Good job.
6
I was amazed at the amount and variety of his screen roles when I looked him up on the IMDB. I will always love him as Artie on The Larry Sanders Show, totally at home with and well-versed in the vagaries of show business.
9
Long live Dino.
3
I might be one of the hundred people who saw "Payday" in its original release. Not a great movie overall, but his performance took a stereotype and let you see the pain and poverty behind it. I've binge watched "Larry Sanders" more than once just to watch him at work. What an actor's actor.
21
As a HS Senior in 1970, I was fortunate to see Strindberg's "Dance of Death" with Mr Torn and Viveca Lindfors, in the round, at D.C.'s Arena Theater. What an introduction to theater.
6
He and Kim Stanley steal the show as Big Daddy and Big Mama in the Jessica Lange/Tommy Lee Jones version of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." He doesn't have the physical stature, but his emotional stature is enormous. I recommend it to all, if you can track it down.
"...lived with too much space around me to be infected by the ideas of other people."
And regarding the elephant's erection..."She's spoiled."
Plus, the accent.
Rip Torn. R.I.P.
10
Makes me want to delver deeper into the Torn archives!
12
Such an extraordinary onscreen presence. He was brilliant in The Larry Sanders Show, but his performance in Dodgeball slays me every time!
12
RIP Rip Torn. Condolences to your children.
6
I was a classmate of Rip at UT in 1952. We all knew he would be a Star. There's never been anyone like him. After the army, he drove to NY in a 1939 Chevy with his wife Ann Wedgewood and their baby, Danae. When I went to NY after the army, he introduced me to Sandy Meisner and I got into the Neighborhood Playhouse. Later he loaned me the money for my initiation into Equity.
I owe him my life in the Theatre. Rest in peace, Dear friend. I'm right behind you. I'm 87.
81
@Ray Stewart
Nicely done.
20
I’m surprised there’s no mention of his amazingly egotistical and incredibly self-possessed author in “Wonder Boys.” His was minor supporting role, but hysterical!!
26
Rip Torn flaneuring as Henry Miller in "Tropic of Cancer" resonates with me even today as I sit at a cafe in New York's Chelsea district drinking my wine.
14
I'll say it. He was the actor Nicholson hoped to be.
64
“Coming Apart” dir. by Milton Moses Ginsberg, 1969.
Torn apart is more apt.
RIP RT
14
And don't forget his role as the venal,murderous uncle in a Columbo show! Peter Falk vrs. Rip Torn -- the perfect pairing!
21
Loved him ever since “Sweet Bird of Youth”
11
He was also great in "You're a Big Boy Now" (1966).
4
Mr. Torn was exceptional in “Men In Black,” just so witty and odd that he stole every scene he was in. He was unique.
26
You mention that he broke into a Connecticut bank and Mr. Torn said he was drunk and he thought it was a house. I know that bank, its in Lakeville. I'm not sure where he lived in Lakevilled but the Bank indeed looks like a house. "A Connecticut Bank" makes it sound like a building in downtown Hartford. I thought the story also went that he was naked.
36
Among his other achievements, he helped launch the career of his immensely talented cousin, Sissy Spacek.
33
"It's scotch whisky... Glenlivet, single malt. When you die, you'll go to heaven, say hello to God; and when God says hello to you, this is what you'll smell on his breath" - Artie
R.I.P. Rip
20
The Times probably wouldn't reprint Artie's best lines from The Larry Sanders Show, so let's just say that he was the funniest thing about what is probably the best TV comedy ever made. I first starting watching it and him while running on a treadmill and had to stop after nearly breaking my neck from laughing.
29
Brilliant in "Defending Your Life." Hope he's my lawyer; he put up a game effort for Daniel.
19
When Studs Terkel wrote his landmark book "Working," the performer he chose to represent the acting profession was Rip Torn.
"We're not hosting an intergalactic kegger."
33
His performance in Defending Your Life is priceless. “When you use more than 5 percent of your brain, you don't want to be on earth; believe me.” Hilarious. RIP and thanks for all the memories.
33
R.I.P. RIP !!!
