John Regis Toomey, an American film and television actor, was born on August 13, 1898, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Francis X. and Mary Ellen Toomey, and was one of four children. He attended Peabody High School and initially considered a law career, but his passion for acting led him to pursue a career in the performing arts.
Toomey's early education in dramatics at the University of Pittsburgh, where he became a brother of Sigma Chi, laid the foundation for his future success. He began his acting career as a stock actor and eventually made it to Broadway, where he established himself as a talented singer.
However, his career as a singer was cut short due to throat problems (acute laryngitis) while touring in Europe. Undeterred, Toomey transitioned to film, making his debut in 1929. He initially started out as a leading man but found more success as a character actor, sans his toupee.
Throughout his illustrious career, Toomey appeared in over 180 films, including classics such as The Big Sleep with Humphrey Bogart. In 1956, he appeared as a judge in the NBC anthology series The Joseph Cotten Show, and in 1960, he starred as the character "Harry" in the CBS anthology series The DuPont Show with June Allyson.
In the 1961-1962 television season, Toomey appeared in a supporting role with George Nader in the syndicated crime drama Shannon about insurance investigators. From 1963-1966, he was one of the stars of the ABC crime drama Burke's Law, starring Gene Barry, playing the role of Sergeant Les Hart, one of the detectives assisting the murder investigations of the millionaire police captain Amos Burke.
Toomey also guest-starred on dozens of television programs, including the "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres" episode of Maverick. In 1941, he appeared in You're in the Army Now, in which he and Jane Wyman shared the longest screen kiss in cinema history, lasting 3 minutes and 5 seconds.
John Regis Toomey passed away on October 12, 1991, leaving behind a legacy of over 180 films and numerous television appearances, solidifying his place as a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
