Member: Actors' Equity Association
Member: Austin Playhouse Acting Company
Headshot and résumé available upon request
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Bring Our Troops Home!
As a veteran of two tours in Vietnam I fully support all of the men and women in our armed forces, but I feel that it is my duty to speak out against our current involvement in Iraq. In addition to the toll taken in innocent lives on both sides, the war is devisive to our country and is a terrible financial drain on our economy. Look below to see what this war is costing us.
click here to learn more
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Biography
Tom Parker has appeared in over eighty productions during his thirty-one years in Austin theater. He is a founding member of the Austin Playhouse Acting Company and served on the Austin Playhouse Board of Directors for four years. He originated the role of Harry S. Truman in the world premiere production of Larry L. King's play, The Dead Presidents' Club. Tom was a principal actor with the State Theatre Acting Company (formerly Live Oak Theatre Acting Company) appearing in thirty productions from 1989 until 2000.
He has performed locally with Austin Playhouse, Broadway Texas, Austin Musical Theatre, Live Oak Theatre, State Theatre, Actors' Repertory of Texas, the Paramount Theatre, Austin Melodrama Theatre, Zachary Scott Theatre Center, Capitol City Playhouse, the Ritz Theatre, Austin 5th Street Theatre, Remembrance Through the Performing Arts and has appeared as a Guest Artist at St. Edward's University, the University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University and with Austin Theatre for Youth. Regional credits include: Hacienda Dinner Theater, Harlequin Dinner Theater and the Church Theater in San Antonio and the Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival in Pittsburgh.
Tom co-founded the Church Dinner Theatre in San Antonio, Texas (now the Alamo Street Bistro & Theater) and served for two years as its Managing Director and principal actor in its resident acting company. Tom has also appeared with the Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival in Pittsburgh, with various theater companies in San Antonio, Texas and in his native state of Ohio. Other credits include several movies, the PBS television series Newscasts from the Past, a national Coca-Cola commercial, numerous industrials, as well as local and regional radio and television commercials.
He appeared in the world premiere of a previously unproduced Tennessee Williams play, Spring Storm, which was the inaugural production of Actors Repertory of Texas (A.R.T.).
Touring Production: Tom appeared in the role of Uncle Henry in the Broadway Texas production of The Wizard of Oz, which played at the Lila Cockrell Theatre in San Antonio, TX and at the Bass Concert Hall in Austin, TX.
Many thanks to Mikail Davenport of Disabled, Not Unable for his assistance in the design and maintenance of this website.
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Accolades & Awards
Tom received the 2003 Austin Circle of Theaters, B. Iden Payne Award in the category of Leading Actor in a Drama in the role of Ernst Gruber in the Remembrance Through the Performing Arts production of The Flame Keeper. Previous B. Iden Payne Awards include: 1989 Lead Actor/Comedy for I'm Not Rappaport (Nat Moyer) and 1990 Lead Actor/Drama for The Immigrant (Haskell Harelik).
Tom was the recipient of the first annual John Bustin "Beyond Category" Award at the 1998 Austin Critics Table Awards. This award was established in the name of the late John Bustin, long-time Austin drama critic, to recognize outstanding contributions to Austin theater.
