Tom Rack is a Canadian actor and writer best known for his portrayal of henchman Zigesfeld in the 1991 film If Looks Could Kill, and for twice portraying physicist Dr.Robert Oppenheimer.
Career
A character actor with an impactful presence, Rack has worked extensively in film, television and on stage.
He began his career on stage in Montreal, at the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts before appearing at the Phoenix Theatre, Laurentian Theatre, Théâtre du Rideau Vert and Centaur.
Many of his formative years as an actor were spent working with the National Film Board of Canada doing voice-over work for short films. Among his first feature film roles was Dr. Meister in The Blue Man in 1985 and Faulkner in Toby McTeague in 1986, both films which were nominated for two Genie Awards. His best known role came in 1991, when he played the villain Zigesfeld in the James Bond spoof If Looks Could Kill starring Richard Grieco. He has portrayed Doctor Robert Oppenheimer on screen twice, in the 1987 mini-series Race for the Bomb and in the 1996 TV movie Einstein: Light to the Power of 2. In 2003, he had a supporting role as the leading character's father in Chasing Holden, starring DJ Qualls. Other notable roles include Mirak in the 1996 TV movie Ivana Trump's For Love Alone and Brother Abel, a psychotic priest in the 2002 Sherlock Holmes television flick The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire. Rack also made brief appearances in the blockbuster films Jesus of Montreal, 300 and The Greatest Game Ever Played.
Rack has supplied voices for animation including Animal Crackers, The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures, Billy and Buddy, Sea Dogs, Lucky Luke, Daft Planet, Princess Sissi, The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo, Arthur, Marsupilami, Ratz, Ivanhoe, Wunschpunsch, Ripley's Believe It or Not!, A Miss Mallard Mystery and Patrol 03. He wrote one episode of Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark?, called "The Tale of the Pinball Wizard" in which he also played two characters, and in addition, he played The Watcher in the episode The Tale of Watcher's Woods.
Rack appeared as a contestant on Jeopardy! on September 27 and 28, 1993, amassing a total of $18,300 in winnings as a one-day champion. He lives in Montreal, Quebec.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1984The Bay BoySol Silver1985The Blue ManDr. Meister1986The VindicatorTruck Driver1986Toby McTeagueFaulkner1987Wild ThingBraindrain1989JacknifeWilliam Green1989Jesus of MontrealDoctor1989MindfieldMick1990CursedSexton1990WhispersDr. Rudge1991If Looks Could KillZigesfeld1991Lola ZipperRostrovitch1993StalkedDr. Bork1997Strip SearchLocust1998ProvocateurKurt's Uncle1998The Sleep RoomDr. Weinrich1998Free MoneyReverend Schmidt1999The Long WinterMarchand anglais2001XchangeMr. Finerman2003Chasing HoldenGovernor Lawrence2003DeceptionDr. Lewis2003The Human StainBobcat2004A Different LoyaltyBritish Agent2005The Greatest Game Ever PlayedBlack Top Hatted Man2006300Ephor #32007Steel ToesMagistrate
Television Year Title Role Notes1984The Bay BoySol Silver1987Ford: The Man and the MachineJohn Dodge1987Race for the BombRobert Oppenheimer2 episodes1991The Final HeistPhilippe Cameron1992, 1994Are You Afraid of the Dark?Pinball Wizard/Security Guard; Watcher2 episodes: "The Tale of the Pinball Wizard" (also writer) and "The Tale of Watcher's Woods" 1993Vendetta II: The New MafiaVito1995Young IvanhoeEdward1995HiroshimaUnder Secretary of the Navy Ralph Bard1996Ivana Trump's For Love AloneMirak1996Einstein: Light to the Power of 2Dr. Robert Oppenheimer1998Windsor ProtocolDr. Harold Flegg1998The Country Mouse and the City Mouse AdventuresVoices 2 episodes: "Klondike Mice" and "Matador Mice"1999Ripley's Believe It or NotAdditional voices26 episodes2000Someone Is WatchingMr. Walters2000The Audrey Hepburn StoryGilbert Miller2000NurembergHans Fritzsche2 episodes2001Varian's WarReinhold Neibuhr2002The Case of the Whitechapel VampireBrother Abel2003The ReagansElie Wiesel2004Her Perfect SpouseDr. Schneider2008A Teacher's CrimeEvan
References
External links
Reisler Talent Agency Profile