Thomas Beck

Biography

Thomas Beck was an American film and stage actor who first drew attention in the mid 1930s as a juvenile lead in Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto movies. Born in New York City, he started out in a stock company, played on Broadway, and was brought to Hollywood by film executives. He made 28 films in all. He appeared in several Charlie Chan pictures, among them Charlie Chan in Egypt (1935), Charlie Chan in Paris (1935) and Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936). In Heidi (1937) he played Pastor Schultz, the village priest, and he was the spoiled son of a landowner in Life Begins at 40 (1935), opposite Will Rogers. Other parts included a French legionnaire in Under Two Flags (1936). He later served in the Army during World War II, reaching the rank of major, and returned to the New York stage in 1946.

85years old at death

Born December 29, 1909New York City
Died September 23, 1995Miami Shores
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19

Movie Career

Films: 7
Career span: 2 years1935 to 1937

Genres

Mystery86%, 6 films
Crime71%, 5 films
Thriller71%, 5 films
Comedy14%, 1 film
Drama14%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Beck began his professional career in a stock company, then performed on Broadway. Film executives took an interest in his stage work and brought him to Hollywood.
A change of course
Beck promoted the Screen Actors Guild to better actors' working conditions. In 1939, just as his career was about to take off, he quit movie work when the studio tried to cut his pay.
A change of course
Beck went to college intending to become a doctor, but he gave up that career path and chose engineering instead.
A change of course
During World War II, Beck was in the Army and saw duty in the Pacific Theater, and by 1945 he had reached the rank of major.
A change of course
In 1940 Beck enlisted in the Army as a private. He served with the 608th Tank Destroyer Battalion until he finished Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
A change of course
After he graduated, Beck took on the role of lieutenant and Special Service Officer with the 98th Infantry Division, which was stationed at Camp Breckinridge in Kentucky.

Thomas Beck movies on Netflix

Heidi1937IMDb rating 7.2as Pastor Schultz
Thank You, Mr. Moto1937IMDb rating 6.9as Tom Nelson
Think Fast, Mr. Moto1937IMDb rating 6.7as Robert 'Bob' Hitchings, Jr.
Charlie Chan at the Opera1936IMDb rating 7.1as Phil Childers
Charlie Chan at the Race Track1936IMDb rating 7.1as Bruce Rogers
Charlie Chan in Egypt1935IMDb rating 6.6as Tom Evans
Charlie Chan in Paris1935IMDb rating 7.1as Victor Descartes

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Charlie Chan in Egypt1935 Mysteryas Tom Evans
IMDb rating 6.62.3K votes
Heidi1937 Drama, Family, Musicalas Pastor Schultz
IMDb rating 7.25.4K votes
Charlie Chan in Paris1935as Victor Descartes
IMDb rating 7.11.9K votes
Thank You, Mr. Moto1937as Tom Nelson
IMDb rating 6.91.2K votes
Think Fast, Mr. Moto1937as Robert 'Bob' Hitchings, Jr.
IMDb rating 6.71.4K votes
Charlie Chan at the Race Track1936as Bruce Rogers
IMDb rating 7.11.7K votes
Charlie Chan at the Opera1936as Phil Childers
IMDb rating 7.12.5K votes

Most often with

H. Bruce Humberstone directed two of these films, Norman Foster two. Warner Oland appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Warner Oland

Sig Ruman

Keye Luke

Peter Lorre

George Irving

Sidney BlackmerH. Bruce HumberstoneDirector, 2 films

Norman FosterDirector, 2 films

Films together

Warner Oland4 films together, 1935 to 1936
Warner Oland's page
- Charlie Chan at the Opera1936IMDb rating 7.1Beck as Phil ChildersOland as Charlie Chan
- Charlie Chan at the Race Track1936IMDb rating 7.1Beck as Bruce RogersOland as Charlie Chan
- Charlie Chan in Egypt1935IMDb rating 6.6Beck as Tom EvansOland as Charlie Chan
- Charlie Chan in Paris1935IMDb rating 7.1Beck as Victor DescartesOland as Charlie Chan
Sig Ruman3 films together, 1937
Sig Ruman's page
- Heidi1937IMDb rating 7.2Beck as Pastor SchultzRuman as Police Captain
- Thank You, Mr. Moto1937IMDb rating 6.9Beck as Tom NelsonRuman as Colonel Tchernov
- Think Fast, Mr. Moto1937IMDb rating 6.7Beck as Robert 'Bob' Hitchings, Jr.Ruman as Nicolas Marloff
Keye Luke3 films together, 1935 to 1936
Keye Luke's page
- Charlie Chan at the Opera1936IMDb rating 7.1Beck as Phil ChildersLuke as Lee Chan
- Charlie Chan at the Race Track1936IMDb rating 7.1Beck as Bruce RogersLuke as Lee Chan
- Charlie Chan in Paris1935IMDb rating 7.1Beck as Victor DescartesLuke as Lee Chan
Peter Lorre2 films together, 1937
Peter Lorre's page
- Thank You, Mr. Moto1937IMDb rating 6.9Beck as Tom NelsonLorre as Mr. Moto
- Think Fast, Mr. Moto1937IMDb rating 6.7Beck as Robert 'Bob' Hitchings, Jr.Lorre as Kentaro Moto
George Irving2 films together, 1935 to 1936
George Irving's page
- Charlie Chan at the Race Track1936IMDb rating 7.1Beck as Bruce RogersIrving as Major Gordon Kent
- Charlie Chan in Egypt1935IMDb rating 6.6Beck as Tom EvansIrving as Prof. Arnold
Sidney Blackmer2 films together, 1937
Sidney Blackmer's page
- Heidi1937IMDb rating 7.2Beck as Pastor SchultzBlackmer as Herr Sesemann
- Thank You, Mr. Moto1937IMDb rating 6.9Beck as Tom NelsonBlackmer as Herr Eric Koeger
H. Bruce HumberstoneDirector, 2 films, 1936
All films by H. Bruce Humberstone
- Charlie Chan at the Opera1936IMDb rating 7.1Beck as Phil Childers
- Charlie Chan at the Race Track1936IMDb rating 7.1Beck as Bruce Rogers
Norman FosterDirector, 2 films, 1937
All films by Norman Foster
- Thank You, Mr. Moto1937IMDb rating 6.9Beck as Tom Nelson
- Think Fast, Mr. Moto1937IMDb rating 6.7Beck as Robert 'Bob' Hitchings, Jr.
Also two films together3 more actors
- Frank ConroyCharlie Chan at the Opera (1936) and Charlie Chan in Egypt (1935)
- Murray KinnellThink Fast, Mr. Moto (1937) and Charlie Chan in Paris (1935)
- Nedda HarriganThank You, Mr. Moto (1937) and Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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