%20tireless%20work%20with%20the%20Screen%20Actors%20Guild|title=Tom Bower (1938-2024): he's been in hiding for a long time!|publisher=IndustryCentral|date=June 5, 2024|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref> Fellow SAG member Mark Moses noted that Bower made lasting contributions to the union that benefited all its members.<ref group="external" name="tapp_deadline_bower_obit" />
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| ==''Battlestar Galactica''==
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| Bower appeared in the third-season ''Battlestar Galactica'' episode "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]" (2007), portraying [[Joe]], the civilian bartender who runs [[Joe's bar|Joe's bar]] aboard the ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_bsg_takingabreak_credits" /> In the episode, {{Callsign|Apollo}} introduces Chief [[Galen Tyrol]] to the newly established drinking establishment, a makeshift lounge carved out of one of the hangar decks. Joe's bar lent the episode its title — the bar was originally intended to be a more central element of the story — and continued to serve as a recurring setting in subsequent episodes of the series, though Joe himself did not reappear after this one.<ref group="external" name="bsg_joes_bar_wiki">{{cite web|url=https://en.battlestarwiki.org/Joe%27s_bar#:~:text=run%20by%20a%20civilian%2C%20for%20whom%20it%20is%20named|title=Joe's bar|publisher=Battlestar Wiki|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref>
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| ==Personal life==
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| Bower married twice. His first marriage ended in divorce. He later married Ursula Bower, whom he described as the love of his life; she predeceased him by approximately two years.<ref group="external" name="bower_industrycentral_obituarynote">{{cite web|url=https://www.industrycentral.net/features/working_actors/tom_bower1#:~:text=He%20has%20now%20joined%20the%20love%20of%20his%20life%2C%20wife%20Ursula|title=Tom Bower (1938-2024): he's been in hiding for a long time!|publisher=IndustryCentral|date=June 5, 2024|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref> His family described the three most important things in his life as his wife, acting, and his commitment to fairness for fellow actors.<ref group="external" name="bower_foxnews_family_statement">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/die-hard-2-the-waltons-star-tom-bower-dead-86#:~:text=The%20three%20most%20important%20things%20in%20Tom%27s%20life%20were%3A%20His%20wife%2C%20Ursula|title='Die Hard 2' and 'The Waltons' star, Tom Bower, dead at 86|publisher=Fox News|date=June 6, 2024|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref>
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| Bower died in his sleep at his home in [[w:Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] on May 30, 2024, at the age of 86. His death was confirmed to ''[[w:The Hollywood Reporter|The Hollywood Reporter]]'' by his sister-in-law, Mary Miller.<ref group="external" name="bower_thr_obit" /> He is interred at [[w:Hollywood Forever Cemetery|Hollywood Forever Cemetery]] in Hollywood, California.<ref group="external" name="bower_findagrave">{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/271183028/tom-bower#:~:text=Hollywood%20Forever|title=Tom Bower (1938–2024)|publisher=Find a Grave|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref>
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| ==References==
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| === External Sources ===
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| {{reflist|group=external}}
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