---
name: "Tom Atkins"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/tom-atkins"
fi1m_id: "tom-atkins"
imdb_id: "nm0040662"
tmdb_id: 11784
wikidata_id: "Q1366623"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "13 November 1935"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-04T17:21:48.046467+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Tom Atkins

## Identity

Tom Atkins

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/tom-atkins
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** tom-atkins
- **IMDb ID:** nm0040662
- **TMDB ID:** 11784
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1366623
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Atkins_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1366623, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0040662/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11784

Actor. Born 13 November 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 13 November 1935, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Active:** 1981–1995
- **Also known as:** Tommy Atkins, Thomas "Tom" Atkins
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 78 (2), 1990s 74 (1)
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 2, Thriller 2, Action & Adventure 1, Crime 1, Drama 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $170m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Atkins_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1366623, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0040662/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11784

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Escape from New York*](https://film.one/film/escape-from-new-york.md) (76)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Tom Atkins

> Tom Atkins is the tired lawman of 1980s horror: a stage-trained everyman who looks as if he has done the job for twenty years and would rather have done anything else. Horror needed a grown-up, and for a decade he was the one it rang.

Watch what Tom Atkins does when a scene turns silly, which in the films he made his living from was most evenings. He does not wink at it. He drops his voice, slows down, and treats whatever has just come through the door as one more piece of paperwork, and the scene is steadier for having him in it. It is a stage actor's habit, and he came up on the stage: Broadway and off-Broadway from the late 1960s, before Los Angeles and a run of policemen, among them Lt. Alex Diehl in *The Rockford Files* (1974 to 1977).

The policemen never really stopped. What changed, at the end of the 1970s, was what they were up against. John Carpenter cast him as Nick Castle in *The Fog* (1980), then as Rehme in *Escape from New York* (1981), and produced *Halloween III: Season of the Witch* (1982), which gave him a lead, Dr Daniel Challis, in a film that was shouted at on release for abandoning the series formula and has been slowly forgiven since. George A. Romero used him three times, starting with the uncredited prologue and epilogue of *Creepshow* (1982). He was, by then, the man horror directors called when they needed somebody the audience would believe had a mortgage.

The two of his films we rate most are not the ones that show him best. In *Escape from New York* he is a supporting part in a picture carried by Kurt Russell's whisper and the dark; in *Lethal Weapon* (1987) he is Michael Hunsaker, another supporting part in a film that belongs to Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Neither film is about him and neither needs to be. His leads came in smaller pictures: Det. Ray Cameron in *Night of the Creeps* (1986), which had only a limited release, and Lt. Frank McCrae in *Maniac Cop* (1988). That is the shape of a character actor's career, and he seems to have made his peace with it. Of *Night of the Creeps* he said: "It was the most fun film I've ever worked on. It was a pure giggle from beginning to end."

We will own that it got to us. The film is a joke, and we laughed at it, and somewhere in the middle we noticed we had stopped laughing at Cameron and were simply worried about him. Atkins plays a burnt-out detective as if burnout were a medical condition rather than a pose, and the film around him does not always deserve the care. That is the whole of what he does: he is better than the material and declines to let you see him notice.

He has kept at it, with Patrick Lussier for three films, with Adrienne Barbeau for four, and on the Pittsburgh stage, where his one-man show *The Chief* has had a long run and where he was still working in 2023. If you want to see what the 1980s horror film looked like once an adult walked into it, start with *The Fog* and *Halloween III*, and keep an eye on the man at the back who is not frightened yet.

## Biography

Tom Atkins is an American actor born on 13 November 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied at Duquesne University and began his career in stage productions on and off Broadway before moving to Los Angeles for film and television work.

