Thomas Beck

Who was Thomas Beck?

Thomas Beck was an American actor during the mid to late 1930s.

Born in New York City, Beck entered college with the intention of becoming a doctor but abandoned that for engineering. His first professional work was in a stock company and he later played on Broadway. His work interested film executives who sent him to Hollywood. Beck was featured in 28 films in his career, with his most notable roles being in several Charlie Chan films: Charlie Chan in Paris, Charlie Chan in Egypt, Charlie Chan at the Race Track, and Charlie Chan at the Opera. He also played opposite Shirley Temple in the 1937 film Heidi as Pastor Schultz, and in the same year with Temple's B-film counterpart Jane Withers in Can This Be Dixie?.

Beck retired from the film industry as a result of a wage dispute in 1939.

Beck died after battling Alzheimer's disease and heart conditions in Miami Shores, Florida on September 23, 1995. He is buried in Loudon Park Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland.