Thomas William "Tom" Simcox (born June 17, 1937) is a former actor who resides in the unincorporated community of Leona Valley west of Palmdale in Los Angeles County, California.Simcox appeared in the 13-episode Warner Brothers television series Code R, which aired on CBS from January 21 to June 10, 1977. Code R focuses on the emergency services, fire, police, and ocean rescue, of the California Channel Islands. Simcox played the police chief, Walt Robinson. The series had good scripts, beautiful scenery, and strong characters but never attracted the needed audience.
"That Yankee Cowboy" is how Beatle John Lennon referred to actor Tom Simcox after both spent time at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in India. In her book, "John", Cynthia Lennon, the Beatle's first wife, reveals that John secretly suspected her of having an affair with Simcox while at the retreat. Of Tom, she writes, "The Yankee Cowboy was an American actor called Tom Simcox, whom we'd met at the Maharishi's center. I'd got on well with him, but the idea that we'd had an affair was preposterous. Tom had never even hinted at anything untoward between us, apart from once asking me, very sweetly, if I had a twin sister". Source: John (book), by Cynthia Lennon.
2
Veteran biker and tough guy actor William Smith credits Tom Simcox with saving his life during the filming of Piranha (1972). On location in the Venezuelan jungle near the Amazon, Smith accidentally sliced open his left forearm while trying to open a can of Vienna sausages with a knife. Simcox applied constant pressure to Smith's arm during the long boat ride back to a doctor in Caracas. Source: William Smith Fan Site, www.williamsmith.org.
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Tom Simcox was the owner of the River Bottom Bar, directly across the street from Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank. Because of its proximity, The River Bottom was a favorite watering hole for actors and studio crew alike and was the scene of many brawls that often included the stars of Warner's many Westerns. Source: Warren Oates: A Wild Life, by Susan A. Compo (book).
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Tom Simcox studied meditation alongside The Beatles at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in India. There's a reference to it in the book, "Revolver: The Secret History of the Beatles", by Geoffrey Giuliano. John Lennon is speaking, referring to the ashram, "And there's a cowboy there called Tom (Simcox) who plays cowboys on TV and, my, did the Beatles wives go for him in a big way".
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dragnet
1991
TV Series
Mr. Cerone
Grim Prairie Tales: Hit the Trail... to Terror
1990
Horn
Simon & Simon
1983-1986
TV Series
Cliff Everett / King McGill / Al Wellens
Airwolf
1986
TV Series
Weldon Rossiter
Acceptable Risks
1986
TV Movie
Joe Reed
Knight Rider
1986
TV Series
Deputy Clark
Street Hawk
1985
TV Series
Keller
Trapper John, M.D.
1985
TV Series
Mr. Michaelson
Hollywood Beat
1985
TV Series
Whiz Kids
1983
TV Series
Loring
Matt Houston
1983
TV Series
Gershwin
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1977-1980
TV Series
Pa Bascombe
Vega$
1980
TV Series
Mr. Gleaver
B.A.D. Cats
1980
TV Series
Jenkins
David Cassidy - Man Undercover
1979
TV Series
Dixon
How the West Was Won
1978
TV Series
Marshal Logan
Baretta
1978
TV Series
Anderson
Police Story
1976-1978
TV Series
Sgt. Duvall / Officer Stover
Charlie's Angels
1977
TV Series
Lon Molton
Code R
1977
TV Series
Walt Robinson
The Ghost of Cypress Swamp
1977
TV Movie
Pa Bascombe
Gibbsville
1976
TV Series
Smith
Hollywood Man
1976
The Sheriff
Columbo
1974
TV Series
William Haynes
Gunsmoke
1963-1974
TV Series
Rance Woolfe / C.V. Fletcher / Jed and Ben Conniston / ...