Unless you’re an avid horror film fan, you may not recognize the name Tom Towles, but the late actor has made quite the impression beyond the genre specific franchise, and with the sad news of his recent passing, the legendary actor will surely be missed by many.
The news was shared by director Rob Zombie via Facebook, and while there has been no official word of Tom Towles’ death, the director clearly had a relationship with the actor considering his kind words and tribute.
I just got word that our buddy Tom Towles has died. He was such a great guy and I am so grateful that we got to work together several times. He will be really missed.Posted by Rob Zombie on Sunday, April 5, 2015
Towles who was best known for his role as Otis in the psychological horror film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer passed away at 65 years old. There has been no word on the cause of death but we will be sure to update with details as they come.
Most notably a horror film actor Towles also spend some time on a number of ‘90s TV programs including Seinfeld, L.A. Law, ER, NYPD Blue, Firefly, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Voyager. But, his role as Otis in the notorious John McNaughton film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, is definitely his most popular. Alongside Michael Rooker who plays the titular psychopath killer, Towles’ character Otis was loosely based of a real-life serial killer named Ottis Toole. Toole was later convicted of the 1981 murder of Adam Walsh (son of John Walsh creator of America’s Most Wanted).
Towles also played roles in a number of other horror flicks including two Rob Zombie films, his debut horror flick in 2003, House of 1000 Corpses and its sequel The Devil’s Rejects. Towles could also be seen in Night of the Living Dead, Fortress, Blood in Blood Out, and Mad Dog and Glory.
This truly saddening news comes as a shock to many horror fans, and Towles’ is sure to leave a lasting effect on the industry for his many memorable characters and performances.
