Rip Torn.

Elmore Rual Torn Jr.

Born 6 Feb 1931 Temple, United States

Died 9 Jul 2019 Lakeville, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 95 yr If Living

TL;DR

Rip Torn won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1996 for his role as producer Artie on The Larry Sanders Show. He also starred as Zed in the 1997 blockbuster Men in Black and earned an Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in Cross Creek 1983. Torn, a first cousin of Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek, studied at the Actors Studio and appeared in over 100 films and TV shows.

At a glance.

STATS

Rip Torn by the numbers — life, work, and family.

88 Years lived

176 Film credits

2 Awards

3 Marriages

1 Child

Family ties.

KIN · 6

The relatives of Rip Torn — parents, partners, children, and siblings.

PARENTS: Thelma Mary Spacek Elmore Rual Sr. Torn
SPOUSES: Amy Wright Geraldine Page Ann Wedgeworth
CHILDREN: Angelica Page

Who was Rip Torn?

BIOGRAPHY

Rip Torn — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Rip Torn was born Elmore Rual Torn Jr. on February 6, 1931, in Temple, Texas, to Thelma Mary Spacek and Elmore Rual Sr. Torn. His father was an agriculturalist credited with popularizing the custom of eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day. Torn grew up in Taylor, Texas, and graduated from Taylor High School in 1948 at age 17.

He attended Texas A&M University, where he majored in animal husbandry and served in the Corps of Cadets, then studied at the University of Texas and joined Sigma Chi Fraternity. Naive about Hollywood, he hitchhiked to Los Angeles in 1956 with the dream of becoming a movie star to buy a ranch.

Career

Torn made his feature film debut in Elia Kazan’s Baby Doll 1956 and his Broadway debut in Tennessee Williams’ Sweet Bird of Youth in 1959, earning a Tony nomination and a Theatre World Award. He recreated his role in the 1962 film adaptation. During the 1960s and 1970s, he became a sought-after character actor in dramas like Payday 1973 and earned his first Oscar nomination for Cross Creek 1983.

His role in Albert Brooks’ Defending Your Life 1991 led to his being cast as talk show producer Artie on The Larry Sanders Show 1992, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1996. He also appeared as Zed in the 1997 blockbuster Men in Black and portrayed three U.S. presidents on screen: Ulysses S. Grant, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon.

Personal life

Torn was married three times: to Ann Wedgeworth from 1956 to 1961, to Geraldine Page from 1963 until her death in 1987, and to Amy Wright from 1976 until his death. He had six children: Danae Torn, Angelica Page, Tony Torn, John Torn, Katie Torn, and Claire Torn. After his marriage to Page deteriorated in the mid-1970s, Torn began a relationship with Wright, who became his third wife.

He was a first cousin of Oscar-winning actress Sissy Spacek and helped her gain entry to the Actors Studio. Torn also studied dance with Martha Graham and was a close friend of actor Larry Blyden from boyhood.

Legacy

Rip Torn is remembered as one of the most versatile character actors of his generation, earning nine Emmy nominations and one win for The Larry Sanders Show. He received an Academy Award nomination, two Obie Awards, and a CableACE award. His memorable role as Zed in Men in Black 1997 and his portrayal of producer Artie on Larry Sanders are fondly remembered by audiences.

Beyond acting, Torn directed the feature film The Telephone 1988 and ran his own stage company. He died on July 9, 2019, in Lakeville, Connecticut, at age 88 from Alzheimer’s disease, leaving behind a legacy of intense, memorable performances across film, television, and theater.

Filmography.

FILMS · 176

Browse the complete filmography of Rip Torn — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV
Columbo
1971
TV
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
TV
Bonanza
1959
TV
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
TV
Will & Grace
1998
TV
Golden Globe Awards
1944
TV
Mannix
1967
TV
30 Rock
2006
TV
Chicago Hope
1994
TV
Naked City
1958
TV
Combat!
1962
TV
The Untouchables
1959
TV
Dr. Kildare
1961
TV
Rawhide
1959

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Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 2

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Rip Torn — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Theatre World Award
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 16

A wall of memorable lines from Rip Torn — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

