Tom Alter: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Simba
Last edited March 24, 2026
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
 
(7 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Tom Alter at Dev Anand's birthday celebrations (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Alter in October 2012]]
{{short description|American–Indian actor (1950–2017)}}
'''Thomas Beach "Tom" Alter''' (22 June 1950 – 29 September 2017) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/tom-alter-padma-shri-actor-and-writer-dies-aged-67/articleshow/60889109.cms | title=Tom Alter, Padma Shri actor and writer, dies aged 67 | publisher=[[Times of India]] | date=30 September 2017 | accessdate=30 September 2017}}</ref> was an Indian [[actor]] [[Americans|American]] [[descent]]. He was a television actor, best known for his work in [[Bollywood]],<ref name=t>{{cite news|title=No ‘Alter’native|url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/No-Alternative/306623|publisher=[[Screen (magazine)|Screen]]|date=9 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=An American Star Of the Hindi Screen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/06/movies/an-american-star-of-the-hindi-screen.html|publisher=The New York Times|date=6 July 1989|first=Sanjoy|last=Hazarika|accessdate=25 May 2010}}</ref> and the theatre.<ref name=pierrot>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article1422413.ece|title=Features / Metro Plus: Tom Tom|newspaper=The Hindu|date=9 August 2008|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Tom Alter
| image      = Tom Alter, 2016.jpg
| caption    = Alter in 2016
| birthname  = Thomas Beach Alter
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1950|6|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Mussoorie]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] (now [[Uttarakhand]]), India
| occupation  = Actor
| yearsactive = 1975–2017
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|2017|9|29|1950|6|22|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| spouse      = {{marriage|Carol Evans|1977}}
| children    = 2
| relatives  = {{ubl|[[Martha Chen]] (sister)|[[Stephen Alter]] (first cousin)}}
}}


Alter was born in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paritoshuttam.com/indian-writers/tom-alter.html|title=Tom Alter |publisher=Paritosh Uttam|accessdate=2011-08-07}}</ref> He was the son of American [[Christian]] missionaries of [[English people|English]] and [[Scottish people|Scottish]] ancestry.
'''Thomas Beach Alter''' (22 June 1950 – 29 September 2017)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/tom-alter-padma-shri-actor-and-writer-dies-at-67-1756995 | title=Actor Tom Alter Dies Of Cancer At 67 | publisher=[[NDTV]] | date=30 September 2017 | access-date=30 September 2017 | archive-date=30 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930174802/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/tom-alter-padma-shri-actor-and-writer-dies-at-67-1756995 | url-status=live }}</ref> was an American–Indian actor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/tom-alter-1950-2017-the-on-screen-firangi-who-remained-forever-indian-4869150/|title=Tom Alter (1950–2017): The on-screen 'firangi' who remained forever Indian|date=October 2017 |access-date=1 October 2017|archive-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001031137/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/tom-alter-1950-2017-the-on-screen-firangi-who-remained-forever-indian-4869150/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was best known for his works in [[Hindi cinema]],<ref name=t>{{cite magazine|title=No 'Alter'native|url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/No-Alternative/306623|magazine=[[Screen (magazine)|Screen]]|date=9 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301115349/http://www.screenindia.com/news/no-alternative/306623/ |archive-date=1 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=An American Star Of the Hindi Screen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/06/movies/an-american-star-of-the-hindi-screen.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 July 1989|first=Sanjoy|last=Hazarika|access-date=25 May 2010|archive-date=6 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206153124/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/06/movies/an-american-star-of-the-hindi-screen.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and Indian theatre.<ref name=pierrot>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article1422413.ece|title=Features / Metro Plus: Tom Tom|newspaper=The Hindu|date=9 August 2008|location=Chennai, India|access-date=7 August 2011|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001459/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article1422413.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, he was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the [[Government of India]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Multifaceted actor Tom Alter to receive Padma Shri|url=http://www.indiaenews.com/bollywood/20080125/93894.htm|publisher=India eNews|date=25 January 2008|access-date=12 August 2010|archive-date=25 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225141523/http://www.indiaenews.com/bollywood/20080125/93894.htm|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.woodstock.ac.in/News/Spring2008/January/080102.htm|title=Woodstock School News|publisher=Woodstock School India|date=2 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719035416/http://www.woodstock.ac.in/News/Spring2008/January/080102.htm|archive-date=19 July 2011}}</ref>


In 2008, he was awarded [[Padma Shri]] by the [[India]]n government.<ref>{{cite news|title=Multifaceted actor Tom Alter to receive Padma Shri|url=http://www.indiaenews.com/bollywood/20080125/93894.htm|publisher=India eNews|date=25 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.woodstock.ac.in/News/Spring2008/January/080102.htm|title=Woodstock School News|publisher=Woodstock School India|date=2 January 2008}}</ref>
==Early life==
Born in [[Mussoorie]] in present-day [[Uttarakhand]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paritoshuttam.com/indian-writers/tom-alter.html|title=Tom Alter|publisher=Paritosh Uttam|access-date=7 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522200406/http://www.paritoshuttam.com/indian-writers/tom-alter.html|archive-date=22 May 2006}}</ref> Alter was the son of American [[Presbyterian]] missionaries of [[English people|English]], [[Scottish people|Scottish]] and [[Swiss German]] ancestry and lived for years in [[Mumbai]] and the [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] [[hill station]] of [[Landour]]. His grandparents migrated to [[Chennai|Madras]], India from [[Ohio]], U.S., in November 1916.<ref name="Guftagoo with Tom Alter">{{cite AV media|date=23 August 2016|title=Guftagoo with Tom Alter|language=hi|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYCeKUKxt-U|access-date=4 May 2017|publisher=[[Rajya Sabha TV]]|archive-date=9 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609001358/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYCeKUKxt-U|url-status=live}}</ref> From there, they moved to and settled in [[Lahore]], in present-day Pakistan. His father was born in [[Sialkot]].<ref name="Guftagoo with Tom Alter"/> After the [[Partition of India]], Alter's family split into two; his grandparents chose to stay in Pakistan while his parents moved to India. After living in [[Allahabad]], [[Jabalpur]] and [[Saharanpur]], in 1954 they finally settled in Rajpur, [[Uttarakhand]], then a small town located between [[Dehradun]] and Mussoorie; Rajpur is now considered a suburb of Dehradun. Alter's siblings are older sister [[Martha Chen]], who teaches at [[Harvard University]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Curriculum Vitae of Marty Chen|url=http://ksgfaculty.harvard.edu/faculty/cv/MarthaChen.pdf|access-date=29 September 2017|archive-date=25 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825125336/http://ksgfaculty.harvard.edu/faculty/cv/MarthaChen.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and brother John, a poet.<ref name=t/> Author [[Stephen Alter]] is a first cousin.


