Unable to meet the exacting academic requirements of the Naval Academy, Colorado-born Tom Tully entered the service branch of his choice as a common seaman. Following this, Tully worked as a junior reporter for the Denver Post. He decided to become a radio actor simply because the money was better. After several theatrical flops, Tully managed to hitch himself to a success with Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness. In 1944, he arrived in Hollywood to appear in I'll be Seeing You. Among his many tough-but-tender screen characterizations was the role of the first commander of the "Caine" in 1954's The Caine Mutiny, a performance which earned Tully an Oscar nomination. From 1954 through 1960, Tom Tully essayed the role of Inspector Matt Grebb on the TV detective series Lineup (aka San Francisco Beat).
by Hal Erickson
biography