Austin Circle of Theatres (1986) |
Nomination: Lead Actor/Drama |
The
Dresser (Norman) |
Austin Circle of Theatres (1987) |
Nomination: Lead Actor/Drama |
A
Christmas Carol (Scrooge)
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (1988) |
Nomination: Supporting Actor/Musical |
Gypsy
(Herbie) |
Austin Circle of Theatres (1989) |
Award: Lead Actor/Comedy |
I'm
Not Rappaport (Nat Moyer)
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (1990) |
Award: Lead Actor/Drama |
The
Immigrant (Haskell Harelik)
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (1991) |
Nomination: Suporting Actor/Comedy |
Driving
Miss Daisy
(Boolie
Werthan)
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (1992) |
Nomination: Lead Actor/Comedy |
House
of Blue Leaves (Artie Shaughnessy)
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (1992) |
Nomination: Lead Actor/Comedy |
Prelude
to a Kiss (the Old Man)
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (1992) |
Nomination: Supporting Actor/Comedy |
Midsummer
Night's Dream (Bottom)
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (1993) |
Nomination: Supporting Actor/Comedy |
Dancing
At Lughnasa (Father Jack)
|
Austin Critic's Table (1993) |
Nomination: Featured Actor |
Dancing
At Lugnhasa (Father Jack)
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (1995) |
Nomination: Featured Actor/Musical |
Cabaret
(Herr Schultz)
|
|
Austin Critic's Table (1997) |
Nomination: Lead Actor/Comedy |
I'm
Not Rappaport (Nat Moyer)
|
|
Austin Critic's Table (1997) |
John Bustin "Beyond Category Award" |
1st
Annual Award
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (1997) |
Nomination: Lead Actor/Comedy |
I'm
Not Rappaport (Nat Moyer)
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (1997) |
Nomination: Supporting Actor/Musical |
Annie
(Franklin D. Roosevelt)
|
|
Austin Critic's Table (1999) |
Nomination: Supporting Actor/Musical |
My
Fair Lady (Alfred P. Doolittle)
|
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (2003) |
Award: Lead Actor/Drama |
The
Flame Keeper (Ernst Gruber)
|
Austin Circle of Theatres (2003) |
Nomination: Supporting Actor/Comedy |
The Dead Presidents' Club (Harry Truman)
|
| Austin Critic's Table (2006) | Nomination: Actor/Musical | The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Chairman) |
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Photo Gallery
A Christmas Carol
as Ebenezer Scrooge
|
The Dead President's Club
as Harry S. Truman |
The Fantasticks
as Bellomy
|
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
as Gaston |
as Senex |
as Count Von Strack |
|
The Underpants
as Herr Klinglehoff |
The Three Penny Opera
as J. J. Peachum
|
I'm Not Rappaport |
I'm Not Rappaport
as Nat Moyer with |
Translations |
The Immigrant |
My Fair Lady |
My Fair Lady
|
How
I Learned to Drive
|
The
Flame Keeper
Michael Costello as Dr. Reiter with
|
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|
Production List
| Proof | Robert | Austin Playhouse | 2011 |
| The Trip to Bountiful | Agent/Roy | Austin Playhouse | 2010 |
| Picasso at the Lapin Agile | Gaston | Austin Playhouse | 2010 |
| The Fantasticks | Bellomy | Austin Playhouse | 2009 |
| A Flea in Her Ear | Baptistin & Herr Schwarz | Austin Playhouse | 2009 |
| The Dead Presidents' Club | Harry S. Truman | Guest
Artist, Tx State University |
2008 |
| Amadeus | Count Von Strack | Austin Playhouse | 2008 |
| A Funny Thing Happened...Forum | Senex | Austin Playhouse | 2008 |
| Blithe Spirit | Dr. Bradman | Austin Playhouse | 2008 |
Inherit the Wind |
Reverend Brown |
Austin Playhouse |
2007 |
The Dead President's Club |
Harry S. Truman |
Austin Playhouse |
2007 |
The Threepenny Opera |
Mr. Peachum |
Austin Playhouse |
2007 |
The Dead President's Club |
Harry S. Truman |
Austin Playhouse |
2006 |
The Odd Couple |
Speed |
Austin Playhouse |
2006 |