[https://sociofreak.com/actor-tom-alter-wiki-wife-son-cancer/ Tom Alter' son] released a statement of his father's demise which said, "It is with sadness we announce the death of our beloved Tom Alter, actor, writer, director, Padma Shri, and most importantly our loving father!".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sociofreak.com/actor-tom-alter-wiki-wife-son-cancer/|title=Tom Alter's death}}</ref> Alter died of [[skin cancer]] on 29 September 2017 at his home in [[Mumbai]], India at the age of 67.<ref>{{cite news|title=Actor Tom Alter dies of skin cancer at 67|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/actor-tom-alter-a-padma-shri-awardee-dies-of-cancer-at-67/story-1XEDQCl159J2FRMt5hzQQI.html|accessdate=30 September 2017|work=Hindustan Times|date=30 September 2017}}</ref>
As a child, Alter studied [[Hindi language|Hindi]] among other subjects in Mussoorie's [[Woodstock School]]. At 18, Alter left for the U.S. for higher education and studied at [[Yale University]] for a year before returning to India upon losing interest in studies. The following year, he obtained work as a teacher at St. Thomas School, [[Jagadhri]], in [[Haryana]]. He worked there for six months, simultaneously coaching his students in [[cricket]]. Over the next two and a half years, Alter worked several jobs, teaching for a while at Woodstock School, Mussoorie, and working at a hospital in the U.S., and returning to India before continuing to work at Jagadhri. At Jagadhri, he began to watch Hindi films.<ref name="Guftagoo with Tom Alter"/> It was during this time that he saw the Hindi film ''[[Aradhana (1969 film)|Aradhana]]'', which proved to be a turning point in his career and drifted towards a career in acting, inspired by the lead actor [[Rajesh Khanna]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/a-haryana-town-friend-recalls-the-night-show-that-led-tom-alter-the-teacher-to-show-biz-4869184/|title=A Haryana town friend recalls the night show that led Tom Alter the teacher to show biz|date=October 2017 |access-date=1 October 2017|archive-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001031243/http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/a-haryana-town-friend-recalls-the-night-show-that-led-tom-alter-the-teacher-to-show-biz-4869184/|url-status=live}}</ref> He headed to [[Film and Television Institute of India]] (FTII) in [[Pune]], where he studied acting from 1972 to 1974 under [[Roshan Taneja]].<ref name="Guftagoo with Tom Alter"/>
 
==Career==
===Film===
After graduating from FTII, Alter headed straight to Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) and soon got his first break in the [[Dev Anand]] starrer ''[[Saheb Bahadur]]'' (1977), directed by [[Chetan Anand (director)|Chetan Anand]]. However, his first release was [[Ramanand Sagar]]'s ''[[Charas (1976 film)|Charas]]''. This was followed by roles in ''[[Des Pardes (1978 film)|Des Pardes]]'', ''[[Ram Bharose]]'', ''[[Hum Kisise Kum Naheen|Hum Kisise Kum Nahin]]'' and ''[[Parvarish (1977 film)|Parvarish]]''. He dubbed for actor [[Jeevan (Hindi actor)|Jeevan]] for the innocent person of the twin roles played by Jeevan in the film ''[[Amar Akbar Anthony]]''.
 
Alter was fluent in Hindi and [[Urdu]], and was knowledgeable about Indian culture. He could also read Urdu and was fond of [[Shayari]].<ref name="Guftagoo with Tom Alter"/> He worked for noted filmmakers like [[Satyajit Ray]] in ''[[Shatranj Ke Khilari]]'' and is remembered for his role as a British officer in ''[[Kranti]]''. He got the opportunity to act with his idol [[Rajesh Khanna]] in the film ''[[Naukri]]'', directed by [[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]] in 1978 and later in [[Chetan Anand (director)|Chetan Anand]]'s [[Kudrat]]. In ''[[Sardar (1993 film)|Sardar]]'', the 1993 film biography of Indian leader [[Sardar Patel]], which focused on the events surrounding the partition and independence of India, Alter portrayed [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten of Burma]].<ref name=th>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/04/16/stories/2005041602210100.htm|title=Metro Plus Delhi / Personality : Tom, unaltered|access-date=2 July 2016|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011221446/https://www.thehindu.com/archive/print/2005/04/16/|website=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=live}}</ref> He also acted in the Hollywood movie ''[[One Night with the King]]'' with [[Peter O'Toole]].
 
In 1996 he appeared in the [[Assamese language|Assamese]] film ''[[Adajya]]'', and in 2007 acted in [[William Dalrymple (historian)|William Dalrymple]]'s ''[[City of Djinns]]'' alongside [[Zohra Sehgal]] and [[Manish Joshi Bismil]]. He also appeared in the solo play ''Maulana'' and the film ''Ocean of An Old Man''.
 
Alter played the role of a doctor in ''[[Bheja Fry (film)|Bheja Fry]]'', a comedy movie starring [[Rajat Kapoor]].
 
In April 2011 he acted in a short film ''Yours, Maria'' directed by Chirag Vadgama, playing the lead role of Matthew Chacha in the movie.
 
Alter lent his voice for the authorized audio autobiography of [[Verghese Kurien|Dr. Verghese Kurien]], titled ''The Man Who Made The Elephant Dance'', which was released in 2012.
 
Some of his most famous movie roles have been as Musa in [[Vidhu Vinod Chopra]]'s acclaimed crime drama ''[[Parinda]]'', [[Mahesh Bhatt]]'s blockbuster romance ''[[Aashiqui]]'', and Ketan Mehta's ''Sardar'', in which Alter essayed the role of Lord Mountbatten.
 
His last film was ''[[Hamari Paltan]]'' (2018).<ref>{{cite news |title=Hamari Paltan: The last film of veteran actor, to release on April 27 |url=http://www.uniindia.com/hamari-paltan-the-last-film-of-veteran-actor-tom-alter--to-release-on-april-27/india/news/1208676.html |agency=[[United News of India]] |date=23 April 2018 |access-date=12 April 2020 |archive-date=12 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412130411/http://www.uniindia.com/hamari-paltan-the-last-film-of-veteran-actor-tom-alter--to-release-on-april-27/india/news/1208676.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
===Television===
Alter appeared in many Indian television series, including ''[[Samvidhaan]]''.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} In ''[[Zabaan Sambhalke]]'' he played the role of a British writer, Charles Spencers, who lives in India and wants to learn the Hindi language. He acted in the TV series ''Khamosh Sa Afsana'' (as a Husain Baba), telecast on [[Doordarshan]] in 2014–15. In November 2014, he played [[Sahir Ludhianvi]] in a stage production based on the life and work of the famous Urdu poet and film lyricist. He also played a schoolteacher in ''[[Yahan Ke Hum Sikandar]]''.<ref name=pierrot/> Alter has worked as the red robe guru in [[Mukesh Khanna]]'s TV production ''[[Shaktimaan]]'' (1998–2002).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-02 |title=10 Beautiful Roles Tom Alter Fit Into Perfectly During His Film And Television Career |url=https://www.mensxp.com/entertainment/celebrities/39957-10-beautiful-roles-tom-alter-fit-into-perfectly-during-his-film-and-television-career.html |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=MensXP |language=en-IN}}</ref> Also, he appeared in Contiloe & Cinevistaas show ''[[Ssshhhh...Koi Hai]]'' in 2002–03. He played Indian characters in Indian television series, such as the long-running ''[[Junoon (1994 TV series)|Junoon]]'', in which he was the sadistic mob lord Keshav Kalsi.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Padnani |first=Amisha |date=2017-10-06 |title=Tom Alter, Blue-Eyed Star of Bollywood Films, Dies at 67 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/obituaries/tom-alter-blue-eyed-star-of-bollywood-films-dies-at-67.html |access-date=2025-03-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He anchored "Adabi Cocktail" in 2000 telecast on Urdu Television Network and interviewed Johny Walker, Naushad, TunTun, Hasan Kamaal, Adnan Sami, Jagdeep, Naqsh layalpuri and many more.<ref name=th/>
 