9
@Jeffrey Kirshner
Ba-da-bing!
3
If the Lord doesn't have Glenlivet on His breath when they meet, it won't be long before He does.
13
I still laugh to myself at all the scenes from Larry Sanders, with Artie as the perennial defender of Larry from the network, and of reining in Hank in every episode.
16
A bit of a character in real life, but a master craftsman in his work. His performance in 'Cross Creek' was simply remarkable, bringing a thousand shades of color to a highly complex character that many might have played simply as a backwoods cliche. RIP Rip.
19
RIP, Rip. Always an amazing performer.
8
I loved his energy in the theater. He was a brilliant actor. R.I.P. Rip.
5
Clearly an overlooked and underappreciated actor. He stole the movie "Defending Your Life". Should've been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for that performance. One of the best grins in Hollywood.
35
Whenever I saw his name in the credits, you knew he would excel in the part.
8
Heart rending in "Cross Creek." Never seemed to withhold anything in life or work. So glad I could see his films.
10
I’m always impressed by actors who are just as comfortable — and effective — in comedies as in dramas.
In memory of another man, my father, who died over 30 years ago I’ll pass along a slightly surreal joke (an exchange between two people) he once told about Torn:
First person: Do you think Rip Torn is really his name?
Second person: Do I think Rip Torn is really *whose* name?
16
Rip Torn had to be one of the most gifted actors I've ever seen. No one else could play comedy with such a deadpan demeanor. Thanks for sharing your talent with us!
15
Whatever Rip Torn played, and he played many diverse roles, when he showed up, he added a powerful reality and energy to the scene.
He brought so much. Sorry he had such a tumultuous life.
Love his calming line that he now fights only with his friends.
Brilliant actor.
RIP Rip
39
Wonderful actor, committed, fearless. Forever peace!
22
One of Rip Torn's most remarkable roles was playing the part of Noel Lord opposite Tantoo Cardinal's Bangor in an independent 1993 film "Where The Rivers Flow North", directed by Jay Craven. Torn plays an old-time woodsman fighting against insurmountable odds to keep his land and preserve a disappearing way of life. The film is adapted from the Howard Frank Mosher book. The project was exceptional story telling through superb acting with Rip Torn front and center. Rest well.
25
@Michael Thurston Thanks for taking note of that wonderful, powerful film with roles that both Torn and Cardinal played magnificently.
3
Catch him in "Where the Rivers Flow North" a wonderful Vermont indie adapted from the novel by Howard Frank Mosher.
16
Loved him in Men in Black and Freddy Got Fingered. RIP Mr. Torn
6
"If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball!"
34
Damn! How could Torn’s obit fail to mention “Dodgeball”?! He’s wonderfully loony in it!
7
Rip, you were a delight.
15
No mention of 30 Rock? His Jack Welch imitation was priceless
14
@Hugh G
Mr. Torn’s last screen roles included a lascivious Louis XV in Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” (2006) and a blustery network chief, a character reminiscent of his Emmy-winning Artie, on the sitcom “30 Rock.” In 2016 he played the voice of a talking letter M wearing a top hat on the offbeat animated series “TripTank.”
4
Sad to learn of Rip Torn's death. Very pleased with this full, detailed obituary.
24
Fine actor with a silly name. Reminded me of other decent actors with silly names like Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter, that suggested they were pretty-boy lightweights.
5
@A. Wechter
Glad to know Rip Torn got his nickname honestly, from his father.
I can't help but recall the composite character from the Beverly Hillbillies, Elly May's movie star suitor, Dash Riprock .
8
@Obie And Dash Rip Rock was a band that used THAT name in turn.
3
"If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball." Patches O'Houlihan. What a great actor.
15
Not mentioned was the strange and disturbing film, “Coming Apart”, which was made in the late 1960’s, starring Rip Torn.
6
What a great career and great actor. I still laugh out loud when remembering his Dodgeball scene "if you can dodge a wrench; you can dodge a ball."
11
I learned so much about the poetry of the English language (at least for some words) from him.
7
brilliant actor and, to say the least, an interesting man.
the sanders show was one of the top handful in american TV history.