The Dead President's Club |
Harry S. Truman |
Austin Playhouse |
2005 |
The Mystery of Edwin Drood |
Chairman/Mayor Sapsea |
Austin Playhouse |
2005 |
Rumors |
Ernie Cusak |
Austin Playhouse |
2005 |
A Christmas Carol |
Ebenezer Scrooge |
Austin Playhouse |
2004 |
The Dead President's Club |
Harry S. Truman |
Austin Playhouse |
2004 |
The Underpants |
Herr Klinglehoff |
Austin Playhouse |
2004 |
The Wizard of Oz |
Uncle Henry |
Broadway Texas |
2003 |
The Dead President's Club (2X) |
Harry S. Truman |
Austin Playhouse |
2003 |
Damn Yankees |
Mr. Applegate |
Austin Playhouse |
2003 |
A Christmas Carol |
Ebenezer Scrooge |
Austin Playhouse |
2002 |
The Flame Keeper |
Ernst Gruber |
Remembrance
Thru |
2002 |
The Sound of Music |
Herr Zeller / Max (understudy) |
Austin Musical Theatre |
2001 |
The Fantasticks |
Bellomy |
Austin Playhouse |
2001 |
Light Up the Sky |
Owen Turner |
Austin Playhouse |
2001 |
A Funny Thing Happened...Forum |
Senex |
Guest
Artist, |
2000 |
How I Learned to Drive |
Uncle Peck |
State Theater Company |
2000 |
Dark of the Moon |
Preacher Haggler |
State Theater Company |
2000 |
A Christmas Carol |
1st Gentleman/Fezziwig/Joe |
State Theater Company |
1999 |
Spring Storm |
Rev Hooker / Mr. Critchfield |
Actors Repertory of Texas |
1999 |
The Taming of the Shrew |
Gremio / the Pedant |
State Theater Company |
1999 |
My Fair Lady |
Alfred P. Doolittle |
State Theater Company |
1999 |
The Diary of Anne Frank |
Otto Frank |
Guest
Artist, |
1999 |
Misalliance |
Lord Summerhays |
Guest
Artist, |
1998 |
The Fantasticks |
Bellomy |
Guest Artist, UT Summer Opera |
1998 |
Annie |
Franklin D. Roosevelt |
Austin Musical Theatre |
1998 |
I'm Not Rappaport |
Nat Moyer |
Live Oak Theatre |
1998 |
A Delicate Balance |
Harry |
Live Oak Theatre |
1997 |
You Can't Take It With You |
Martin Vanderhof |
Live Oak Theatre |
1997 |
A Christmas Carol |
1st Gentleman/Fezziwig/Joe |
Live Oak Theatre |
1996 |
Twelfth Night |
Malvolio |
Guest
Artist, |
1996 |
The Dead Presidents' Club |
Harry S. Truman |
Live Oak Theatre |
1996 |
The Importance of Being Earnest |
Rev. Canon Chausable |
Live Oak Theatre |
1996 |
A Christmas Carol |
1st Gentleman/Fezziwig/Joe |
Live Oak Theatre |
1995 |
Cabaret |
Herr Schultz |
Live Oak Theatre |
1995 |
Blinded By The Lights |
Dan Looney |
Live Oak Theatre |
1995 |
Lost In Yonkers |
Eddie Kurnitz |
Live Oak Theatre |
1995 |
An Asian Jockey In Our Midst |
Grady/Itchitaro |
Live Oak Theatre |
1994 |
The Immigrant |
Haskell Harelik |
Live Oak Theatre |
1994 |
Calvin's Garden |
George (the Sheriff) |
Live Oak Theatre |
1993 |
Broadway Bound |
Ben |
Guest
Artist, |
1993 |
Da |
Mr. Drumm |
Guest
Artist, |
1993 |
Dancing at Lughnasa |
Father Jack |
Live Oak Theatre |
1993 |
The Crucible |
Reverend Samuel Parris |
Live Oak Theatre |
1992 |
A Fiddler on the Roof |
The Rabbi |
Live Oak Theatre |
1992 |
Bosque County, Texas |
Walter & Preacher |
Live Oak Theatre |
1992 |
Prelude to a Kiss |
The Old Man |
Live Oak Theatre |
1992 |
The House of Blue Leaves |
Artie Shaughnessy |
Live Oak Theatre |
1992 |
A Midsummer Night's Dream |
Nick Bottom |
Live Oak Theatre |
1991 |
Translations |
Jimmy Jack Cassie |
Live Oak Theatre |
1990 |
Driving Miss Daisy |
Boolie Werthan |
Live Oak Theatre |
1990 |
The Immigrant |
Haskell Harelik |
Live Oak Theatre |
1990 |
Irma la Douce |
The Inspector |
Live Oak Theatre |
1989 |
I'm Not Rappaport |
Nat Moyer |
Live Oak Theatre |
1989 |
|
Tent Meeting |
Reverend Edward O. Tarbox |
Zachary Scott Theatre |
1988 |
| Julius Caesar | Cinna the Conspiritor/Lucilius | Three Rivers Shakespeare, Pittsburgh | 1988 |
Gypsy |
Herbie |
Capitol City Playhouse |
1987 |
Don't Drink the Water |
Walter Hollander |
Zachary Scott Theatre |
1987 |
Morning's at Seven |
Carl Bolton |
Zachary Scott Theatre |
1987 |
Stage Struck |
Fred Widdecombe |
Zachary Scott Theatre |
1987 |