[[File:Tom Alter as Zafar.jpg|thumb|Tom Alter as Zafar]]
 
===Theatre===
In 1978, he, Naseeruddin Shah, and [[Benjamin Gilani]] formed a theatre group called Motley Productions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=When I met Tom Beach Alter |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/233709-when-i-met-tom-beach-alter |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref> Their first play was [[Samuel Beckett]]'s play ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'', which was staged at [[Prithvi Theatre]], Bombay, on 29 July 1979. He went on to appear in many other plays at the theatre, including an adaptation of [[Vaikom Muhammad Basheer]]'s ''My Grandad Had an Elephant'' which was performed on 7 June 2011. He has also worked with the [[New Delhi]] theatre group [[Pierrot's Troupe]].<ref name=pierrot />
 
In the early 2000s, he played the Indian independence activist [[Maulana Azad]] in a one-man Urdu-language play.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Tom Alter, Blue-Eyed Star of Bollywood Films, Dies at 67|last=Padnani|first=Amisha|author-link=Amy Padnani |newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 October 2017|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/obituaries/tom-alter-blue-eyed-star-of-bollywood-films-dies-at-67.html?smid=pl-share}}</ref>
 
In ''Ghalib In Delhi'', he played the role of [[Urdu poet]] [[Mirza Ghalib]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Actor Tom Alter as Mirza Ghalib|url=https://lbb.in/delhi/much-drama-tom-alter-plays-ghalib-delhi|publisher=Little Black Book|access-date=29 September 2017|archive-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915114729/https://lbb.in/delhi/much-drama-tom-alter-plays-ghalib-delhi/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
He was the lead actor in "Once Upon A Time", a collection of five short stories presented as vignettes, directed by Sujata Soni Bali and co-starring prominent stage actor and TV personality Sunit Tandon. The production was last staged in Mumbai on 17 June 2017.
 
===Writing and journalism===
Alter has written books including ''The Longest Race'', ''Rerun at Rialto'', and ''The Best in the World''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Veteran actor Tom Alter dies at 67 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/veteran-actor-tom-alter-dies-2026874#google_vignette |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> He was also a sports journalist with a special interest in cricket, a game on which he has written extensively in publications such as ''[[Sportsweek]]'', [[Outlook (Indian magazine)|''Outlook'']], ''Cricket Talk'', ''[[Sunday Observer]]'', ''Firstpost'', ''[[Citizen]]'', and [[Debonair (magazine)|''Debonair'']]. Alter was the first to [[Virtual interviewing|video interview]] Indian cricketer [[Sachin Tendulkar]] in 1988.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chandawarkar |first1=Rahul |date=28 August 2005 |title=Telling a story in different ways |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/telling-a-story-in-different-ways/article28531589.ece |access-date=4 May 2017 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
 
Alter played cricket for a film industry team MCC (Match Cut Club), which includes [[Naseeruddin Shah]], [[Satish Shah]], [[Vishal Bhardwaj]], [[Aamir Khan]], [[Nana Patekar]], Bhupinder Singh and Amarinder Sangha.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Veena |date=2017-09-30 |title=Tom Alter: A greater performer than Bollywood's dependable 'firang' |url=https://nripulse.com/tom-alter-a-greater-performer-than-bollywoods-dependable-firang/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=NRI Pulse |language=en-US}}</ref>  
 
In 1996, he was invited by friend Siraj Syed to Singapore, to do cricket commentary in Hindi, for Indian viewers, on the sports TV channel, [[ESPN]].
 
