Broadway actor and writer Tom Troupe, known for his roles on TV shows like Star Trek and Cheers and in films such as Kelly’s Heroes and My Own Private Idaho, has died at the age of 97.
According to a press release per USA Today, Troupe passed away from natural causes on Sunday, July 20, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. His death comes a year after his wife, Sixteen Candles actress Carole Cook, died in 2023.
Tom Troupe (July 15, 1928 – July 20, 2025) was a respected American actor and writer whose career spanned over six decades across stage, television, and film. Born in North Kansas City, Missouri, Troupe moved to New York City in the late 1940s to study acting. He trained under legendary acting coach Uta Hagen at the Herbert Berghof Studio, laying the foundation for a lifelong career in performance.
Troupe made his Broadway debut in 1957 as Peter van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank, marking the beginning of his success on stage. Throughout his theatrical career, he appeared in major productions including The Lion in Winter, The Gin Game, and Father’s Day, often sharing the stage with his wife, actress Carole Cook. The couple was well-known in the theater community and were honored with the L.A. Ovation Award for Career Achievement in 2002—the first married couple to receive the honor.
His television work included appearances on iconic shows such as Star Trek, Cheers, Mission: Impossible, Murder, She Wrote, Frasier, ER, and Knots Landing. He played a variety of roles over the years, earning a reputation as a versatile and dependable character actor.
In film, Troupe appeared in a number of well-regarded titles, including The Big Fisherman, The Devil’s Brigade, Kelly’s Heroes, Summer School, and My Own Private Idaho. Despite his screen success, the stage remained his true passion. He also co-founded the Los Angeles acting school “The Faculty” and wrote and performed in several one-man plays, including a notable adaptation of The Diary of a Madman.
Troupe was married to Carole Cook from 1964 until her death in 2023.
