# Tom Neal

Thomas Carroll Neal Jr. (January 28, 1914 – August 7, 1972) was an American actor and amateur boxer. Between 1932 and 1934, he was an amateur boxer who fought in many fights. As an actor, he was best known for his co-starring role in the critically lauded film Detour, for having a widely publicized affair with actress Barbara Payton. In 1965, his wife was found shot dead, and he was later convicted and imprisoned for involuntary manslaughter. After release, he died in 1972 of heart failure.

## Early years

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Neal was one of three children born to banker Thomas, Sr. and Mayme Neal (née Martin). He had two older sisters, Mary Elizabeth and Dorothy Helen. His great uncle was John Drew, the noted thespian. Neal and his sisters were raised in a spacious ten-room home in Chicago. He attended Lake Forest Academy and Evanston Township High School before enrolling at Northwestern University where he majored in mathematics. During college, Neal played several sports and, for a time, competed in amateur boxing matches. He was also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and was active in the drama club.

## Career

Neal dropped out of Northwestern after a year, and moved back to Chicago. He appeared in various stage productions in summer stock before making his way to New York City in 1933. Neal made his Broadway debut in 1935. In 1938, he first appeared in film in Out West with the Hardys, part of the Mickey Rooney "Hardy family" movie series.
Neal appeared in many low budget B-movies in the 1940s/1950s. In 1941 he starred with Frances Gifford in the Republic Pictures 15-episode serial Jungle Girl. Perhaps his most memorable role was that of Al Roberts in the classic film noir Detour alongside Ann Savage. They went on to make five movies together.

## Personal life

Neal was married three times and had one child. His first marriage was to actress and singer Vicky Lane whom he married in 1948. Lane divorced Neal in 1949, citing "mental and physical cruelty".
In 1935, at the age of 21, Neal made headlines for announcing his engagement to marry 32-year-old Inez Norton, the ex-Follies girl and former girlfriend of slain gangster Arnold Rothstein. According to newspaper accounts, the engagement was broken off after the intervention of Neal's father.
In the early 1950s, Neal met actress Barbara Payton at a party. The two began dating, but Payton ended the relationship after meeting and becoming engaged to actor Franchot Tone. Despite her engagement, Payton began seeing Neal again. On September 14, 1951, Neal, Payton, and Tone made headlines after Neal got into a physical altercation with Tone over Payton in her front yard. Neal beat Tone severely while Payton reportedly watched the fight. Tone suffered severe injuries, including a smashed cheekbone, a broken nose, and a brain concussion, for which he was hospitalized. After he recovered, Tone and Payton married on September 28, 1951. Payton left Tone after 53 days and returned to Neal. Tone filed for divorce in March 1952, citing Payton for adultery. Neal and Payton announced their engagement in May 1953, but eventually ended their relationship later that year.
Shortly after their breakup, Neal married Patricia Fenton. His only child, Patrick Thomas Neal, was born in 1957. Fenton died the following year from cancer. In 1992, Patrick Neal (who goes by the name Tom Neal, Jr.) appeared in one film, playing the role of Al Roberts in a 1992 independent remake of Detour.

## Later years and death

After his much publicized fight with Franchot Tone, Neal was blacklisted in Hollywood, as was Payton. He acted sporadically but became more known for his tumultuous on-and-off relationship with Payton. Neal and Payton attempted to capitalize on the interest in their relationship by starring together in the low-budget Western The Great Jesse James Raid in 1953. The film did reasonably well but did nothing to revitalize the couple's careers. In June 1953, Neal and Payton accepted an offer to star in the touring production of The Postman Always Rings Twice. Their performances were largely panned and the tour ended in September 1953. Neal and Payton broke up for the final time in November 1953.
With his acting career over, Neal moved to Palm Springs, California, and became a gardener. He later started his own landscaping business. In 1961, Neal married receptionist Gail Bennett in Las Vegas. On April 2, 1965, police were summoned to the couple's Palm Springs home by Neal's attorney. They discovered Bennett's body on the couch, partially covered by a blanket, with a gunshot wound in the back of her head. It was later determined that Bennett had been shot with a .45 caliber gun on April 1. Neal, who was not at the home when police arrived, became an immediate suspect. He surrendered to police on April 3 and was indicted on one charge of murder on April 10.
At his trial, Neal admitted that he and Bennett were separated at the time of her death but said that her death was accidental. He testified that on April 1, he had returned to the couple's Palm Springs home from Chicago, where he had been living, to see if a reconciliation was possible. Neal said the two began fighting after he accused Bennett of sleeping with other men. He claimed that Bennett pulled out a gun and held it to his head, and the two began to struggle. During the ensuing struggle, Neal said that the gun accidentally discharged, killing Bennett. Although prosecutors sought the death penalty, a jury convicted Neal of involuntary manslaughter on November 18, 1965. On December 10, he was sentenced to one-to-fifteen years in prison, of which he served six. On December 6, 1971, he was released on parole. After his release, Neal went back to working as a landscaper and gardener.
On August 7, 1972, Neal was found dead in his bed by his son at his home in North Hollywood, California. His death was later attributed to heart failure.