==Personal life==
Alter married Carol Evans, a fellow Woodstock School student, in 1977. They had two children together.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/parties/delhi/Tom-Alters-son-wedding-bash/articleshow/12921984.cms |title=Tom Alter |date=30 April 2012 |access-date=12 August 2012 |archive-date=15 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715114716/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-30/delhi/31506365_1_meha-bash-jamie |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In September 2017, Alter was diagnosed with stage IV [[skin cancer]] ([[squamous cell skin cancer|squamous cell carcinoma]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Alter diagnosed with skin cancer|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tom-alter-diagnosed-with-skin-cancer/article19661468.ece|access-date=30 September 2017|work=The Hindu|date=11 September 2017|archive-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913233418/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tom-alter-diagnosed-with-skin-cancer/article19661468.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> His thumb had been amputated a year earlier because of the condition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Alter Battling Stage 4 Skin Cancer, Confirms Son Jamie|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/tom-alter-battling-stage-4-skin-cancer-confirms-son-jamie-1748796|access-date=30 September 2017|work=NDTV|date=11 September 2017|archive-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001214344/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/tom-alter-battling-stage-4-skin-cancer-confirms-son-jamie-1748796|url-status=live}}</ref> He died on 29 September at his residence in [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Actor Tom Alter dies of skin cancer at 67|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/actor-tom-alter-a-padma-shri-awardee-dies-of-cancer-at-67/story-1XEDQCl159J2FRMt5hzQQI.html|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=30 September 2017|access-date=30 September 2017|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330093851/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/actor-tom-alter-a-padma-shri-awardee-dies-of-cancer-at-67/story-1XEDQCl159J2FRMt5hzQQI.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Alter, Padma Shri actor and writer, dies aged 67|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/tom-alter-padma-shri-actor-and-writer-dies-aged-67/articleshow/60889109.cms|work=[[Times of India]]|date=30 September 2017|access-date=30 September 2017|archive-date=14 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914195218/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/tom-alter-padma-shri-actor-and-writer-dies-aged-67/articleshow/60889109.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1975
|''Mrig Trishna''
|Colonel Lawrence
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1976
|''[[Charas (1976 film)|Charas]]''
|Chief Custom Officer
|
|-
|''Laila Majnu''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |1977
|''[[Shatranj Ke Khilari]]''
|Capt. Weston
|
|-
|''[[Hum Kisise Kum Naheen]]''
|Jack
|
|-
|''[[Parvarish (1977 film)|Parvarish]]''
|Mr. Jackson, Supremo's 2nd in Command
|
|-
|''[[Saheb Bahadur]]''
|
|
|-
|''[[Ram Bharose]]''
|Tom
|
|-
|''[[Kanneshwara Rama]]''
|British Superintendent of police
|[[Kannada]] film
|-
|''Chani''
|
| Marathi film
|-
| rowspan="4" |1978
|''Atyachaar''
|
|
|-
|''[[Naukri]]''
|Mr. Anderson
|
|-
|''[[Des Pardes (1978 film)|Des Pardes]]''
|Inspector Martin
|
|-
|''Kaala Aadmi''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |1979
|''Chamelee Memsaab''
|
|
|-
|''[[Junoon (1978 film)|Junoon]]''
|Priest
|
|-
|''[[Hum Tere Aashiq Hain]]''
|British Police Commissioner
|
|-
|''Salaam Memsaab''
|John
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1980
|''Bharat Ki Santan''
|
|
|-
|''Constans''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1981
|''[[Kranti]]''
|British Officer
|
|-
|''[[Kudrat]]''
|Major Thomas Walters
|
|-
| rowspan="6" |1982
|''Meri Kahani''
|
|
|-
|''[[Brij Bhoomi (film)|Brij Bhoomi]]''
|Guest
|[[Brajbhasha]] film
|-
|''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]''
|Doctor at Aga Khan Palace
|[[English language|English]] film
|-
|''[[Vidhaata]]''
|David
|
|-
|''[[Swami Dada]]''
|Bob Simpson
|
|-
|''Jaanwar''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="6" |1983
|''The Last Tiger''
|
|
|-
|''[[Nastik (1983 film)|Nastik]]''
|Mr. John
|
|-
|''[[Arpan]]''
|Tom
|
|-
|''[[Jaani Dost]]''
|Cobra's Goon
|
|-
|''[[Romance (1983 film)|Romance]]''
|Priest
|
|-
|''Gulami Ki Zaanjeerein''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1984
|''Sharara''
|
|
|-
|''[[Bad Aur Badnam]]''
|President of ringania
|Uncredited
|-
| rowspan="2" |1985
|''[[Ram Teri Ganga Maili]]''
|Karam Singh (Ganga's Brother)
|
|-
|''[[Bond 303]]''
|Tom
|
|-
| rowspan="10" |1986
|''[[Manav Hatya]]''
|
|
|-
|''[[Shart (1986 film)|Shart]]''
|Alter
|
|-
|''[[Amma (1986 film)|Amma]]''
|British Officer
|
|-
|''[[Sultanat]]''
|Shah
|
|-
|''[[Karma (1986 film)|Karma]]''
|Rexson
|
|-
|''Chambal Ka Badshah''
|
|
|-
|''[[Avinash (film)|Avinash]]''
|Tom
|
|-
|''[[Palay Khan]]''
|
|
|-
|''Car Thief''
|John
|
|-
|''[[On Wings of Fire]]''
|Priest
|English film
|-
| rowspan="3" |1987
|''Mr. X''
|
|
|-
|''[[Jalwa]]''
|Voice of wrestler
|
|-
|''Woh Din Aayega''
|Somnath
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |1988
|''Etwa''
|
|
|-
|''[[Commando (1988 film)|Commando]]''
|Hatcher
|
|-
|''[[Rukhsat]]''
|New York Police Capt. Morri
|
|-
|''[[Khoon Bhari Maang]]''
|Plastic Surgeon
|Cameo appearance
|-
|''[[Janam Janam]]''
|DFO
|
|-
|''[[Sone Pe Suhaaga]]''
|Dr. Rex
|
|-
|''Ore Thooval Pakshikal''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="8" |1989
|''Shagun''
|
|
|-
|''[[Vardi (film)|Vardi]]''
|Tom
|
|-
|''[[Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro]] ''
|Johan - (Jani Hippi)
|
|-
|''[[Daata]]''
|Pat
|
|-
|''[[Tridev]]''
|Dunhill
|
|-
|''[[Bye Bye Blues (film)|Bye Bye Blues]]''
|Gilbert Wilson
|
|-
|''[[Parinda]]''
|Musa
|
|-
|''Swarn Trisha''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |1990
|''[[Aashiqui]]''
|Arnie Campbell
|
|-
|''[[Doodh Ka Karz]]''
|Frank
|
|-
|''[[Zimmedaaar]]''
|Mercus
|
|-
|''[[Atishbaz]]''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |1991
|''[[Farishtay]]''
|Guest Appearance
|
|-
|''Deshwasi''
|
|
|-
|''Pahari Kanya''
|Doctor
|[[Assamese language|Assamese]] language film
|-
|''Jab Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |1992
|''[[Suryavanshi (film)|Suryavanshi]]''
|Tom
|
|-
|''[[Tahalka]]''
|Dong's army captain
|
|-
|''[[Angaar (1992 film)|Angaar]]''
|Public prosecutor
|Uncredited
|-
|''[[Junoon (1992 film)|Junoon]]''
|Harry
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1993
|''Kala Coat''
|Alexander
|
|-
|''[[Gumrah (1993 film)|Gumrah]]''
|Insp. Phillip
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |1994
|''[[Sardar (1993 film)|Sardar]]''
|[[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten]]
|
|-
|''[[Insaniyat (1994 film)|Insaniyat]]''
|British Intelligence
|
|-
|''[[Gajamukta]]''
|
|
|-
|''[[Ekka Raja Rani]]''
|Mr. Rai
|Uncredited
|-
| rowspan="3" |1995
|''[[Jai Vikraanta]]''
|
|
|-
|''[[Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India!]]''
|Bidder
|
|-
|''[[Milan]]''
|Father Demello
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1996
|''Kala Pani''
|
|
|-
|''[[Adajya]]''
|Mark Sahib
|Uncredited<br>[[Assamese language|Assamese]] language film
|-
|1997
|''[[Divine Lovers]]''
|Dr. Taubman
|
|-
|1998
|''[[Hanuman (1998 film)|Hanuman]]''
|Tom's Father
|
|-
|1999
|''Kabhi Paas Kabhi Fail''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2000
|''Driving Miss Palmen''
|[[Georg Baselitz]]
|
|-
|''[[Shaheed Udham Singh (film)|Shaheed Uddham Singh: alias Ram Mohammad Singh Azad]]''
|Brig. Gen. [[Reginald Dyer|Reginald Edward Harry Dyer]]
|
|-
|''[[Champion (2000 film)|Champion]]''
|Doctor
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2001
|''Veer Savarkar''
|David Barry
|
|-
|''On Wings of Fire''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2002
|''What Happened Then... !!!''
|Allen McGirvan
|
|-
|''[[Dil Vil Pyar Vyar]]''
|Special Appearance
|
|-
|''Bharat Bhagya Vidhata''
|Mohammed Jalaudin Ghaznavi
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |2003
|''[[Love at Times Square]]''
|Mr. Gery
|
|-
|''[[Dhund: The Fog]]''
|Uncle Tom
|
|-
|''A.O.D.''
|Sanjeev Sarkar
|
|-
|''[[Hawayein (2003 film)|Hawayein]]''
|Stephen
|
|-
|''[[Yeh Hai Chakkad Bakkad Bumbe Bo]]''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |2004
|''[[Aetbaar]]''
|Dr. Freddie
|
|-
|''[[Asambhav]]''
|Brian
|
|-
|''[[Veer-Zaara]]''
|Doctor Yusuf
|
|-
|''Silence Please... The Dressing Room''
|Cricket coach Ivan Rodrigues
|English film
|-
|''Mitter Pyare Nu Haal Mureedan Da Kehna''
|Ghosht Khan
|
|-
|''Ghar Grihasti''
|Drug smuggler
|
|-
|''[[Loknayak]]''
|[[Abul Kalam Azad]]
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |2005
|''[[Subash Chandra Bose (film)|Subash Chandra Bose]]''
|Governor Jackson
|
|-
|''[[Viruddh... Family Comes First]]''
|Anderson (British Consultate)
|
|-
|''[[The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey]]''
|Watson
|
|-
|''[[The Hangman (2010 film)|The Hangman]]''
|Father Mathew
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2006
|''Hot Money''
|
|
|-
|''[[Alag|Alag: He Is Different.... He Is Alone....]]''
|Dr. Richard Dyer
|
|-
|''[[One Night with the King]]''
|King Saul (prologue)
|English film
|-
| rowspan="4" |2007
|''Foto''
|
|
|-
|''I M IN LOVE''
|Church father
|
|-
|''[[Bheja Fry (film)|Bheja Fry]]''
|Dr. Shepherd
|
|-
|''[[Kailashey Kelenkari (film)|Kailashey Kelenkari]]''
|Sol Silverstein
|[[Bengali language|Bengali]] film
|-
| rowspan="2" |2008
|''Ocean of an Old Man''
|Thomas - Teacher
|English film
|-
|''Colours of Passion'' [[Rang Rasiya]]
|Justice Richards
|
|-
|2009
|''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]''
|Additional Na'vi people
|British-Australian-American film
|-
| rowspan="2" |2010
|''Muigwithania''
|Major David
|English film
|-
|''Jaanleva''
|Mr. Malhotra
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |2011
|''With Love, Delhi!''
|Ajay
|
|-
|''Yours Maria''
|Matthew Chacha
|Short film
|-
|''[[Cycle Kick]]''
|Football Coach
|
|-
|''Son of Flower''
|Major James Edwards
|English film
|-
|''[[With Love, Delhi!]]''
|Historian (Kidnapper)
|English film
|-
| rowspan="6" |2012
|''Jhansi Ki Rani Laxmibai''
|
|
|-
|Cheekha<ref name="The Times of India">{{Cite news |date=2012-11-14 |title=Tom's encounters with icons who Altered his life |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/toms-encounters-with-icons-who-altered-his-life/articleshow/17211217.cms |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
|Adeyapartha Rajan<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-06 |title=IFFK: Seven films in 'Indian Cinema Now' section |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/iffk-seven-films-in-indian-cinema-now-section-112110600535_1.html |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.business-standard.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|
|-
|''Life Ki Toh Lag Gayi''
|Chicha
|
|-
|''[[Kevi Rite Jaish]]''
|Uncle Sam / Derek Thomas
|Gujarati film
|-
|''Son of Flower''
|Major James Edwards
|
|-
|''Jaanleva Black Blood''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2013
|''Divana-e-Ishq''
|
|
|-
|''The Corner Table''
|George Miller
|English short film
|-
| rowspan="4" |2014
|''Daptar - The School Bag''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://daptartheschoolbag.com/ |title=Welcome : Daptar the Movie |access-date=20 June 2014 |url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714215957/http://daptartheschoolbag.com/ |archive-date=14 July 2014  }}</ref>
|Magic Uncle
|[[Marathi language|Marathi]] film
|-
|[[Myth of Kleopatra]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-04 |title=IFFK to screen seven films in 'Indian Cinema Now' section |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/iffk-to-screen-seven-films-in-indian-cinema-now-section/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name="The Times of India"/>
|Adeyapartha Rajan
|Hindi / English film
|-
|''[[M Cream]]''
|Mr. Bhardawaj
|English / Hindi film
|-
|''Bhaangarh''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |2015
|''Bachpan Ek Dhokha''
|
|
|-
|''[[Honour Killing (film)|Honour Killing]]''
|Mr. Smith
|
|-
|''Promise Dad''
|Raul
|
|-
|''[[Bangistan]]''
|The Imam
|
|-
|''[[The Path of Zarathustra]]''
|Mamwaji
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2016
|''[[Anuraga Karikkin Vellam|Anuragakarikkinvellam]]''
|Abhi's Boss
|[[Malayalam]] film
|-
|''[[Life Flows On]]''
|Tom
|[[English language|English]] film
|-
| rowspan="2" |2017
|''[[Sargoshiyan]]''
|Alan Alter
|
|-
|''[[2016 The End]]''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |2018
|''[[Redrum (2018 film)|Redrum]]''
|Eric Fernandez
|Posthumously
|-
|''The Black Cat''
|
|[[English language|English]] film; Posthumously
|-
|''[[San' 75 Pachattar]]''
|
|[[Marathi language|Marathi]] film; Posthumously
|-
|''[[Hamari Paltan]]''
|Masterji
| rowspan="2" | Posthumously
|-
|''[[Nanak Shah Fakir]]''
|
|-
|2019
|''KITAAB Short film''
|John
|Film film
|}
 