Atkins is known for roles in horror and thriller films, including Nick Castle in *The Fog* (1980), Rehme in *Escape from New York* (1981), Daniel Challis in *Halloween III: Season of the Witch* (1982), and Michael Hunsaker in *Lethal Weapon* (1987). He has also appeared in *Creepshow* (1982), *Night of the Creeps* (1986), *Maniac Cop* (1988), *Striking Distance* (1993), *My Bloody Valentine* (2009) and *Drive Angry* (2011). He had a recurring television role as Lt. Alex Diehl in *The Rockford Files* (1974–1977).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Xena: Warrior Princess* (1995), Fi1m 74, as Atrius — [page](https://film.one/tv/xena-warrior-princess.md)
- *Lethal Weapon* (1987), Fi1m 80, as Michael Hunsaker — [page](https://film.one/film/lethal-weapon.md)
- *Escape from New York* (1981), Fi1m 76, as Rehme — [page](https://film.one/film/escape-from-new-york.md)

## Complete filmography (87)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Polybius* (2020), as Sheriff Atkins
- *Trick* (2019), as Talbott
- *Creepshow* (2019), series, as Frank (segment "Something Burrowed, Something Blue")
- *City on a Hill* (2019), series, as Joe Congemi
- *Encounter* (2018), as Professor Herbert Westlake
- *Judy's Dead* (2014), as Roy
- *Apocalypse Kiss* (2014), as Captain John Vogle
- *Drive Angry* (2011), as Cap
- *The Chief* (2010), as Art Rooney
- *Trapped* (2009), as Detective Abbott
- *Amazing Racer* (2009), as Captain Martin
- *My Bloody Valentine* (2009), as Burke
- *The Jury* (2004), series, as Boyd Kingman
- *Turn of Faith* (2002), as Charlie Ryan
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Roy Monahan
- *Out of the Black* (2001), as Eugene Carter
- *Bruiser* (2000), as Det. McCleary
- *The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads* (1999), as Cmdr. Alex Diehl
- *Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story* (1996), as Henry Hart
- *The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...* (1996), as Cmdr. Alex Diehl
- *Xena: Warrior Princess* (1995), series, as Atrius — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/xena-warrior-princess.md)
- *Fortune Hunter* (1994), series, as Richard Bennet
- *Striking Distance* (1993), as Uncle Fred
- *Walker, Texas Ranger* (1993), series, as Wade
- *Sworn to Vengeance* (1993), as Ed Barry
- *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Grenville Rollins — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md)
- *Bob Roberts* (1992), as Dr. Caleb Mneck
- *What She Doesn't Know* (1992), as Roy
- *Cry in the Wild: The Taking of Peggy Ann* (1991), as Jamieson
- *Against the Law* (1990), series, as Walter Littlefield
- *Two Evil Eyes* (1990), as Det. Grogan
- *Kojak: Flowers For Matty* (1990), as Lt. Ian Conner
- *The Heist* (1989), as Det. Leland
- *Dead Man Out* (1989), as Berger
- *Maniac Cop* (1988), as Frank McCrae
- *Lemon Sky* (1988), as Douglas
- *The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & Wine* (1987), as Detective Frank Standish
- *A Stranger Waits* (1987), as Sheriff Collier
- *Lethal Weapon* (1987), as Michael Hunsaker — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/lethal-weapon.md)
- *Night of the Creeps* (1986), as Det. Ray Cameron
- *Blind Justice* (1986), as Kramer
- *The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1985), series, as Police Lieutenant
- *Spenser: For Hire* (1985), series, as Hatch
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Demonstrator, Detective Frank Standish
- *Stingray* (1985), series, as Donald Dixon
- *The New Kids* (1985), as Col. John MacWilliams
- *Masquerade* (1983), series, as Agent John
- *Murder Me, Murder You* (1983), as Jack Vance
- *The Mississippi* (1983), series, as Kenyon
- *Skeezer* (1982), as Dr. Chanless
- *Creepshow* (1982), as Stan (segments "Prologue" / "Epilogue") (uncredited)
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as Bob Lonnicker — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Halloween III: Season of the Witch* (1982), as Daniel Challis
- *T. J. Hooker* (1982), series, as Phil Parker / Tommy D'Amico
- *Desperate Lives* (1982), as John Cameron
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Douglas
- *Escape from New York* (1981), as Rehme — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/escape-from-new-york.md)
- *The Ninth Configuration* (1980), as Sgt. Krebs
- *The Fog* (1980), as Nick Castle
- *Power* (1980), series, as Buck Buchanan
- *Skag* (1980), as Dr. Moscone
- *A Death in Canaan* (1978), as Lt. Bragdon
- *Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo* (1977), as Buddy
- *Lou Grant* (1977), series, as Jim Bronsky, Dr Sorensen, Frank Dunning
- *Standing Room Only* (1977), series, as Craigin
- *Visions* (1976), series, as Robert Dayka
- *Quincy, M.E.* (1976), series, as John Todd, Gene Butler
- *Special Delivery* (1976), as Cop on Beat
- *Serpico* (1976), series, as Tom Sullivan
- *Serpico: The Deadly Game* (1976), as Lt. Tom Sullivan
- *Shell Game* (1975), as Stoker Frye
- *Baretta* (1975), series, as Vic
- *Miles To Go Before I Sleep* (1975), as O'Dell
- *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as Alex Diel, Thomas Diehl — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md)
- *Harry O* (1974), series, as Sgt. Frank Cole
- *Rhoda* (1974), series, as Vic Rhodes
- *Get Christie Love!* (1974), series, as Peterson
- *M*A*S*H* (1972), series, as Major Weems — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md)
- *The Rookies* (1972), series, as Brad Gifford
- *Where’s Poppa?* (1970), as Policeman in apartment
- *The Owl and the Pussycat* (1970), as Kid in Car (uncredited)
- *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Koko Apaleka
- *One Life to Live* (1968), series, as Pike Buchanan
- *The Detective* (1968), as Harmon
- *The Doctors* (1963), series, as Dylan Levein
- *Look up and Live* (1953), series, as Doctor
- *The Collected*, as Arkin’s father

