Ron Thompson (actor)
Introduction '''Ron Thompson''' (born January 31, 1941) is an American film, television, theatre actor, singer, dancer and songwriter.Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Thompson is perhaps best known for his dual lead roles in Ralph Bakshi's critically acclaimed rotoscope film ''American Pop'' and the 1970s TV series ''Baretta'' in the role of Detective Nopke.Thompson had a brief career as a rock singer in the 1960s and wrote and recorded a number of singles as Ronnie Thompson under the guidance of his mentor and friend, rockabilly singer Ersel Hickey.Thompson originated the role of Shanty Mulligan in the 1969 Pulitzer Prize winning play ''No Place to Be Somebody'' by Charles Gordone and won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his 1973 theatre lead performance in the play ''Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? ''The ''Progress Bulletin'' praised Thompson's performance in the 1976 Felton Perry play ''Buy the Bi and Bye'' calling it an "offbeat and hilarious black satire with a zinging performance by Ron Thompson. "Thompson did a dramatic portrayal of Henry David Thoreau on the 1976 NBC television series ''The Rebels''.Thompson starred in the 2018 thriller film ''Cargo''.
Theatre  Date Production Role Notes 1969 ''No Place to Be Somebody'' Shanty Mulligan 1972 ''The Time of Your Life'' Willie 1973 ''Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?'' Bickham Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award (Lead Performance) 1976 ''Buy the Bi and Bye'' WD
Film  Year Film Role Notes 1967 ''Brown Eye, Evil Eye'' Freddy St. Claire  1973 ''The No Mercy Man'' John Dunn aka "The Vietnam Soldier" – Europe (English title) (video title)aka "Trained to Kill: USA" – USA (DVD title) 1977 ''The White Buffalo'' Frozen Dog Pimp aka "Hunt to Kill" – USA (TV title) 1981 ''American Pop'' Tony Belinsky / Pete Belinsky  1992 ''American Me'' Junkie  ''Deep Cover'' Store Owner  1993 ''Death Ring'' "Needles", Tattooer   1998 ''Fallen Arches'' Leslie   2006 ''Bottleneck'' Husband  2015 ''Last Days of Coney Island'' Cops Voice 2017 ''Stitches''  Ron 2017 ''Hate Horses'' Rex Napier 2017 ''Low Town'' Langston Bedry 2018 ''Cargo'' Anthony Peterson 2018 ''Chicks, Man'' Sherman 2018 ''Gena'' John 2019 ''Tellers'' Harry Dawn 2021 ''Natasha Hall''  Marlon Franklin Voice 2023 ''Suffrage'' Harry Dawn
Television  Year Program Role Episodes Title 1962 ''Armstrong Circle Theatre''    Larry / Junkie 2 Securities for SuckersRunaway Road-Story of a Missing PersonAssignment: Teenage JunkiesAssignment: Teenage Junkies 1963 ''Armstrong Circle Theatre'' Junkie 1 Assignment: Teenage Junkies 1974 ''Mannix'' Kirk Bullard 1 Death Has No Face 1974 ''Ironside''    The Bartender 1 Amy Prentiss: Part 1 1974 ''Ironside''    Jamie 1 Run Scared 1974 ''The Gun'' Tom TV movie 1975 ''The Dream Makers'' Dave TV movie 1975 ''The Streets of San Francisco'' Willie 1 Web of Lies 1975 ''Bronk'' Unknown  1 Crackback 1975–1976 ''Baretta'' Penguin / Detective Nopke 6 Count the Days I'm Gone />Murder For MePay or DieThe DippersDeath on the RunStreet Edition 1976 ''The Rebels'' Henry David Thoreau 1 Henry David Thoreau 1977 ''Quincy, M.E.'' Claude Stern 1 The Thigh Bone's Connected to the Knee Bone 1980  ''The Waltons''   GI  1 The Prodigals 1982 ''The Greatest American Hero'' Guard 1 Good Samaritan 1985 ''Cagney & Lacey'' Jimmy MacDonald 1 Organized Crime 1989 ''Imagining America'' Beatnik Poet 1 This Ain't Bebop 1997 ''Crisis Center'' Junkie 1 He Said, She Said 2019 ''Ethnically Ambiguous'' Ralph 1
References
External links ****** 'American Pop'... Matters: Ron Thompson, the Illustrated Man Unsung interview at ''PopMatters''*** Beyond the Marquee - EXCLUSIVE: Ralph Bakshi's AMERICAN POP – Video of Historic Q&A with Actor Ron Thompson*** The Only One In The Room Podcast* Ron Thompson WPWL 103.7 radio interview*