===TV series===
{|class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Period
! Name
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1986
|''[[Idhar Udhar]]''
|Ronny Gonsalves
| Episodic appearances
|-
|1988
|''[[Bharat Ek Khoj]]''
|  Multiple characters
|
|-
|1990–1991
|''[[The Sword of Tipu Sultan]]''
| [[Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley]]
|
|-
|1993–1997
|''[[Zabaan Sambhalke]]''
|Charles Spencers
|
|-
|1994
|''[[The Great Maratha]]''
|[[Robert Clive]]
|
|-
|1993–1998
|''[[Junoon (1994 TV series)|Junoon]]''
|Keshav Kalsi
|
|-
|1995–2001
|''[[Aahat (Indian TV series)|Aahat]]''
|
|Season 1 Episode 212 and 213
|-
| 1997–1998
|''[[Betaal Pachisi (1997 TV series)|Betaal Pachisi]]''
| Harry
|
|-
|1998–1999
|''[[Captain Vyom]]''
|Vishwapramukh
|
|-
|1998–2005
|''[[Shaktimaan|Shaktiman]]''
|Mahaguru
|
|-
|2000
|''Adabi Cocktail''
|
|
|-
|2002–2003
|''[[Ssshhhh...Koi Hai]]''
|Swami Antaryami, Mritunjay
|
|-
|2003–2004
|''[[Hatim (TV series)|Hatim]]''
|King of Paristan
|[[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Urdu language|Urdu]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] languages
|-
|2011
|''Shama''
| Shama's Dadajaan
|
|-
|2011–2013
|''[[Yahan Ke Hum Sikandar]]''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.in.com/tv/shows/dd-national-174/yahan-ke-hum-sikandar |title=Latest Entertainment News: Celebrity News, Latest News on TV Reality Shows, Breaking News & Trending Stories |access-date=13 May 2016 |archive-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011221446/https://www.news18.com/entertainment/?utm_source=indotcom&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=indotcom_domain_redirect |url-status=live }}</ref>
|Samuel
|
|-
|2014
|''[[Samvidhaan]]''
|Abul Kalam Azad
|
|-
|2014
|''Dard Ka Rishta''
|Dindyal Sharma
|
|-
|2014–2015
|''Khamosh Sa Afsana''
|Hussain Baba
|
|-
|2017
|''[[Rishton Ka Chakravyuh]]''
|Somdev Guruji
|
|-
|2018
|''Wilderness Days''
|Anchor
|
|-
|2018
|''Smoke''
|Moshe Barak
|
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0022758|name=Tom Alter}}
{{Subject bar
|commons        = yes
|commons-search =
|d              = yes
|d-search      =
|portal1        = Biography
|portal2        = India
}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Alter, Tom}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alter, Tom}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian television actors]]
[[Category:Indian columnists]]
[[Category:Stage actors]]
[[Category:Indian cricket coaches]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Indian male stage actors]]
[[Category:Indian male television actors]]
[[Category:Indian sports journalists]]
[[Category:Assamese-language actors]]
[[Category:Indian Presbyterians]]
[[Category:Indian people of American descent]]
[[Category:People from Mussoorie]]
[[Category:Male actors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Film and Television Institute of India alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Male actors in Gujarati-language films]]
[[Category:Indian people of English descent]]
[[Category:Indian people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Indian people of Swiss-German descent]]
[[Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in India]]
[[Category:Indian amputees]]
[[Category:Indian actors with disabilities]]
[[Category:Schoolteachers from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Woodstock School, Mussoorie alumni]]