A Christmas Carol |
Ebenezer Scrooge |
Zachary Scott Theatre |
1986 |
Terra Nova |
Roald Amundsen |
Zachary Scott Theatre |
1986 |
The Dresser |
Norman |
Zachary Scott Theatre |
1986 |
Season's Greetings |
Uncle Harvey |
Zachary Scott Theatre |
1985 |
The Dining Room |
Man #3 |
Zachary Scott Theatre |
1985 |
Little Red (the Musical) |
Luther |
5th Street Theatre |
1984 |
Present Laughter |
Morris Dixon |
Zachary Scott Theatre |
1984 |
Little Red (the Musical) |
Sylvester |
Ritz Theatre |
1982 |
The Fantasticks |
Bellomy |
Santa Rita Room |
1981 |
Prisoner of Second Avenue |
Harry |
University of Texas |
1980 |
The Fantasticks |
Bellomy |
U.T. Summer Theatre |
1979 |
Robin Hood |
Prince John |
Melodrama Theatre |
1979 |
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Current Production
Tom is currently "between shows." Check the Austin Playhouse website at http://www.austinplayhouse.com for upcoming productions or call Austin Playhouse at 512-476-0084 for information about the 2010-2011 season and please become a subscriber.
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Reviews
"...in the 19 years that Parker has been performing on Austin stages, he has become so adept at transforming himself and has done so in such a broad range of ways that it's no wonder an audience member would be confounded as to his true appearance." - Robert Faires' review of I'm Not Rappaport, Austin Chronicle, 1998
"Tom Parker as Uncle Peck... Dear Old Uncle Peck, however, Sweet & Caring Uncle Peck, though, he has the wool pulled farther over his own eyes than of those of his debauchees." - Wayne Allen Brenner's review of How I Learned to Drive, Austin Chronicle, 2000
"In his script, the playwright... is fortunate here to have the two sides of his debate embodied by actors as skilled as Tom Parker and Michael Costello." - Robert Faires' review of The Flame Keeper, Austin Chronicle, 2002
"Tom Parker sets the pace and tone of the show as the Chairman, crisply serving up reams of florid period prose and firing off acerbic asides with droll authority." - Robert Faires' review of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Austin Chronicle, 2005
"A quick tip of the nightcap to Tom Parker as the squawking arthritic old gentleman employed for the revolving bed and as the German come to Paris without a word of French but with lechery for any woman passing through the hotel lobby. Parker is comic, even if you don't understand a word of German -- and even more funny if you do!" AustinLiveTheatre.com review of A Flea in Her Ear, 2009
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His Best Role EVER!
Tom co-starred in the role of the Groom in his marriage to Lauri Raymond, starring as the bride, on Saturday, March 20, 2004. Ten years in the making, the wedding was performed at the Church of Conscious Harmony in Austin, Texas. Following the ceremony, the happy couple made a guest appearance at a reception at Austin Playhouse in the Penn-Field Complex on Congress Avenue.
Tom Parker and Lauri Raymond
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Links of Interest
Visit these interesting related links:
Character Generator (Article by Robert Faires)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS (Austin Chronicle)
1999 Austin Critics Table Award Nominations
Austin Chronicle Review of ANNIE
Austin Chronicle Review of I'M NOT RAPPAPORT
Austin Chronicle Review of HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE
Austin Chronicle Review of THE FLAME KEEPER
Austin Chronicle Review of THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD
Austin Playhouse Home Page
Vernon W. Parker, Jr. Family Home Page
Jim Janknegt's Art Home Page
Dustoff Association: Helicopter Ambulance in Viet Nam
BEST ever source for Computer Memory Supplies
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