Tom Atkins

Biography

Tom Atkins is an American actor who came to acting in his twenties, after studying at Duquesne University in his native Pittsburgh, and became a regular presence in horror and thriller films. He began in stage plays on and off Broadway, won a 1973 Drama Desk Award for The Changing Room, and made his film debut in The Detective (1968). He played Lt. Alex Diehl on The Rockford Files before moving into the genre with John Carpenter's The Fog (1980) and Escape from New York (1981), then took the lead in Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982). His other credits include Creepshow (1982), Night of the Creeps (1986), Lethal Weapon (1987), Two Evil Eyes (1990), Striking Distance (1993), My Bloody Valentine (2009), Drive Angry (2011) and Encounter (2018). He has also acted often on the Pittsburgh stage.

90years old

Turns 91 on November 13in 31 days

Born November 13, 1935Pittsburgh
Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21

Movie Career

Films: 25
Career span: 52 years1968 to 2020

Genres

Horror48%, 12 films
Action28%, 7 films
Thriller28%, 7 films
Comedy24%, 6 films
Drama24%, 6 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Beyond film
Atkins starred in A Musical Christmas Carol at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera as Ebenezer Scrooge, and played Art Rooney in the one-man show The Chief.

Tom Atkins movies on Netflix

In Search of Darkness - Part II2020IMDb rating 7.9as Self - Interviewee
In Search of Darkness2019IMDb rating 8.0as Self - The Fog, Halloween III, Night of the Creeps
Trick2019IMDb rating 5.0as Talbott
Encounter2018IMDb rating 4.1as Professor Westlake
Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini2015IMDb rating 7.3as Himself
Drive Angry2011IMDb rating 5.4as Cap
Amazing Racer2009IMDb rating 5.5as Captain Martin
My Bloody Valentine2009IMDb rating 5.5as Burke
Bruiser2000IMDb rating 5.3as Detective McCleary
Striking Distance1993IMDb rating 5.9as Sgt. Fred Hardy
Bob Roberts1992IMDb rating 7.0as Dr. Caleb Menck
Two Evil Eyes1990IMDb rating 6.1as Det. Grogan (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
The Heist1989IMDb rating 6.0as Det. Leland
Maniac Cop1988IMDb rating 6.0as Frank McCrae
Lethal Weapon1987IMDb rating 7.6as Michael Hunsaker
Night of the Creeps1986IMDb rating 6.7as Ray Cameron
The New Kids1985IMDb rating 6.1as 'Mac' MacWilliams
Halloween III: Season of the Witch1982IMDb rating 5.2as Daniel Challis
Escape from New York1981IMDb rating 7.1as Rehme
The Fog1980IMDb rating 6.8as Nick Castle
The Ninth Configuration1980IMDb rating 6.7as Sgt. Krebs
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo1977IMDb rating 4.6as Buddy
The Owl and the Pussycat1970IMDb rating 6.4as Kid in Car
Where’s Poppa?1970IMDb rating 6.4as Policeman in apartment
The Detective1968IMDb rating 6.5as Harmon

Best known for

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

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Lethal Weapon1987 Action, Crime, Thrilleras Michael Hunsaker
IMDb rating 7.6299K votes
The Fog1980 Fantasy, Horroras Nick Castle
IMDb rating 6.893K votes
Halloween III: Season of the Witch1982as Daniel Challis
IMDb rating 5.269K votes
Maniac Cop1988as Frank McCrae
IMDb rating 6.024K votes
Escape from New York1981as Rehme
IMDb rating 7.1175K votes
My Bloody Valentine2009as Burke
IMDb rating 5.566K votes
Drive Angry2011as Cap
IMDb rating 5.4107K votes
Night of the Creeps1986as Ray Cameron
IMDb rating 6.729K votes

Most often with

Patrick Lussier directed three of these films, John Carpenter two and George A. Romero two. John Carpenter 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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John Carpenter