Latest revision as of 23:05, 24 March 2026


Tom Alter
Alter in 2016
Born
Thomas Beach Alter

(1950-06-22)22 June 1950
Mussoorie, Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand), India
Died29 September 2017(2017-09-29) (aged 67)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
OccupationActor
Years active1975–2017
Spouse(s)
Carol Evans
(
m. 1977)
Children2
Relatives

Thomas Beach Alter (22 June 1950 – 29 September 2017)[1] was an American–Indian actor.[2] He was best known for his works in Hindi cinema,[3][4] and Indian theatre.[5] In 2008, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.[6][7]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Born in Mussoorie in present-day Uttarakhand,[8] Alter was the son of American Presbyterian missionaries of English, Scottish and Swiss German ancestry and lived for years in Mumbai and the Himalayan hill station of Landour. His grandparents migrated to Madras, India from Ohio, U.S., in November 1916.[9] From there, they moved to and settled in Lahore, in present-day Pakistan. His father was born in Sialkot.[9] After the Partition of India, Alter's family split into two; his grandparents chose to stay in Pakistan while his parents moved to India. After living in Allahabad, Jabalpur and Saharanpur, in 1954 they finally settled in Rajpur, Uttarakhand, then a small town located between Dehradun and Mussoorie; Rajpur is now considered a suburb of Dehradun. Alter's siblings are older sister Martha Chen, who teaches at Harvard University[10] and brother John, a poet.[3] Author Stephen Alter is a first cousin.

As a child, Alter studied Hindi among other subjects in Mussoorie's Woodstock School. At 18, Alter left for the U.S. for higher education and studied at Yale University for a year before returning to India upon losing interest in studies. The following year, he obtained work as a teacher at St. Thomas School, Jagadhri, in Haryana. He worked there for six months, simultaneously coaching his students in cricket. Over the next two and a half years, Alter worked several jobs, teaching for a while at Woodstock School, Mussoorie, and working at a hospital in the U.S., and returning to India before continuing to work at Jagadhri. At Jagadhri, he began to watch Hindi films.[9] It was during this time that he saw the Hindi film Aradhana, which proved to be a turning point in his career and drifted towards a career in acting, inspired by the lead actor Rajesh Khanna.[11] He headed to Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, where he studied acting from 1972 to 1974 under Roshan Taneja.[9]

Career[edit | edit source]

Film[edit | edit source]

After graduating from FTII, Alter headed straight to Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) and soon got his first break in the Dev Anand starrer Saheb Bahadur (1977), directed by Chetan Anand. However, his first release was Ramanand Sagar's Charas. This was followed by roles in Des Pardes, Ram Bharose, Hum Kisise Kum Nahin and Parvarish. He dubbed for actor Jeevan for the innocent person of the twin roles played by Jeevan in the film Amar Akbar Anthony.

Alter was fluent in Hindi and Urdu, and was knowledgeable about Indian culture. He could also read Urdu and was fond of Shayari.[9] He worked for noted filmmakers like Satyajit Ray in Shatranj Ke Khilari and is remembered for his role as a British officer in Kranti. He got the opportunity to act with his idol Rajesh Khanna in the film Naukri, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee in 1978 and later in Chetan Anand's Kudrat. In Sardar, the 1993 film biography of Indian leader Sardar Patel, which focused on the events surrounding the partition and independence of India, Alter portrayed Lord Mountbatten of Burma.[12] He also acted in the Hollywood movie One Night with the King with Peter O'Toole.

In 1996 he appeared in the Assamese film Adajya, and in 2007 acted in William Dalrymple's City of Djinns alongside Zohra Sehgal and Manish Joshi Bismil. He also appeared in the solo play Maulana and the film Ocean of An Old Man.

Alter played the role of a doctor in Bheja Fry, a comedy movie starring Rajat Kapoor.

In April 2011 he acted in a short film Yours, Maria directed by Chirag Vadgama, playing the lead role of Matthew Chacha in the movie.

Alter lent his voice for the authorized audio autobiography of Dr. Verghese Kurien, titled The Man Who Made The Elephant Dance, which was released in 2012.

Some of his most famous movie roles have been as Musa in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's acclaimed crime drama Parinda, Mahesh Bhatt's blockbuster romance Aashiqui, and Ketan Mehta's Sardar, in which Alter essayed the role of Lord Mountbatten.