## Gallery

- ![Tom Atkins](https://film.one/media/person/119118/gallery-d8802b0d5821.jpg) Tom Atkins — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Tom_Atkins_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Tom_Atkins_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tom Atkins and Dick Warlock speaking with attendees at the 2023 Mad Monster Arizona Party at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Arizo](https://film.one/media/person/119118/gallery-e5c60da8e5f3.jpg) Tom Atkins and Dick Warlock speaking with attendees at the 2023 Mad Monster Arizona Party at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Arizo — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Tom_Atkins_%26_Dick_Warlock_%2853038780007%29.jpg/1280px-Tom_Atkins_%26_Dick_Warlock_%2853038780007%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tom Atkins and Dick Warlock speaking with attendees at the 2023 Mad Monster Arizona Party at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Arizo](https://film.one/media/person/119118/gallery-dbd67e919370.jpg) Tom Atkins and Dick Warlock speaking with attendees at the 2023 Mad Monster Arizona Party at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Arizo — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Tom_Atkins_%26_Dick_Warlock_%2853038780057%29.jpg/1280px-Tom_Atkins_%26_Dick_Warlock_%2853038780057%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tom Atkins and Dick Warlock speaking with attendees at the 2023 Mad Monster Arizona Party at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Arizo](https://film.one/media/person/119118/gallery-ed91cbf5cd5a.jpg) Tom Atkins and Dick Warlock speaking with attendees at the 2023 Mad Monster Arizona Party at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Arizo — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Tom_Atkins_%26_Dick_Warlock_%2853039363041%29.jpg/1280px-Tom_Atkins_%26_Dick_Warlock_%2853039363041%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tom Atkins](https://film.one/media/person/119118/gallery-2733241d5159.jpg) Tom Atkins — Image via TMDB
- ![Tom Atkins](https://film.one/media/person/119118/gallery-a758287369ae.jpg) Tom Atkins — Image via TMDB
- ![Tom Atkins and Dick Warlock speaking with attendees at the 2023 Mad Monster Arizona Party at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Arizo](https://film.one/media/person/119118/gallery-f33bd32c1a28.jpg) Tom Atkins and Dick Warlock speaking with attendees at the 2023 Mad Monster Arizona Party at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Arizo — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Tom_Atkins_%26_Dick_Warlock_%2853039363201%29.jpg/1280px-Tom_Atkins_%26_Dick_Warlock_%2853039363201%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tom Atkins and Dick Warlock speaking with attendees at the 2023 Mad Monster Arizona Party at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Arizo](https://film.one/media/person/119118/gallery-d6bad2b01dab.jpg) Tom Atkins and Dick Warlock speaking with attendees at the 2023 Mad Monster Arizona Party at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Arizo — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Tom_Atkins_%26_Dick_Warlock_%2853039745880%29.jpg/1280px-Tom_Atkins_%26_Dick_Warlock_%2853039745880%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/tom-atkins