## Amateur boxing record

Amateur Boxing Record :
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Date | Round | Location |
| Loss | 31-3-0 | J.H. Isbell | KO | March 31, 1934 | 2 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Loss | 31-2-0 | "Modest" Bill Smith | KO | February 27, 1934 | 2 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 31-1-0 | Frankie Hagen | KO | February 24, 1934 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 30-1-0 | Harry Gardner | KO | February 21, 1934 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 29-1-0 | Sid Stoneman | KO | February 14, 1934 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 28-1-0 | Frankie Hagan | PTS | January 30, 1934 | 3 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 27-1-0 | Basil Barnett | KO | January 24, 1934 | 2 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 26-1-0 | George Krause | KO | January 16, 1934 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 25-1-0 | Bob Delmont | KO | January 7, 1934 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Loss | 24-1-0 | Brad Simmons | KO | January 1, 1934 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 24-0-0 | Herman Zeinman | KO | 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 23-0-0 | William Beltran | KO | 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 22-0-0 | Lloyd Blake | KO | 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 21-0-0 | Lawrence "Larry" O'Neil | KO | 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 20-0-0 | Igg Rosenberg | KO | 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 19-0-0 | Melvin Kenyon | KO | 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 18-0-0 | Gary Keers | KO | 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 17-0-0 | Samuel Rodgway | KO | May 28, 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Exch | 16-0-0 | "Irish" Tommy Mitchell | KO | May 21, 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 15-0-0 | Jim Crawford | KO | May 14, 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 14-0-0 | Max Levine | KO | May 7, 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 13-0-0 | Leo Hart | KO | May 1, 1933 | 1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Win | 12-0-0 | Paul Benjamin | PTS | 1932 | 3 | Evanston, Illinois |
| Win | 11-0-0 | Fred Chapman | KO | 1932 | 3 | Evanston, Illinois |
| Win | 10-0-0 | Paul Benjamin | KO | 1932 | 3 | Evanston, Illinois |
| Win | 9-0-0 | Rod Conley | KO | 1932 | 2 | Evanston, Illinois |
| Win | 8-0-0 | Paul Gilmore | KO | 1932 | 1 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Win | 7-0-0 | Jack Lewis | KO | 1932 | 3 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Exch | 6-0-0 | Eddie Mitchell | KO | 1932 | 1 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Win | 5-0-0 | Ernest Brant | KO | 1932 | 1 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Win | 4-0-0 | Karl Brenner-Eggers | KO | 1932 | 1 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Win | 3-0-0 | Norman Martin | PTS | 1932 | 3 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Win | 2-0-0 | Albert Leikman | KO | 1932 | 1 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Win | 1-0-0 | Keith Newman | KO | 1932 | 1 | Chicago, Illinois |