His last film was Hamari Paltan (2018).[13]

Television[edit | edit source]

Alter appeared in many Indian television series, including Samvidhaan.[citation needed] In Zabaan Sambhalke he played the role of a British writer, Charles Spencers, who lives in India and wants to learn the Hindi language. He acted in the TV series Khamosh Sa Afsana (as a Husain Baba), telecast on Doordarshan in 2014–15. In November 2014, he played Sahir Ludhianvi in a stage production based on the life and work of the famous Urdu poet and film lyricist. He also played a schoolteacher in Yahan Ke Hum Sikandar.[5] Alter has worked as the red robe guru in Mukesh Khanna's TV production Shaktimaan (1998–2002).[14] Also, he appeared in Contiloe & Cinevistaas show Ssshhhh...Koi Hai in 2002–03. He played Indian characters in Indian television series, such as the long-running Junoon, in which he was the sadistic mob lord Keshav Kalsi.[15] He anchored "Adabi Cocktail" in 2000 telecast on Urdu Television Network and interviewed Johny Walker, Naushad, TunTun, Hasan Kamaal, Adnan Sami, Jagdeep, Naqsh layalpuri and many more.[12]

Tom Alter as Zafar

Theatre[edit | edit source]

In 1978, he, Naseeruddin Shah, and Benjamin Gilani formed a theatre group called Motley Productions.[16] Their first play was Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot, which was staged at Prithvi Theatre, Bombay, on 29 July 1979. He went on to appear in many other plays at the theatre, including an adaptation of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's My Grandad Had an Elephant which was performed on 7 June 2011. He has also worked with the New Delhi theatre group Pierrot's Troupe.[5]

In the early 2000s, he played the Indian independence activist Maulana Azad in a one-man Urdu-language play.[17]

In Ghalib In Delhi, he played the role of Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib.[18]

He was the lead actor in "Once Upon A Time", a collection of five short stories presented as vignettes, directed by Sujata Soni Bali and co-starring prominent stage actor and TV personality Sunit Tandon. The production was last staged in Mumbai on 17 June 2017.

Writing and journalism[edit | edit source]

Alter has written books including The Longest Race, Rerun at Rialto, and The Best in the World.[19] He was also a sports journalist with a special interest in cricket, a game on which he has written extensively in publications such as Sportsweek, Outlook, Cricket Talk, Sunday Observer, Firstpost, Citizen, and Debonair. Alter was the first to video interview Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar in 1988.[20]

Alter played cricket for a film industry team MCC (Match Cut Club), which includes Naseeruddin Shah, Satish Shah, Vishal Bhardwaj, Aamir Khan, Nana Patekar, Bhupinder Singh and Amarinder Sangha.[21]

In 1996, he was invited by friend Siraj Syed to Singapore, to do cricket commentary in Hindi, for Indian viewers, on the sports TV channel, ESPN.

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Alter married Carol Evans, a fellow Woodstock School student, in 1977. They had two children together.[22]

In September 2017, Alter was diagnosed with stage IV skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma).[23] His thumb had been amputated a year earlier because of the condition.[24] He died on 29 September at his residence in Mumbai.[25][26]

Filmography[edit | edit source]

Film[edit | edit source]

Year Title Role Notes
1975 Mrig Trishna Colonel Lawrence
1976 Charas Chief Custom Officer
Laila Majnu
1977 Shatranj Ke Khilari Capt. Weston
Hum Kisise Kum Naheen Jack
Parvarish Mr. Jackson, Supremo's 2nd in Command
Saheb Bahadur
Ram Bharose Tom
Kanneshwara Rama British Superintendent of police Kannada film
Chani Marathi film
1978 Atyachaar
Naukri Mr. Anderson
Des Pardes Inspector Martin
Kaala Aadmi
1979 Chamelee Memsaab
Junoon Priest
Hum Tere Aashiq Hain British Police Commissioner
Salaam Memsaab John
1980 Bharat Ki Santan
Constans
1981 Kranti British Officer
Kudrat Major Thomas Walters
1982 Meri Kahani
Brij Bhoomi Guest Brajbhasha film
Gandhi Doctor at Aga Khan Palace English film
Vidhaata David
Swami Dada Bob Simpson
Jaanwar
1983 The Last Tiger
Nastik Mr. John
Arpan Tom
Jaani Dost Cobra's Goon
Romance Priest
Gulami Ki Zaanjeerein
1984 Sharara
Bad Aur Badnam President of ringania Uncredited
1985 Ram Teri Ganga Maili Karam Singh (Ganga's Brother)
Bond 303 Tom
1986 Manav Hatya
Shart Alter
Amma British Officer
Sultanat Shah
Karma Rexson
Chambal Ka Badshah
Avinash Tom
Palay Khan
Car Thief John
On Wings of Fire Priest English film
1987 Mr. X
Jalwa Voice of wrestler
Woh Din Aayega Somnath
1988 Etwa
Commando Hatcher
Rukhsat New York Police Capt. Morri
Khoon Bhari Maang Plastic Surgeon Cameo appearance
Janam Janam DFO
Sone Pe Suhaaga Dr. Rex
Ore Thooval Pakshikal
1989 Shagun
Vardi Tom
Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro Johan - (Jani Hippi)
Daata Pat
Tridev Dunhill
Bye Bye Blues Gilbert Wilson
Parinda Musa
Swarn Trisha
1990 Aashiqui Arnie Campbell
Doodh Ka Karz Frank
Zimmedaaar Mercus
Atishbaz
1991 Farishtay Guest Appearance
Deshwasi
Pahari Kanya Doctor Assamese language film
Jab Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya
1992 Suryavanshi Tom
Tahalka Dong's army captain
Angaar Public prosecutor Uncredited
Junoon Harry
1993 Kala Coat Alexander
Gumrah Insp. Phillip
1994 Sardar Lord Mountbatten
Insaniyat British Intelligence
Gajamukta
Ekka Raja Rani Mr. Rai Uncredited
1995 Jai Vikraanta
Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India! Bidder
Milan Father Demello
1996 Kala Pani
Adajya Mark Sahib Uncredited
Assamese language film
1997 Divine Lovers Dr. Taubman
1998 Hanuman Tom's Father
1999 Kabhi Paas Kabhi Fail
2000 Driving Miss Palmen Georg Baselitz
Shaheed Uddham Singh: alias Ram Mohammad Singh Azad Brig. Gen. Reginald Edward Harry Dyer
Champion Doctor
2001 Veer Savarkar David Barry
On Wings of Fire
2002 What Happened Then... !!! Allen McGirvan
Dil Vil Pyar Vyar Special Appearance
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata Mohammed Jalaudin Ghaznavi
2003 Love at Times Square Mr. Gery
Dhund: The Fog Uncle Tom
A.O.D. Sanjeev Sarkar
Hawayein Stephen
Yeh Hai Chakkad Bakkad Bumbe Bo
2004 Aetbaar Dr. Freddie
Asambhav Brian
Veer-Zaara Doctor Yusuf
Silence Please... The Dressing Room Cricket coach Ivan Rodrigues English film
Mitter Pyare Nu Haal Mureedan Da Kehna Ghosht Khan
Ghar Grihasti Drug smuggler
Loknayak Abul Kalam Azad
2005 Subash Chandra Bose Governor Jackson
Viruddh... Family Comes First Anderson (British Consultate)
The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey Watson
The Hangman Father Mathew
2006 Hot Money
Alag: He Is Different.... He Is Alone.... Dr. Richard Dyer
One Night with the King King Saul (prologue) English film
2007 Foto
I M IN LOVE Church father
Bheja Fry Dr. Shepherd
Kailashey Kelenkari Sol Silverstein Bengali film
2008 Ocean of an Old Man Thomas - Teacher English film
Colours of Passion Rang Rasiya Justice Richards
2009 Avatar Additional Na'vi people British-Australian-American film
2010 Muigwithania Major David English film
Jaanleva Mr. Malhotra
2011 With Love, Delhi! Ajay
Yours Maria Matthew Chacha Short film
Cycle Kick Football Coach
Son of Flower Major James Edwards English film
With Love, Delhi! Historian (Kidnapper) English film
2012 Jhansi Ki Rani Laxmibai
Cheekha[27] Adeyapartha Rajan[28]
Life Ki Toh Lag Gayi Chicha
Kevi Rite Jaish Uncle Sam / Derek Thomas Gujarati film
Son of Flower Major James Edwards
Jaanleva Black Blood
2013 Divana-e-Ishq
The Corner Table George Miller English short film
2014 Daptar - The School Bag[29] Magic Uncle Marathi film
Myth of Kleopatra[30][27] Adeyapartha Rajan Hindi / English film
M Cream Mr. Bhardawaj English / Hindi film
Bhaangarh
2015 Bachpan Ek Dhokha
Honour Killing Mr. Smith
Promise Dad Raul
Bangistan The Imam
The Path of Zarathustra Mamwaji
2016 Anuragakarikkinvellam Abhi's Boss Malayalam film
Life Flows On Tom English film
2017 Sargoshiyan Alan Alter
2016 The End
2018 Redrum Eric Fernandez Posthumously
The Black Cat English film; Posthumously
San' 75 Pachattar Marathi film; Posthumously
Hamari Paltan Masterji Posthumously
Nanak Shah Fakir
2019 KITAAB Short film John Film film

