Character player, often playing scumbags or obnoxious men, who worked for more than a decade in Chicago theatre before establishing himself in films and TV beginning in the late 80s, often in lower-budget fare. Tom Towles drifted into acting after serving in the Marine Corps. Although he made an isolated appearance in a bit role in "Dog Day Afternoon" with Al Pacino in 1975, he returned to Chicago and became a member of the Organic Theatre Company appearing in numerous productions and often collaborating on the writing as well. Towles also acted with the prestigious Goodman Theatre there. It
