Tom Troupe known for Star Trek and My Own Private Idaho, passes away at 97

Tom Troupe, a beloved stage & screen actor and writer, passed away on Sunday morning at his home in Beverly Hills. The Star Trek actor was 97 and, according to a family spokesperson, Troupe died five days after his birthday, of natural causes.

Born in North Kansas City, Missouri, Tom Troupe later became a popular stage and screen actor, appearing in multiple projects, including films, theatre, and TV shows. He started his acting career by starring in local theatre projects until he moved to New York in 1948 to follow his passion for acting professionally.

Troupe also served in the Korean War and was awarded a Bronze Star. In 1957, the actor made his Broadway debut in The Diary of Ann Frank alongside Joseph Schildkraut. He played the character of Peter van Daan. The following year marked his shift to Los Angeles, where he went on to star in a dozen projects, both on the small and big screen.

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Remembering Star Trek star Tom Troupe

Tom Troupe's 1958 move to Los Angeles marked the official start of his acting career.

On stage, some of his most famous plays include The Lion in Winter, Father's Day, and The Gin Game, alongside his wife, Carole Cook. The couple was jointly honored with the L.A. Ovation Award for Career Achievements in 2022. His other stage credits include a Broadway run of Romantic Comedy with Mia Farrow and his one-man play The Diary of a Madman.

Tom Troupe's film credits include The Devil's Brigade, The Big Fisherman, Che!, Kelly's Heroes, My Private Idaho, and Summer School.

Troupe has also appeared in almost 75 titles on the small screen, which include the 1967 espionage series Mission: Impossible, The Wild, Wild West, Star Trek, Cheers, Cagney & Lacey, This Is the Life, Archie's Bunker's Place, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

The veteran actor studied acting at the Herbert Berghof Studio in Manhattan after receiving a scholarship from the legendary actress and his teacher, Uta Hagen.

Tom Troupe was certainly an accomplished actor who entertained his fans with multiple projects across genres and media. His wife, Carole Cook, died in 2023 (at age 98) due to heart failure. Troupe is survived by son Christopher Troupe, his daughter-in-law Becky Coulter, his granddaughter Ashley Troupe, and his nieces and nephews.

Even in the later years of his career, Troupe remained active and helped mentor and groom young actors through The Faculty, his Los Angeles acting school, with Charles Nelson Reilly.

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