Ron Thompson (January 31, 1941 – April 13, 2024) was an American actor and singer-songwriter.
Life and career Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Thompson was perhaps best known for his dual lead roles in Ralph Bakshi's critically acclaimed rotoscope film American Pop and the 1970s TV series Baretta in the role of Detective Nopke.
Thompson's first film appearance was as an uncredited extra in the 1960 Jerry Lewis film The Bellboy.
Thompson had a brief career as a rock singer in the 1960s and wrote and recorded a number of singles as Ronnie Thompson under the guidance of his mentor and friend, rockabilly singer Ersel Hickey.
Thompson originated the role of Shanty Mulligan in the 1969 Pulitzer Prize winning play No Place to Be Somebody by Charles Gordone. In his review for The New York Times, Mel Gussow wrote that Thompson was "splendid" in his role.
Thompson won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his 1973 theatre lead performance in the play Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? A young Al Pacino had won a Tony for playing the part in 1969.
The Progress Bulletin praised Thompson's performance in the 1976 Felton Perry play Buy the Bi and Bye calling it an "offbeat and hilarious black satire with a zinging performance by Ron Thompson."
Thompson did a dramatic portrayal of Henry David Thoreau on the 1976 NBC television series The Rebels.
Thompson starred in the 2018 thriller film Cargo.
Thompson died at his apartment in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, on April 13, 2024, at the age of 83. He was found dead by filmmaker Joe Black.
Theatre Date Production Role Notes 1969 No Place to Be Somebody Shanty Mulligan 1972 The Time of Your Life Willie 1973 Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? Bickham Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award (Lead Performance) 1976 Buy the Bi and Bye WD
Film Year Film Role Notes 1960 The Bellboy Extra Uncredited 1967 Brown Eye, Evil Eye Freddy St. Claire 1973 The No Mercy Man John Dunn aka "The Vietnam Soldier" – Europe (English title) (video title)aka "Trained to Kill: USA" – USA (DVD title) 1977 The White Buffalo Frozen Dog Pimp aka "Hunt to Kill" – USA (TV title) 1981 American Pop Tony Belinsky / Pete Belinsky 1992 American Me Junkie Deep Cover Store Owner 1993 Death Ring "Needles", Tattooer 1998 Fallen Arches Leslie 2006 Bottleneck Husband 2015 Last Days of Coney Island Cops Voice 2017 Stitches Ron 2017 Hate Horses Rex Napier 2017 Low Town Langston Bedry 2018 Cargo Anthony Peterson 2018 Chicks, Man Sherman 2018 Gena John 2019 Tellers Harry Dawn 2021 Natasha Hall Marlon Franklin Voice 2023 Suffrage Harry Dawn
Television Year Program Role Episodes Title 1962 Armstrong Circle Theatre Larry / Junkie 2 Securities for SuckersRunaway Road-Story of a Missing PersonAssignment: Teenage JunkiesAssignment: Teenage Junkies 1963 Armstrong Circle Theatre Junkie 1 Assignment: Teenage Junkies 1974 Mannix Kirk Bullard 1 Death Has No Face 1974 Ironside The Bartender 1 Amy Prentiss: Part 1 1974 Ironside Jamie 1 Run Scared 1974 The Gun Tom TV movie 1975 The Dream Makers Dave TV movie 1975 The Streets of San Francisco Willie 1 Web of Lies 1975 Bronk Barrow 1 Crackback 1975–1976 Baretta Penguin / Detective Nopke 6 Count the Days I'm GoneMurder For MePay or DieThe DippersDeath on the RunStreet Edition 1976 The Rebels Henry David Thoreau 1 Henry David Thoreau 1977 Quincy, M.E. Claude Stern 1 The Thigh Bone's Connected to the Knee Bone 1980 The Waltons GI 1 The Prodigals 1982 The Greatest American Hero Guard 1 Good Samaritan 1985 Cagney & Lacey Jimmy MacDonald 1 Organized Crime 1989 Imagining America Beatnik Poet 1 This Ain't Bebop 1997 Crisis Center Junkie 1 He Said, She Said 2020 Ethnically Ambiguous Ralph 1 Asian Persuasion
References
External links
'American Pop'... Matters: Ron Thompson, the Illustrated Man Unsung interview at PopMatters
Beyond the Marquee – EXCLUSIVE: Ralph Bakshi's AMERICAN POP – Video of Historic Q&A with Actor Ron Thompson