Tom Towles

Tom Towles (March 20, 1950 – April 2, 2015) was an American actor best known for his roles as Otis in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) and Harry Cooper in the 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead.

Early life
Towles was born on March 20, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois. He had a sister by the name of Kai. Prior to acting, Towles briefly served in the United States Marine Corps.

Career
In 1971, Towles began his acting career in Chicago where he performed as a member of the Organic Theater Company. He made his film debut portraying a minor role as a cop in Dog Day Afternoon (1975). Afterwards, Towles returned to Chicago to continue performing with the Organic Theater Company, as well as performing at the Goodman Theatre. After a decade-long hiatus, Towles returned to the screen in the film, Pink Nights (1985).

Towles made his breakthrough role with Otis in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. His character was based on real life serial killer Ottis Toole, who confessed responsibility for the murder of Adam Walsh.

Towles also appeared on television in such shows as Seinfeld, NYPD Blue, L.A. Law, ER, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Firefly.

Towles frequently collaborated with filmmaker Rob Zombie in several of films such as House of 1000 Corpses (2003), The Devil's Rejects (2005), Halloween (2007) and Grindhouse (2007).

Death
Towles died on April 2, 2015, at the age of 65, in a hospital in Pinellas, Florida of complications following a stroke.

Selected filmography

 * Dog Day Afternoon (1975) - Cop (uncredited)
 * Pink Nights (1985) - Ralph the Lounge Lizard
 * Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) - Otis
 * Men Don't Leave (1990) - Evan Taylor
 * Night of the Living Dead (1990) - Harry Cooper
 * The Pit and the Pendulum (1991) - Don Carlos
 * The Borrower (1991) - Bob Laney
 * Fortress (1992) - Stiggs
 * Blood In Blood Out (1993) - Red Ryder
 * Mad Dog and Glory (1993) - Andrew the Beater
 * God's Lonely Man (1996) - Steven
 * Normal Life (1996) - Frank Anderson
 * The Rock (1996) - Alcatraz Park Rangers
 * Gridlock'd (1997) - D-Reper's Henchman
 * Warriors of Virtue (1997) - Grillo
 * Night of the Lawyers (1997) - Alien, Moriarty
 * The Prophecy II (1998) - Detective Waltrip
 * Dr. Dolittle (1998) - German Shepherd (voice)
 * More Dogs Than Bones (2000) - Detective Smith
 * Groom Lake (2002) - Dietz
 * House of 1000 Corpses (2003) - Deputy George Wydell
 * The Devil's Rejects (2005) - George Wydell
 * Miami Vice (2006) - Coleman
 * Grindhouse (2007) - Lt. Boorman (segment "Werewolf Women of the SS")
 * Home Sick (2007) - Uncle Johnny
 * Halloween (2007) - Larry Redgrave
 * Blood on the Highway (2008) - Louis Debois (final film role)