TV series[edit | edit source]

Period Name Role Notes
1986 Idhar Udhar Ronny Gonsalves Episodic appearances
1988 Bharat Ek Khoj Multiple characters
1990–1991 The Sword of Tipu Sultan Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley
1993–1997 Zabaan Sambhalke Charles Spencers
1994 The Great Maratha Robert Clive
1993–1998 Junoon Keshav Kalsi
1995–2001 Aahat Season 1 Episode 212 and 213
1997–1998 Betaal Pachisi Harry
1998–1999 Captain Vyom Vishwapramukh
1998–2005 Shaktiman Mahaguru
2000 Adabi Cocktail
2002–2003 Ssshhhh...Koi Hai Swami Antaryami, Mritunjay
2003–2004 Hatim King of Paristan Hindi, Urdu, Tamil languages
2011 Shama Shama's Dadajaan
2011–2013 Yahan Ke Hum Sikandar[31] Samuel
2014 Samvidhaan Abul Kalam Azad
2014 Dard Ka Rishta Dindyal Sharma
2014–2015 Khamosh Sa Afsana Hussain Baba
2017 Rishton Ka Chakravyuh Somdev Guruji
2018 Wilderness Days Anchor
2018 Smoke Moshe Barak

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Actor Tom Alter Dies Of Cancer At 67". NDTV. 30 September 2017. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "Tom Alter (1950–2017): The on-screen 'firangi' who remained forever Indian". October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "No 'Alter'native". Screen. 9 May 2008. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010.
  4. ↑ Hazarika, Sanjoy (6 July 1989). "An American Star Of the Hindi Screen". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Features / Metro Plus: Tom Tom". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 9 August 2008. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  6. ↑ "Multifaceted actor Tom Alter to receive Padma Shri". India eNews. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  7. ↑ "Woodstock School News". Woodstock School India. 2 January 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "Tom Alter". Paritosh Uttam. Archived from the original on 22 May 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Guftagoo with Tom Alter (in हिन्दी). Rajya Sabha TV. 23 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  10. ↑ "Curriculum Vitae of Marty Chen" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 August 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "A Haryana town friend recalls the night show that led Tom Alter the teacher to show biz". October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Metro Plus Delhi / Personality : Tom, unaltered". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "Hamari Paltan: The last film of veteran actor, to release on April 27". United News of India. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  14. ↑ "10 Beautiful Roles Tom Alter Fit Into Perfectly During His Film And Television Career". MensXP. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  15. ↑ Padnani, Amisha (6 October 2017). "Tom Alter, Blue-Eyed Star of Bollywood Films, Dies at 67". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  16. ↑ "When I met Tom Beach Alter". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  17. ↑ Padnani, Amisha (6 October 2017). "Tom Alter, Blue-Eyed Star of Bollywood Films, Dies at 67". The New York Times.
  18. ↑ "Actor Tom Alter as Mirza Ghalib". Little Black Book. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  19. ↑ "Veteran actor Tom Alter dies at 67". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  20. ↑ Chandawarkar, Rahul (28 August 2005). "Telling a story in different ways". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  21. ↑ Veena (30 September 2017). "Tom Alter: A greater performer than Bollywood's dependable 'firang'". NRI Pulse. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  22. ↑ "Tom Alter". The Times of India. 30 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  23. ↑ "Tom Alter diagnosed with skin cancer". The Hindu. 11 September 2017. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  24. ↑ "Tom Alter Battling Stage 4 Skin Cancer, Confirms Son Jamie". NDTV. 11 September 2017. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  25. ↑ "Actor Tom Alter dies of skin cancer at 67". Hindustan Times. 30 September 2017. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  26. ↑ "Tom Alter, Padma Shri actor and writer, dies aged 67". Times of India. 30 September 2017. Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Tom's encounters with icons who Altered his life". The Times of India. 14 November 2012. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  28. ↑ "IFFK: Seven films in 'Indian Cinema Now' section". www.business-standard.com. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  29. ↑ "Welcome : Daptar the Movie". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  30. ↑ "IFFK to screen seven films in 'Indian Cinema Now' section". The Indian Express. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  31. ↑ "Latest Entertainment News: Celebrity News, Latest News on TV Reality Shows, Breaking News & Trending Stories". Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2016.

External links[edit | edit source]

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tom_Alter&oldid=471391"
Discover more