Tom Pittman (March 16, 1932 â€" October 31, 1958) was an American film
and television actor. After his death at the age of 26, the Los
Angeles Times called him "one of Hollywood's most promising young
actors."Pittman was born Jerry Lee Alten in Phoenix, Arizona. His
father was television and radio actor Frank Alten. Pittman began his
career in acting in 1956 with a guest starring role on Science Fiction
Theatre. He made his film debut that same year in D-Day the Sixth of
June. Pittman went on to roles in numerous television Westerns
including Gunsmoke, Cheyenne, Have Gun â€" Will Travel, The Restless
Gun, and Cimarron City. He also appeared in the 1957 drama The Young
Stranger (1957) and the musical comedy Bernardine (1957). His final
two roles were in the films Verboten! and High School Big Shot, both
released in 1959, the year following his death.On October 31, 1958,
Pittman was driving home after a Halloween party when he ran his
Porsche Spyder off the road at a sharp curve in the Hollywood Hills.
After he failed to return home, his father filed a missing persons
report. On November 19, Los Angeles police officer, Roy Kerton,
retraced the roads Pittman's father said his son liked to drive and
found the wreckage at the bottom of a 150-foot ravine. Pittman's car
had crashed through the guard rail, landing at the bottom of the
ravine where it remained out of sight.
and television actor. After his death at the age of 26, the Los
Angeles Times called him "one of Hollywood's most promising young
actors."Pittman was born Jerry Lee Alten in Phoenix, Arizona. His
father was television and radio actor Frank Alten. Pittman began his
career in acting in 1956 with a guest starring role on Science Fiction
Theatre. He made his film debut that same year in D-Day the Sixth of
June. Pittman went on to roles in numerous television Westerns
including Gunsmoke, Cheyenne, Have Gun â€" Will Travel, The Restless
Gun, and Cimarron City. He also appeared in the 1957 drama The Young
Stranger (1957) and the musical comedy Bernardine (1957). His final
two roles were in the films Verboten! and High School Big Shot, both
released in 1959, the year following his death.On October 31, 1958,
Pittman was driving home after a Halloween party when he ran his
Porsche Spyder off the road at a sharp curve in the Hollywood Hills.
After he failed to return home, his father filed a missing persons
report. On November 19, Los Angeles police officer, Roy Kerton,
retraced the roads Pittman's father said his son liked to drive and
found the wreckage at the bottom of a 150-foot ravine. Pittman's car
had crashed through the guard rail, landing at the bottom of the
ravine where it remained out of sight.
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