Tom McBride: The Few Following Fridays

'You'd see him and go 'Oh My God'.  That sexual energy was powerful.'

Tom McBride

Hair: Black

Eyes: Brown

Height: 6'2

Born: October 7th 1952

Died September 24th, 1995 (Age 42)

Birthplace: Charleston, West Virginia

Actor Tom McBride's turn as Mark in Friday the 13th Part 2 marked his first feature film role, and first professional credit.  It's also just one of seven credits in the sadly short career of the talented and incredibly handsome young actor.  After the film, McBride appeared mostly on television with guest shots on shows including; Gimme A Break, Highway to Heaven and the daytime soap As The World Turns.  His last role was a small role in the 1997 film, White Lies.

On the Friday the 13th Part 2 set with Bill Randolph and Russell Todd

McBride also appeared briefly on Broadway, co-starring in the play, Fifth of July near the end of the plays run.  The play was written by Landford Wilson, who also wrote Prelude to a Kiss and The Three Sisters.  The play is part of the Talley Trilogy, a series of Wilson plays revolving around the Talley family of Lebanon, Missouri. Kenneth Talley Jr. is a gay double amputee Vietnam veteran living in his childhood home with his boyfriend, botanist Jed Jenkins.

In a TV Ad with Dana Delany 

McBride took over the role of Jed Jenkins who was originally played by actor Jeff Daniels.  Daniels wasn't the only big name who appeared in the show, during the plays run, it also featured actors; Christopher Reeve, woozie Kurtz, Michael O'Keefe, Richard Thomas. Timothy and Joseph Bottoms and Larine Newman.  The play was nominated for a Tony for best best play in 1981.

Prior to acting, McBride was s model, and maybe most famous for appearing as one of the famous handsome hunks in Winston Cigarette billboard ads.  After his acting roles dried up, McBride went behind the camera, using his his experience as a model working as a photographer, shooting mostly hot, naked men.

I couldn't find out exactly when McBride came out, but in the last few years before his death from complications from AIDS, he was openly out. A documentary by director Jay Corcoran titled Life & Death on the A-List followed McBride in the final months of his life.

'He reminded me of Lil Abner, this big, strapping, male hormone stud muffin, but nice.  Big, and nice.  I just wanted to climb up his body.'

McBride didn't hold back in the documentary, exposing both his body, and his life.  One of the most interesting pieces to me, were some of the actors friends discussing how easily McBride seemed to have it playing straight in the acting world.   

There were certainly not many openly gay actors in the 1980's, especially those looking to play straight characters.  His friends discuss how easy it was for McBride to fake out casting directors in the still mostly straight world of theatre, television and film. 

There is so much more to the film, and to McBride, and I'm so glad I found and was able to learn more about him through Corcoran's film.  If you want to check it out for yourself, it's been uploaded on-line and you can find it out both Vimeo, (HERE:) and Youtube. (HERE:)  I think the quality is slightly better in the Vimeo upload. 

The two shots below feature McBride dressing after what appears to be a nude audition in front of producers and casting agents.