Thomas Carroll Neal Jr. (January 28, 1914 â€" August 7, 1972) was an
American actor and successful amateur boxer best known for his
costarring role in the critically lauded film Detour, for having a
widely publicized affair with actress Barbara Payton, and for later
being convicted and imprisoned for manslaughter.Born in Evanston,
Illinois, Neal was one of three children born to banker Thomas, Sr.
and Mayme Neal (née Martin). He had two older sisters, Mary Elizabeth
and Dorothy Helen. His great uncle was John Drew, the noted thespian.
Neal and his sisters were raised in a spacious ten-room home in
Chicago. He attended Lake Forest Academy and Evanston Township High
School before enrolling at Northwestern University where he majored in
mathematics. During college, Neal played several sports and, for a
time, competed in amateur boxing matches. He was also a member the
Sigma Chi fraternity and was active in the drama club.Neal dropped out
of Northwestern after a year, and moved back to Chicago. He appeared
in various stage productions in summer stock before making his way to
New York City in 1933. Neal made his Broadway debut in 1935. In 1938,
he first appeared in film in Out West with the Hardys, part of the
Mickey Rooney "Hardy family" movie series.
American actor and successful amateur boxer best known for his
costarring role in the critically lauded film Detour, for having a
widely publicized affair with actress Barbara Payton, and for later
being convicted and imprisoned for manslaughter.Born in Evanston,
Illinois, Neal was one of three children born to banker Thomas, Sr.
and Mayme Neal (née Martin). He had two older sisters, Mary Elizabeth
and Dorothy Helen. His great uncle was John Drew, the noted thespian.
Neal and his sisters were raised in a spacious ten-room home in
Chicago. He attended Lake Forest Academy and Evanston Township High
School before enrolling at Northwestern University where he majored in
mathematics. During college, Neal played several sports and, for a
time, competed in amateur boxing matches. He was also a member the
Sigma Chi fraternity and was active in the drama club.Neal dropped out
of Northwestern after a year, and moved back to Chicago. He appeared
in various stage productions in summer stock before making his way to
New York City in 1933. Neal made his Broadway debut in 1935. In 1938,
he first appeared in film in Out West with the Hardys, part of the
Mickey Rooney "Hardy family" movie series.
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