Thomas G. Waites (born January 8, 1955) is an American actor and
acting instructor born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Waites runs an
acting studio in New York City which is named for him. He has been a
member of the Actors Studio since 1984.Waites was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Michael and Anne Waites. He
completed grade school at Immaculate Conception and then high school
at Bishop Egan in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. After one year at
Bucks County Community College, he received a full scholarship for
acting at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied as a
member of the Drama Division's Group 7 (1974â€"1977). Some of his
classmates included Robin Williams, Christopher Reeve, Keith David and
Frances Conroy. He received a B.A. degree in Writing from The New
School and a Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting from the University of
Iowa.When Waites was 21 years old, he was offered two movies
simultaneously: Snowbound, directed by Robert Young, and Pity the Poor
Soldier (the title has subsequently changed), directed by Bill Jersey.
Despite the fact that he was offered twice the money for Snowbound,
Waites chose Pity the Poor Soldier because it was in celebration of
the centennial of the American Revolutionary War. Next Waites
originated the roll of Oliver Treefe in Simon Gray's world premiere of
Molly, at the First Annual Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C. After
this highly acclaimed performance he returned to NYC to be cast in the
Joan Micklin Silver-produced On the Yard (1978), co-starring John
Heard. Subsequently, he was offered a three-picture option deal with
Paramount Pictures. After very strong critical notices Waites
auditioned for and got a part in Walter Hill's The Warriors (1979)
playing the character Fox. After disputes with the director, he was
fired from this film. Subsequently, when the studio asked him where he
wanted his billing he told them to remove his name completely, a
decision Waites regrets. He has since reconciled with Walter Hill.
Three weeks after being fired from The Warriors Tom auditioned with Al
Pacino, and was cast as Jeff McCullough in the Norman Jewison film
...And Justice for All (1979). This began a long relationship with
Pacino. The two worked together again in Shakespeare's Richard III,
with Waites playing Richmond, where he received strong notices again.
After that, Waites originated the role of Mitchell in Alan Bowne's
Forty-Deuce Off-Broadway at the Perry Street Theatre. In 1982, Waites
competed with Matt Dillon and Kevin Bacon to land the role of Bobby in
David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, American Buffalo. Kurt
Russell and John Carpenter saw his performance and cast him as Windows
in the film The Thing (1982). Waites was cast in the Broadway premiere
of Trafford Tanzi, a musical where he sang with Deborah Harry of
Blondie fame. Next was Pastorale, the Obie Award-winning play by Debra
Eisenberg starring Judith Ivey and Christine Estabrook, playing the
character of Steve.It was during this time that Tom met his namesake
and singer Tom Waits, who generously taught Tom the song "Jersey Girl"
on the guitar. Out of deference to the musician Tom Waits, this is
when Tom added the G. to his professional name to offset any confusion
between the two talented artists. Tom Waits even played the bass drum
on a demo tape of Thomas G. Waites' music. Tom G. Waites began writing
music and formed a band called The Pushups, playing gigs around NYC in
clubs such as CBGB's, Limelight, Traxs, The Bitter End and even
opening for The Smithereens.
acting instructor born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Waites runs an
acting studio in New York City which is named for him. He has been a
member of the Actors Studio since 1984.Waites was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Michael and Anne Waites. He
completed grade school at Immaculate Conception and then high school
at Bishop Egan in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. After one year at
Bucks County Community College, he received a full scholarship for
acting at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied as a
member of the Drama Division's Group 7 (1974â€"1977). Some of his
classmates included Robin Williams, Christopher Reeve, Keith David and
Frances Conroy. He received a B.A. degree in Writing from The New
School and a Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting from the University of
Iowa.When Waites was 21 years old, he was offered two movies
simultaneously: Snowbound, directed by Robert Young, and Pity the Poor
Soldier (the title has subsequently changed), directed by Bill Jersey.
Despite the fact that he was offered twice the money for Snowbound,
Waites chose Pity the Poor Soldier because it was in celebration of
the centennial of the American Revolutionary War. Next Waites
originated the roll of Oliver Treefe in Simon Gray's world premiere of
Molly, at the First Annual Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C. After
this highly acclaimed performance he returned to NYC to be cast in the
Joan Micklin Silver-produced On the Yard (1978), co-starring John
Heard. Subsequently, he was offered a three-picture option deal with
Paramount Pictures. After very strong critical notices Waites
auditioned for and got a part in Walter Hill's The Warriors (1979)
playing the character Fox. After disputes with the director, he was
fired from this film. Subsequently, when the studio asked him where he
wanted his billing he told them to remove his name completely, a
decision Waites regrets. He has since reconciled with Walter Hill.
Three weeks after being fired from The Warriors Tom auditioned with Al
Pacino, and was cast as Jeff McCullough in the Norman Jewison film
...And Justice for All (1979). This began a long relationship with
Pacino. The two worked together again in Shakespeare's Richard III,
with Waites playing Richmond, where he received strong notices again.
After that, Waites originated the role of Mitchell in Alan Bowne's
Forty-Deuce Off-Broadway at the Perry Street Theatre. In 1982, Waites
competed with Matt Dillon and Kevin Bacon to land the role of Bobby in
David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, American Buffalo. Kurt
Russell and John Carpenter saw his performance and cast him as Windows
in the film The Thing (1982). Waites was cast in the Broadway premiere
of Trafford Tanzi, a musical where he sang with Deborah Harry of
Blondie fame. Next was Pastorale, the Obie Award-winning play by Debra
Eisenberg starring Judith Ivey and Christine Estabrook, playing the
character of Steve.It was during this time that Tom met his namesake
and singer Tom Waits, who generously taught Tom the song "Jersey Girl"
on the guitar. Out of deference to the musician Tom Waits, this is
when Tom added the G. to his professional name to offset any confusion
between the two talented artists. Tom Waits even played the bass drum
on a demo tape of Thomas G. Waites' music. Tom G. Waites began writing
music and formed a band called The Pushups, playing gigs around NYC in
clubs such as CBGB's, Limelight, Traxs, The Bitter End and even
opening for The Smithereens.
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