## Filmography

Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1938 | Out West with the Hardys | Aldrich Brown | |
| 1939 | Burn 'Em Up O'Connor | 'Hank' Hogan | |
| 1939 | Four Girls in White | Dr. Phillips | |
| 1939 | Honolulu | Ambulance Intern | Uncredited |
| 1939 | Within the Law | Richard Gilder | |
| 1939 | Prophet Without Honor | Matthew Fontaine Maury | Short, Uncredited |
| 1939 | 6,000 Enemies | Ransom | |
| 1939 | Stronger Than Desire | Reporter | Uncredited |
| 1939 | They All Come Out | Joe Z. Cameron | |
| 1939 | Another Thin Man | Freddie Coleman | |
| 1939 | Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President | Johnny Crusper | |
| 1940 | The Courageous Dr. Christian | Dave Williams | |
| 1940 | Crime Does Not Pay | Frank Watson | Episode "Jack Pot" in the MGM series |
| 1940 | Sky Murder | Steve – Pilot | |
| 1940 | Flight Command | Hell Cat | Uncredited |
| 1941 | Under Age | Rocky Stone | |
| 1941 | Jungle Girl | Jack Stanton | Serial, Alternative title: Edgar Rice Burrough's Jungle Girl |
| 1941 | Top Sergeant Mulligan | Don Lewis | |
| 1941 | The Miracle Kid | Jimmy Conley | |
| 1941 | Ten Gentlemen from West Point | Cadet | Uncredited |
| 1942 | One Thrilling Night | Frankie Saxton | |
| 1942 | The Pride of the Yankees | Fraternity Boy | Uncredited |
| 1942 | Flying Tigers | Reardon | |
| 1942 | Bowery at Midnight | Frankie Mills | |
| 1943 | China Girl | Captain Haynes | Uncredited |
| 1943 | No Time for Love | Sandhog | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Air Force | Marine | Uncredited |
| 1943 | She Has What It Takes | Roger Rutledge | |
| 1943 | Good Luck, Mr. Yates | Charlie Edmonds | |
| 1943 | Behind the Rising Sun | Taro Seki | |
| 1943 | There's Something About a Soldier | Wally Williams | |
| 1943 | Klondike Kate | Jefferson Braddock | |
| 1944 | The Racket Man | Matt Benson | |
| 1944 | Two-Man Submarine | Jerry Evans | |
| 1944 | The Unwritten Code | Sgt. Terry Hunter | |
| 1944 | Thoroughbreds | Rusty Curtis | |
| 1945 | Crime, Inc. | Jim Riley | Alternative title: Crime Incorporated |
| 1945 | First Yank Into Tokyo | Major Steve Ross | |
| 1945 | Detour | Al Roberts | |
| 1945 | Club Havana | Bill Porter | |
| 1946 | Blonde Alibi | Rick Lavery | |
| 1946 | The Brute Man | Clifford Scott | Alternative title: The Brute |
| 1946 | My Dog Shep | District Attorney Herrick | |
| 1947 | The Hat Box Mystery | Russ Ashton | Short |
| 1947 | Cry Wolf | Hotel Desk Clerk | Uncredited |
| 1947 | The Case of the Baby Sitter | Russ Ashton | Short |
| 1948 | Beyond Glory | Captain Henry Jason Daniels | |
| 1949 | Bruce Gentry | Bruce Gentry | Alternative titles: Daredevil of the Skies Bruce Gentry, Daredevil of the Skies |
| 1949 | Amazon Quest | Thomas Dekker Jr. | |
| 1949 | Apache Chief | Lieutenant Brown | |
| 1949 | Red Desert | John Williams | |
| 1950 | Radar Secret Service | Mickey Moran | |
| 1950 | The Daltons' Women | Mayor | |
| 1950 | Joe Palooka in Humphrey Takes a Chance | Gordon Rogers | |
| 1950 | I Shot Billy the Kid | Charley Bowdry | |
| 1950 | Train to Tombstone | Dr. Willoughby | |
| 1950 | The Du Pont Story | Alfred V. du Pont | |
| 1950 | Call of the Klondike | Tom Mallory | |
| 1950 | King of the Bullwhip | Benson | |
| 1951 | Fingerprints Don't Lie | Prosecuting Attorney | |
| 1951 | Navy Bound | Joe Morelli | |
| 1951 | Stop That Cab | Lefty | |
| 1951 | Danger Zone | Edgar Spadely | (2nd Episode) |
| 1951 | G.I. Jane | Timothy R. 'Tim' Rawlings | |
| 1951 | Let's Go Navy! | Joe | |
| 1951 | All That I Have | Bert Grayson | |
| 1951 | The Valparaiso Story | | |
| 1951 | Venture of Faith | | |
| 1953 | The Great Jesse James Raid | Arch Clements | |
| 1958 | The Last Hurrah | Tom – Mourner at Wake | Uncredited |
Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1950 | The Gene Autry Show | Breezy Buck | 2 episodes |
| 1951 | Racket Squad | | Episode: "Skin Game" |
| 1951 | Boston Blackie | | 2 episodes |
| 1952 | The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok | Lash Corby | Episode: "Vigilante Story" |
| 1958 | Tales of Wells Fargo | Johnny Reno | Episode: "Faster Gun" |
| 1959 | Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Luke Lund | Episode: "According to Luke", (final appearance) |