Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn Jr was born on Februrary 6, 1931 in Temple, Texas. The nickname "Rip" is a family tradition in the Torn family. Torn was a member of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, although he graduated from the University of Texas where he studied acting under Shakespearean professor B. Iden Payne, and was a member of the Alpha Nu chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity. After graduation, he served in the Military Police in the United States Army. After moving to Hollywood, Torn made his film debut in the 1956 film Baby Doll. Torn then studied at the Actors Studio in New York under Lee Strasberg, becoming a stage actor, appearing in the original cast of Tennessee Williams' play Sweet Bird of Youth.
After portraying Judas, betrayer of Jesus, in 1961's epic film King of Kings, Torn appeared as a graduate student with multiple degrees in 1963's television series Channing, and as Roy Kendall in the Breaking Point episode "Millions of Faces." Torn received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in 1983's Cross Creek as a poor neighbor of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. In 2001, Torn memorably portrayed James "Jim" Brody in the comedy film Freddy Got Fingered. In 2004, Torn played the iconic wrench-tossing coach Patches O'Houlihan in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Torn was married three times, had six children and four grandchildren. Rip Torn Jr. passed away on July 9, 2019 at his home in Lakeville, Connecticut at the age of 88.
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