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IMDbPro

Tom O'Rourke(1944-2009)

  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Tom O'Rourke
Barbara Hoffman (Birch) is a University of Wisconsin science student. She is a part-time employee at a local massage parlor. She is also a killer. Now all Detective Lulling (Carradine) has to do is prove it.
Play trailer1:57
Winter of Frozen Dreams (2009)
1 Video
12 Photos
Thomas O'Rourke was a war baby, born in New York City in Greenwich Village. He was raised in Indiana,until his parents divorced and he returned to New York City's Upper Westside to live with his grandparents. He was ambitious and hardworking even at this young age. To help out with expenses, he bought a bike and delivered newspapers and laundry to the large, fancy apartments on Central Park West and Park Avenue. He always dreamed of someday living on Central Park West, and he was later able to achieve that dream, when he worked on a soap opera.

He joined the Army at age eighteen and became a Paratrooper in the 101st Airborne. He served in Germany in the Military Police. While in the Army, he hitchhiked all over Europe. Running out of money in Italy, he sold his American jeans on the Spanish Steps for an outrageous sum, and went back to Germany in style.

After the Army, he had many different jobs as he tried to figure out what to do with his life. But once he attended a performance of live theater, he knew exactly where he belonged.

He got a scholarship to Goodman Theater School, then a part of the University of Chicago. And before he even graduated, he was cast in David Merrick's "Promises, Promises", got his Equity card and was on his way as an actor.

He ended his tour in New York City. Here he did many commercials, more theater, met and married Marcy Casterline, a model with Eileen Ford, got cast on "The Guiding Light", and made many wonderful friends.

After leaving the world of soap opera, Tom and his wife moved to Los Angeles, where his only son, Preston, was born on March 18, 1987. Here, also, he was lucky enough to work with many wonderful and talented people, and to call some of them friends.

Tom did many serious roles, but his wit and sense of humor were also widely appreciated. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Marcy Casterline O'Rourke

Tom's amazing journey in life from paratrooper to successful actor on TV and in film is now available in easy to read format on Kindle, "Don't Quit Your Day Job" "The Blue Flame"

He has played well-heeled defense attorney Peter Behrens on episodes of Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Law & Order: Trial by Jury. He also has a recurring role as Judge Mark Seligman on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, making him one of only a handful of actors to have appeared on all four Law & Order series. He played the same character (Peter Behrens) on three different series: Law & Order (1990), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) and Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005).
BornMarch 28, 1944
DiedSeptember 13, 2009(65)
BornMarch 28, 1944
DiedSeptember 13, 2009(65)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank

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Known for

United 93 (2006)
United 93
7.6
  • Donald Peterson
  • 2006
Ralph Fiennes and Jennifer Lopez in Maid in Manhattan (2002)
Maid in Manhattan
5.4
  • Maddox
  • 2002
Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in American Gangster (2007)
American Gangster
7.8
  • Banker
  • 2007
Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
8.1
TV Series
  • Judge Mark Seligman
  • Anthony Schlasser

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor



  • Winter of Frozen Dreams (2009)
    Winter of Frozen Dreams
    4.6
    • Medical Examiner
    • 2009
  • Against the Current (2009)
    Against the Current
    6.1
    • Dock Man #1
    • 2009
  • One Life to Live (1968)
    One Life to Live
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Mayor Stan Lowell
    • 2008
  • Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in American Gangster (2007)
    American Gangster
    7.8
    • Banker
    • 2007
  • Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
    8.1
    TV Series
    • Judge Mark Seligman
    • Anthony Schlasser
    • 1999–2006
  • United 93 (2006)
    United 93
    7.6
    • Donald Peterson
    • 2006
  • Fred Thompson, Bebe Neuwirth, Jerry Orbach, Kirk Acevedo, and Amy Carlson in Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005)
    Law & Order: Trial by Jury
    6.5
    TV Series
    • Defense Attorney Peter Behrens
    • 2005
  • Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, Eric Bogosian, Julianne Nicholson, and Chris Noth in Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001)
    Law & Order: Criminal Intent
    7.6
    TV Series
    • Defense Attorney Peter Behrens
    • 2003
  • Ralph Fiennes and Jennifer Lopez in Maid in Manhattan (2002)
    Maid in Manhattan
    5.4
    • Maddox
    • 2002
  • Tony Goldwyn, Maura Tierney, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, Mehcad Brooks, and Odelya Halevi in Law & Order (1990)
    Law & Order
    7.8
    TV Series
    • Defense Attorney Peter Behrens
    • 1996–2001
  • Eric Close, Margaret Colin, and Dennis Haysbert in Now and Again (1999)
    Now and Again
    8.1
    TV Series
    • Dwight
    • 2000
  • Grind (1997)
    Grind
    5.4
    • Raceway Park Driver
    • 1997
  • Dream On (1990)
    Dream On
    7.6
    TV Series
    • Warren
    • 1996
  • Michael Chiklis in The Commish (1991)
    The Commish
    7.1
    TV Series
    • Terry Malloy
    • 1995
  • Melrose Place (1992)
    Melrose Place
    6.0
    TV Series
    • John Taylor
    • 1994

Videos1

Winter of Frozen Dreams
Trailer 1:57
Winter of Frozen Dreams

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • Thomas O'Rourke
  • Height
    • 6′ 4″ (1.93 m)
  • Born
    • March 28, 1944
    • New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • September 13, 2009
    • Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(cancer)
  • Spouse
    • Maretha Claire (Marcy) CasterlineApril 2, 1977 - September 13, 2009 (his death, 1 child)
  • Other works
    Appeared on stage at the IRT Theatre in NYC in Suicide in B Flat (as Niles) and as Det. Slovich in The Invesigation. Also appeared on stage in the National tour of Promises, Proimises (as Karl Kubelik) and at the Goodman Theatre (Chicago) in The Hostage (as Pat) and The Bacchae (as Dinoysius).

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Is the only actor to have ever played the same defense attorney on three series in the Law & Order franchise. He has played well-heeled defense attorney Peter Behrens on episodes of Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Law & Order: Trial by Jury. He also has a recurring role as Judge Mark Seligman on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, making him one of only a handful of actors to have appeared on all four Law & Order series.

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