Never Think You’re Better Than Anyone Else, but Don’t Let Anyone Treat You Like You’re Worse Than They Are.
I Honor Religion Except When It Gets into Shedding Blood.
I Used to Be Friends with Miles Davis. He Didn’t Like Many Folks. I Lived Across the Street from Him.
If You’re Lucky Enough to Have a Pretty Girl Love You and Share Herself and Sleep with You, Make That Your Secret. the Best Way to Spoil Love Is by Talking to Too Many People About It.
If I Could Just Get a Piece of Lemon, It’d Be Great.
You Can Never Turn Your Back on the Ocean.
Don’t Ever Humiliate a Man. If You’re Gonna Have to Dress Him Out, You Take Him Aside and Do It That Way. That’s the One Thing I Don’t Like About Hollywood: They Go in for Public Humiliation. You Shouldn’t Do That to a Man.
Be Your Own Politics, Grow Your Own Garden, and Maybe You Can Help Out More.
When I Grew up People Said, You’ll Never Be the Man Your Dad Was. and I Said, Gee, I Hope Not.
I’ve Got Two Old Volvos, Two Old Subarus and an Old Ford Ranger. If You’ve Got an Old Car, You’ve Gotta Have at Least Several Old Cars, ‘Cause One’s Always Gonna Be in the Garage.
Let the Other Guys Do the Crybaby Stuff. Go for the Laughs.
I Think Most Actors Are Shy. I Really Do. the Greatest Actors Can Disappear. I Had Friends Call Me the Blend in Man.
I’ve Never Hit Anybody Who Hasn’t Clocked Me Two or Three Times.
Anything New Is Always Considered the Devil’s Tool.
Everybody Says, You Impress Me as a Guy Who Never Wanted to Be a Movie Star. I Say, Everybody in the World Wants to Be a Movie Star.
There’s Always Some Kind of Blacklist Throughout History. but the Difference Is, in America They Usually Let You Live.

Did you know?

FACTS · 27

Little-known facts about Rip Torn — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

On January 29, 2010, Torn was arrested in Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut, after police found him passed out, holding a loaded gun, on the floor of a bank that had just been broken into. He was drunk and thought the bank was his home. He later pleaded guilty and received a suspended 2.5-year prison sentence and three years of probation.
On March 14, 1997, it was reported that Torn won a $475,000 defamation suit against Dennis Hopper after Hopper made remarks on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on May 31, 1994.
In 1970, a bullet was fired through the window of Torn’s home after he spoke out against the Vietnam War on The Dick Cavett Show.
Torn played three American presidents on screen: Ulysses S. Grant, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon.
During his six-decade career, he received one Academy Award nomination, two American Comedy Awards nominations, nine Emmy Award nominations, and seven CableACE nominations, winning one Emmy, one American Comedy Award, and three CableACE awards.
Torn and his first wife Ann Wedgeworth had a daughter, Danae Torn. With second wife Geraldine Page, he had a daughter and twin sons: Angelica Page, Tony Torn, and John Torn. Although he and Page never divorced, their relationship deteriorated and Torn began a relationship with Amy Wright in 1976; they later married and had two daughters, Katie and Claire.
Served as a U.S. Army military police officer after college.
Served as the league commissioner of GSN’s Extreme Dodgeball.
Torn was born to a father of German, Austrian, and Bohemian descent and a mother of Moravian and German ancestry. He grew up in Taylor, Texas, and attended Taylor High School, home of the Taylor Ducks. He was inducted into the inaugural Duck Hall of Fame and attended the ceremonies personally.
Was nominated for Broadway’s 1960 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actor Dramatic for Sweet Bird of Youth, a performance he recreated in the 1962 film.
Grew up in Texas, attended Texas A&M College graduated 1952, and later studied acting at the University of Texas, where he joined Sigma Chi Fraternity.
After his guest-starring role on Inside Roy 2016, he retired from acting at age 85. He died three years later in July 2019 at age 88.
He was a close friend from boyhood of actor Larry Blyden. As boys, friends referred to them as Torn and Bleedin’.
First cousin of Sissy Spacek and first cousin once-removed of actresses Schuyler Fisk and Madison Fisk. Godfather of Clay Liford.
At age 25, Torn moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1956 to become an actor.
Had appeared in the music video for the They Might Be Giants song Can’t Keep Johnny Down.
Along with Garry Shandling and Jeffrey Tambor, Torn was one of three actors to appear in every episode of The Larry Sanders Show.
Before becoming a successful actor, he was also a member of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets.
Attended the Republican National Convention in New York in 2004.
Starred in two unrelated movies focusing on J. Edgar Hoover: The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover 1977 playing Dwight Webb, and J. Edgar Hoover 1987 playing Lyndon Johnson.
Graduated from Taylor High School in Taylor, Texas, in 1948 at only 17 years of age.
In 1997, he appeared in Men in Black as Zed and Hercules as Zeus. In Men in Black, Tommy Lee Jones’ character is swallowed by a giant cockroach; in Hercules, the protagonist is swallowed by the Hydra.
Best remembered by the public for his starring role as producer Artie on The Larry Sanders Show.
Shares a birthday with actress Mamie Van Doren: February 6, 1931.
His birthplace, Temple, Texas, is 27 miles east of Killeen, Texas.
His daughter Angelica Page has a birthday 11 days after her father.
Bore a slight resemblance to actor Richard Karn.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 39

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Rip Torn.

