Berenger was born Thomas Michael Moore in
Chicago, Illinois. Unknown to many, he was born on May 31, 1949 (a
reporter incorrectly noted it in an interview, and Tom never bothered
to correct the public). He studied journalism at the University of
Missouri, but decided to seek an acting career following his
graduation. He worked first in regional theatre and moved to New York
City in the 1970s.
Career
Berenger worked in soap operas and had a starring role on One Life to
Live. His feature film debut was the lead in Rush It (1976), an
independent film now mostly forgotten except for those of its cast
members who went on to greater renown. In 1977, Berenger had a small
but noticeable role as a murderer in Looking for Mr. Goodbar. In 1978,
he had a starring role in In Praise of Older Women for Avco-Embassy
Pictures. In 1979, he had the role of Butch Cassidy in Butch and
Sundance: The Early Days, a role he got in part because of his
resemblance to
Paul
Newman, who played the character in
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). These early roles
highlight Berenger's ability to play both villains and heroes.
Berenger's film career peaked in the 1980s with notable films like The
Big Chill (1983), Someone to Watch Over Me (1987), and Major League
(1989). In 1986, he received an Academy Award nomination for his
portrayal of Sgt. Barnes in Platoon (this performance won him a Golden
Globe Award for "Best Supporting Actor"). In the mid-1990s he was most
recognizable in his role from the movie Sniper (which would later be
followed by two sequels). Other notable films from that period include
Shattered (1991), Sliver (1993) and Chasers (1994).
It has been recorded that Berenger himself has said that his favorite
movie of those he had starred in was the 1993 hit Gettysburg, where he
played the role of General James Longstreet. He has said he has seen
Gettysburg more than any other of his starring movies.
In more recent years, Berenger has continued to have an active acting
career in film and television, although often at a supporting level.
His most notable television appearance was on Cheers in its last
season as Rebecca Howe's blue collar-plumber love interest, for which
he was nominated for an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Guest Actor in a
Comedy Series". He also began a career as a producer in the 1990s. In
a 2002 interview Berenger was quoted as saying, "Since the 1970s I've
seen myself as a poet. Sometimes I express that poetry through acting,
sometimes through cooking, and sometimes just having a good chat, you
know, one of them chats you have when you're stoned and the hour is
getting late. I don't know what's gonna come my way, but I think
Berenger's gonna be big these next couple years."
Berenger starred in the mini-series version of Stephen King's
Nightmares & Dreamscapes, as a celebrated author who realizes the
warped painting he recently purchased, is alive with illustrations of
impending doom for him in "The Road Virus Heads North". |