Adrienne Barbeau

Doug Bradley

Todd Farmer

Keith David

Jeffrey Combs

Patrick LussierDirector, 3 films

John CarpenterDirector, 2 films

George A. RomeroDirector, 2 films

Films together

John Carpenter4 films together, 1980 to 2020
John Carpenter's page
- In Search of Darkness - Part II2020IMDb rating 7.9Atkins as Self - IntervieweeCarpenter as Self - Interviewee
- In Search of Darkness2019IMDb rating 8.0Atkins as Self - The Fog, Halloween III, Night of the CreepsCarpenter as Self - Director - The Fog, The Thing, They Live, Prince of Darkness
- Escape from New York1981IMDb rating 7.1Atkins as RehmeCarpenter as Secret Service #2 / Helicopter Pilot / Violin Player
- The Fog1980IMDb rating 6.8Atkins as Nick CastleCarpenter as Bennett
Adrienne Barbeau3 films together, 1980 to 1990
Adrienne Barbeau's page
- Two Evil Eyes1990IMDb rating 6.1Atkins as Det. Grogan (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")Barbeau as Jessica Valdemar (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
- Escape from New York1981IMDb rating 7.1Atkins as RehmeBarbeau as Maggie
- The Fog1980IMDb rating 6.8Atkins as Nick CastleBarbeau as Stevie Wayne
Doug Bradley3 films together, 2015 to 2020
Doug Bradley's page
- In Search of Darkness - Part II2020IMDb rating 7.9Atkins as Self - IntervieweeBradley as Self - Interviewee
- In Search of Darkness2019IMDb rating 8.0Atkins as Self - The Fog, Halloween III, Night of the CreepsBradley as Self - Hellraiser Franchise
- Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini2015IMDb rating 7.3Atkins as HimselfBradley as Himself
Todd Farmer3 films together, 2009 to 2019
Todd Farmer's page
- Trick2019IMDb rating 5.0Atkins as TalbottFarmer as Deputy Wan
- Drive Angry2011IMDb rating 5.4Atkins as CapFarmer as Frank
- My Bloody Valentine2009IMDb rating 5.5Atkins as BurkeFarmer as Frank the Trucker
Keith David2 films together, 2019 to 2020
Keith David's page
- In Search of Darkness - Part II2020IMDb rating 7.9Atkins as Self - IntervieweeDavid as Self - Interviewee
- In Search of Darkness2019IMDb rating 8.0Atkins as Self - The Fog, Halloween III, Night of the CreepsDavid as Self - The Thing, They Live
Jeffrey Combs2 films together, 2019 to 2020
Jeffrey Combs's page
- In Search of Darkness - Part II2020IMDb rating 7.9Atkins as Self - IntervieweeCombs as Self - Interviewee
- In Search of Darkness2019IMDb rating 8.0Atkins as Self - The Fog, Halloween III, Night of the CreepsCombs as Self - Re-Animator, From Beyond
Patrick LussierDirector, 3 films, 2009 to 2019
All films by Patrick Lussier
- Trick2019IMDb rating 5.0Atkins as Talbott
- Drive Angry2011IMDb rating 5.4Atkins as Cap
- My Bloody Valentine2009IMDb rating 5.5Atkins as Burke
John CarpenterDirector, 2 films, 1980 to 1981
All films by John Carpenter
- Escape from New York1981IMDb rating 7.1Atkins as Rehme
- The Fog1980IMDb rating 6.8Atkins as Nick Castle
George A. RomeroDirector, 2 films, 1990 to 2000
All films by George A. Romero
- Bruiser2000IMDb rating 5.3Atkins as Detective McCleary
- Two Evil Eyes1990IMDb rating 6.1Atkins as Det. Grogan (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Also two films together22 more actors
- Jamie Lee CurtisEscape from New York (1981) and The Fog (1980)
- Barbara CramptonIn Search of Darkness - Part II (2020) and In Search of Darkness (2019)
- George SegalThe Owl and the Pussycat (1970) and Where’s Poppa? (1970)
- James SpaderBob Roberts (1992) and The New Kids (1985)
- George 'Buck' FlowerEscape from New York (1981) and The Fog (1980)
- Tom SaviniSmoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini (2015) and Two Evil Eyes (1990)
- Charles CyphersEscape from New York (1981) and The Fog (1980)
- Joe DanteIn Search of Darkness - Part II (2020) and In Search of Darkness (2019)
- John F. GoffManiac Cop (1988) and The Fog (1980)
- Bingo O'MalleyMy Bloody Valentine (2009) and Two Evil Eyes (1990)
- John BloomIn Search of Darkness - Part II (2020) and In Search of Darkness (2019)
- Katie FeatherstonIn Search of Darkness - Part II (2020) and In Search of Darkness (2019)
- Mick GarrisIn Search of Darkness - Part II (2020) and In Search of Darkness (2019)
- Christine ForrestBruiser (2000) and Two Evil Eyes (1990)
- Larry CohenIn Search of Darkness - Part II (2020) and In Search of Darkness (2019)
- Nick CastleIn Search of Darkness - Part II (2020) and In Search of Darkness (2019)
- Stuart GordonIn Search of Darkness - Part II (2020) and In Search of Darkness (2019)
- Sean S. CunninghamIn Search of Darkness - Part II (2020) and In Search of Darkness (2019)
- Michael GingoldIn Search of Darkness - Part II (2020) and In Search of Darkness (2019)
- Nancy KyesHalloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) and The Fog (1980)
- Lori CardilleIn Search of Darkness - Part II (2020) and In Search of Darkness (2019)
- John StrobelEscape from New York (1981) and The Fog (1980)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Tom Atkins's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$443 million

11 of the 25 films have a worldwide figure.

11Worldwide figure
3US gross only
4Never in cinemas
7Figure not found

Top grosser

Lethal Weapon1987Michael Hunsaker$120 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 98% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Lethal Weapon1987as Michael Hunsaker
$120M27.1% of the total
2
My Bloody Valentine2009as Burke
$103M23.2% of the total
3
Striking Distance1993as Sgt. Fred Hardy
$77M17.4% of the total
4
Escape from New York1981as Rehme
$50M11.3% of the total
5
Drive Angry2011as Cap
$41M9.2% of the total
6
The Fog1980as Nick Castle
$21M4.8% of the total
7
Halloween III: Season of the Witch1982as Daniel Challis
$14M3.3% of the total
8
Bob Roberts1992as Dr. Caleb Menck
$8.0M1.8% of the total