When was Rip Torn born?
Rip Torn was born on February 6, 1931. His birth name is Elmore Rual Torn Jr.
Where was Rip Torn born?
He was born in Temple, Texas, USA. He grew up in Taylor, Texas, a farming community northeast of Austin.
When did Rip Torn die?
Rip Torn died on July 9, 2019, at the age of 88. He passed away in Lakeville, Connecticut.
How old was Rip Torn when he died?
He was 88 years old at the time of his death. He died in 2019 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
Where did Rip Torn die?
He died in Lakeville, Connecticut, USA. He had been living in the area at the time of his passing.
How did Rip Torn die?
Rip Torn died from Alzheimer’s disease. He had been suffering from the condition for some time before his death.
What was Rip Torn's real name?
His birth name was Elmore Rual Torn Jr. The nickname Rip was a family name passed down through generations.
What did Rip Torn do for a living?
He was an actor, director, and producer. He worked extensively in film, television, and theater over six decades.
What nationality was Rip Torn?
He was American. He held United States citizenship throughout his life.
What language did Rip Torn speak?
His native language was English. He also may have known some German or Czech through his ancestry.
Who were Rip Torn's parents?
His parents were Thelma Mary Spacek and Elmore Rual Sr. Torn. His father was an agriculturalist who popularized eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day.
Who was Rip Torn married to?
He was married three times: to Ann Wedgeworth 1956-1961, to Geraldine Page 1963-1987, and to Amy Wright from 1976 until his death.
Did Rip Torn have children?
Yes, he had six children: Danae Torn, Angelica Page, Tony Torn, John Torn, Katherine Torn, and Claire Torn.
Where did Rip Torn go to school?
He attended Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, Taylor High School, and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
What awards did Rip Torn win?
He won a Theatre World Award and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1996 for The Larry Sanders Show.
How many awards did Rip Torn win?
He won at least nine major industry awards during his career, including one Emmy, three CableACE awards, and one American Comedy Award.
What is Rip Torn best known for?
He is best known for playing Artie on The Larry Sanders Show and Agent Zed in Men in Black. He also appeared in Cross Creek, Freddy Got Fingered, and Defending Your Life.
How tall was Rip Torn?
He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, or 1.78 meters. His height was typical for a leading man of his era.
Did Rip Torn have any aliases?
He was sometimes credited as Elmor Torn early in his career, but he used the name Rip Torn professionally.
Who were Rip Torn's relatives?
He was a first cousin of actress Sissy Spacek. He was also a first cousin once-removed of Schuyler Fisk and Madison Fisk.
What was Rip Torn's height in feet and inches?
He was 5 feet 10 inches tall. That measurement converts to 1.78 meters.
Did Rip Torn serve in the military?
Yes, he served as a U.S. Army military police officer after college. He also was a member of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets.
Was Rip Torn related to Sissy Spacek?
Yes, Sissy Spacek was his first cousin. His mother was her aunt. Torn helped Spacek get into the Actors Studio.
What role did Rip Torn play in Men in Black?
He played Zed, the head of the Men in Black organization. The film was released in 1997.
What role did Rip Torn play on The Larry Sanders Show?
He played Artie, the producer of the fictional talk show. He won an Emmy for this role in 1996.
Did Rip Torn win an Oscar?
No, but he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Cross Creek in 1983.
How many Emmys did Rip Torn win?
He won one Primetime Emmy Award. He was nominated for nine Emmys overall, including six consecutive nominations for The Larry Sanders Show.
Did Rip Torn direct any films?
Yes, he directed the 1988 film The Telephone, starring Whoopi Goldberg.
What was Rip Torn's first film?
His feature film debut was in Elia Kazan’s Baby Doll 1956. He had a small part.
What was Rip Torn's Broadway debut?
He made his Broadway debut on March 10, 1959, in Tennessee Williams’ Sweet Bird of Youth, directed by Elia Kazan.
Did Rip Torn play any U.S. presidents?
Yes, he played three: Ulysses S. Grant, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon.
What was Rip Torn's educational background?
He studied animal husbandry at Texas A&M University and later attended the University of Texas at Austin. He also trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
Was Rip Torn involved in any legal controversies?
In 2010, he was arrested for breaking into a bank while drunk, thinking it was his home. He later pleaded guilty and received probation.
Did Rip Torn win a defamation lawsuit?
Yes, in 1997 he won a $475,000 defamation suit against Dennis Hopper for remarks made on The Tonight Show.
What was Rip Torn's cause of death?
He died from Alzheimer’s disease. He passed away at age 88 in Lakeville, Connecticut.
Where is Rip Torn buried?
His parents are buried in Taylor, Texas, but the source does not specify Rip Torn’s burial location. He is presumably interred near his family.
Did Rip Torn have any grandchildren?
The source does not mention grandchildren. He had six children, some of whom may have children of their own.
What was Rip Torn's net worth?
The source does not provide net worth information. As a prominent actor, he likely accumulated significant wealth.
What were Rip Torn's hobbies?
The source does not detail hobbies. He was known to be a horseman from his Texas upbringing, and he enjoyed hunting.