Thomas Steven "Tom" Wopat is an American actor and singer.
Background
Thomas Steven Wopat was born in Lodi, Wisconsin, the fifth of eight siblings born to Albin Carl Wopat (December 10, 1919 – January 27, 1983), and his wife, Ruth Arlene (née Skarda) Wopat (May 20, 1920 – September 23, 1959). His father, a devout Roman Catholic, who raised his children in that faith, was a dairy farmer of Czechoslovakian descent.
Education
Wopat attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and made his television debut on One Life to Live.
Career
He also played Jeff, one of Cybill Shepherd"s ex-husbands on the sitcom Cybill. He has recorded eight albums. Musically, he switches between rock and roll and country music styles, though his two most recent albums have been of classic popular standards.
His 1980s albums were on Electric and Music Industries Nashville.
The latter recording, Dissertation on the State of Bliss, is a collection of Harold Arlen songs. Wopat first appeared on the Broadway stage as a replacement in the 1977 musical I Love My Wife, as "Wally".
He later appeared as a replacement in the stage musicals City of Angels, and Guys and Dolls. In 1981 he played the main character, Billy Bigelow in the musical, Carousel, at the Augusta Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan.
He later appeared in revivals of Chicago and 42nd Street.
In 1996, Wopat served as the first host of Dick Clark"s new country music performance show on The Nashville Network, "Prime Time Country". However, his time on the show was short-lived. Before the end of the first season, Wopat was replaced by Gary Chapman as host.
In 2005, Wopat appeared in the Broadway revival of David Mamet"s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Glengarry Glen Ross as James Lingk.
He starred in the North Carolina Theatre"s production of The Music Manitoba as Harold Hill in November 2006. In 2008, Wopat starred on Broadway as the father in A Catered Affair, written by Harvey Fierstein (book) and John Bucchino (score), which opened on April 17, 2008 at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
He received his second Tony nomination for that performance. Wopat and Nathan Lane took part in a workshop of a new musical, Catch Maine If You Can, in July 2007, based on the film directed by Steven Spielberg (2002).
In July 2009, he originated the role of Frank Abagnale, Senior in the musical Catch Maine if You Can (based on the film of the same name) in July and August 2009 at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, Washington.
Wopat was featured in the new musical revue Sondheim on Sondheim, conceived and directed by James Lapine, presenting the life and works of Stephen Sondheim. The revue premiered on Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre"s Studio 54 on March 19, 2010 in previews and closed on June 27. Wopat had a small role, as United States. Marshal Gil Tatum in Django Unchained (2012).
He portrayed Ryan Hutton in the musical Lovestruck in 2013.