27
Rip was the most naturally funny actor to me. Defending Your Life is a classic and one that I watch many times. I regret that I did not have a chance to see him on stage.
20
If you haven't seen "Payday," track it down. The film, and Mr. Torn, are worth the trouble. I was rather annoyed that this obit made much of the fact that this great actor had not won a Tony or an Oscar from his nominations. As if awards tell us the quality of an actor!
51
@RS I think the article's point may have been to imply that his work was squarely "award-worthy" but that his personal behavior may have prevented him from being honored by "the Academy".
Probably the same behavior that fueled his amazing performances and beloved status among fans and commenters of this article!
9
In Anna Christie on Broadway in 1993, Rip Torn brought down the house in the play's most tense moment when, right after, as Chris, Anna's father, he refuses to consider Anna (Natasha Richardson) marrying Mat (Liam Neeson), the rescued coal stoker, Anna admits she was not a teacher but a prostitute in the big city. Torn's pregnant pause, before he does a 180 on the marriage topic, was one of the two best uses of silence and timing I've had the privilege of seeing on stage (Christopher Walken as Iago had the other). He played the audience like we were so many fish, and he caught us all.
52
Torn's Big Daddy opposite Tommy Lee Jones as Brick and Jessica Lange as Maggie in the 1984 television version of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is powerful; the brilliantly written and acted father son scene with Jones especially so.
I also remember him making something out of nothing in a small role opposite Gregory Peck in the Korean War movie "Pork Chop Hill" from 1959.
Rest in peace. Thank you for the work.
14
Clearly his credits list is too long to include everything, but he was terrific as a gruff, fierce rancher in a1979 National Endowment for the Humanities film called "Heartland," with Conchata Ferrell. A lovely, moving piece of work.
13
@MidwesternReader Terrific in One Trick Pony, too. But watching him and Jeffrey Tambor, as Artie and Hank, that's where I'll go to when I need a boost.
8
@MidwesternReader
Yes, I remember that one! Terrific indeed.
2
@MidwesternReader
I thought I was the only person who remembered "Heartland". I have a really poor technical quality and censored copy but still watch it sometimes. It is one of the great feminist westerns. Almost no dialogue, just superb acting in a gutwrenching story.
1
One of the greats. Truly sad to see him go and sorry he didn't get more roles.
15
I have always been a huge fan of Rip Torn. Plus, his name is to die for. It's like Slim Pickens; both had names you can simply never forget. A side note is both played in films with Steve McQueen: For me, the most iconic actor of the 20th Century. I am extremely saddened to hear this.
25
For me, Mr. Torn was an actor who elevated any scene or production he was in. Thank you for the detailed obit.
42
In 1977, Rip Torn directed Geraldine Page in Strindberg's "Creditors/The Stronger" at the Public Theater (Amy Wright also starred). Their shared dressing room door bore the sign, "Torn/Page." Well, why not?
35
His small, yet shining parts in MIB were stellar.
10
I thoroughly enjoyed his work as Patches O'Houlihan in Dodgeball. R.I.P. RIP.
4
I did not read it here, but one of my favorites was Rip Torn and Tuesday Weld playing an episode of “The Naked City ” (A Case Study of Two Savages) which likely influenced the film “Pretty Poison” (with Tuesday Weld) about 10 years later. Both did excellent acting.
11
@steven
Thanks for the tip. That series is streaming now on Amazon Prime. Just added it to my watch list.
7
@steven
Yes I , too, have seen this episode(on DVD .When it was originally aired my bedtime wouldn't allow me to see these great, old shows) and it was cool to see Torn in his earlier acting days. If I remember correctly, in the first scenes scenes he's seen toting and playing a guitar. (a Martin D-21 I believe). Having learned of his irascible ways (and probably an iconoclast to boot) I'll bet Torn liked and played the music of men like Woody Guthrie, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and, of course, Bob Dylan. R.I.P. Rip
3
A spectacular actor who, sadly, failed to receive his due. I was fortunate enough to see him in person on Broadway. He was mesmerizing.
RIP.
25