Tom Berenger is a talented actor who makes a name for himself through the movie Butch and Sundance: The Early Days. In this picture, he brilliantly embodied the image of the famous criminal Butch Cassidy. The peak of this man’s popularity came in the 80-90s, but fans still remember and love him. What is the story of the star?
Tom Berenger: the beginning of the road
The performer of the role of Butch Cassidy was born in Chicago, it happened in May 1949. Tom Berenger was born into a family of Irish immigrants. His father worked in the famous Chicago edition of the Chicago Sun-Times. It is not surprising that in childhood, the future actor dreamed of a career as a journalist.
After graduating from Rich East High School, the guy continued his education at the University of Missouri, choosing the faculty of journalism. In his student days, American football became the passion of the future performer of the role of Butch Cassidy. For a while the young man dreamed of becoming a sports columnist, but his plans were not destined to come true.
Choice of profession
Even while studying at the University of Missouri, Tom Berenger was seriously interested in theater. It all started with his participation in the amateur play "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf." The young man liked to play on stage, listen to the applause of the audience. As a result, he changed his mind about connecting his life with journalism, which he did not have to regret.
The novice actor performed his first roles on the stage of the Illinois Theater. Then he left the university and set off to conquer New York. It was then that his pseudonym was born. The real name of the actor is Thomas Michael Moore. New York met the newcomer coolly. For some time Tom was engaged in drama courses and interrupted by casual work. He managed to work as a steward, receptionist, waiter, janitor.
First roles
Tom Berenger first hit the set in the mid-seventies. The novice actor made his debut in the television project "One Life to Live", in which he embodied the image of lawyer Tom Segal. Then he played a cameo in the film "Sentinel."
This was followed by shooting in the melodrama "In Search of Mr. Goodbar." Tom brilliantly played the killer maniac, and his colleagues on the set were the Hollywood stars Diane Keaton and Richard Gere. After that, the actor starred in the television movie "Johnny, I hardly recognized you," which tells about the youth of President Kennedy.
From obscurity to fame
When did Tom Berenger turn from a novice actor into a star? The biography of the star indicates that this happened in 1979. It was then that the film “Butch and Sundance: The Early Days,” in which he played a central role, was presented to the audience. The hero of Berenger was the legendary robber Butch Cassidy.
In the eighties, the "golden era" began in Tom's career. The actor starred in one successful film after another.
- "Dogs of war".
- "On the other side of the door."
- “Great disappointment.”
- “Eddie and the Wanderers.”
- "City of fear."
- "Cowboy Rhapsody."
- “If Tomorrow Comes” (mini-series).
- "Shoot to kill".
- "Devotee."
- "The last ritual."
- "Major League".
- Born on the Fourth of July.
A special mention deserves the picture "Platoon". In this film, Tom convincingly portrayed the brutal sergeant Bob Barnes. For this role, the actor was awarded the Golden Globe Award, as well as an Oscar nomination.
90s paintings
What films with Tom Berenger were presented to the audience in the nineties? In 1991, the crime thriller "Shatter" with the actor in the title role saw the light of day. The star character in this picture was a successful architect whose life was turned upside down after a car accident. In the same year, the melodrama "Games in the Lord's Fields" was released, in which Berenger convincingly portrayed the savage.
A list of other Tom movies released in the nineties is provided below.
- "Sniper".
- "Sliver."
- Gettysburg.
- Major League 2.
- The escorts.
- "The Last of the Dog-Man Tribe."
- "Replacement."
- "Unexpected hell."
- "Goblin."
- "Conspiracy".
- "The traitor hero."
- Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying.
New century
In the new millennium, the actor continued to act in films, but his popularity began to decline. Berenger was more often offered episodic and secondary roles than images of key characters.
Tom put up with this situation, did not give up his favorite work. “Hatfields and McCoys”, “Faster than bullets”, “Beginning”, “Trump Aces 2”, “Particularly serious crimes”, “Flower war” - famous films and series in which he starred in the new century.
Personal life
Fans are not only interested in the roles that Tom Berenger managed to fulfill by the age of 68. The personal life of the actor is also occupied by the public. The actor entered into legal marriage four times. His first choice was Barbara Wilson, a little-known actress. This woman gave birth to Tom son Patrick and daughter Allison, but he left the family.
The second wife of the star is actress and producer Lisa Williams, with whom he lived for about 11 years. In this marriage three children were born. Alvaran Berenger divorced his third wife Patricia four years after the wedding, this woman also gave him a child. In 2012, he married Laura Moretti, with whom he lives now.