Tommy Lane (1937-2021) American Actor

Tommy Lane American Actor dies at 83

He was best known for playing the roles of henchman, crooks, and pimps, in several blaxploitation films of the 1970s. He will be best remembered for his role as ‘Adam’ (his character participates in two attempts to assassinate British spy 007 James Bond, and eludes Sheriff J.W. Pepper, then orders a boat chase and becomes the last pursuer), in the James Bond spy thriller action-adventure film, “Live And Let Die” (1973).

The film which was directed by Guy Hamilton and which also starred Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour, Edwin Earl “Jolly” Brown, and Clifton James, has the British spy 007 James Bond sent to the United States to stop a diabolically brilliant heroin magnate armed with a complex organization and a reliable psychic tarot card reader.

His role of ‘Adam’ earned the character 90th place in a group of 104 James Bond villains as rated by Esquire Magazine in 2017. He is also remembered for his role as ‘Leroy’ (he played a hitman who attacks the title character in his office, only to be defeated and flung through a window), in the Richard Roundtree private eye thriller, “Shaft” (1971), and as ‘Tait’ in Burt Reynold’s comedy action-adventure thriller, “Shamus” (1973).

He was born as Benjamin Thomas Lane (some sources say as Tommy Lee Jones), in the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami, Florida. He made his actual debut playing the role of ‘Nick’ in an episode entitled, “My Brother Flipper” of the classic television series, “Flipper” in 1964.

He then played the role of ‘Tom’ in an episode entitled, “Alligator Duel” of the classic television series, “Flipper” in 1966, but he did not make his first appearance on film until the role of ’44’ in “Cotton Comes To Harlem” (1970). Besides, “Cotton Comes To Harlem” (1970), “Shaft” (1971), “Shamus” (1973), and “Live And Let Die” (1973),

his many other television credits include, “Ganja & Hess” (1973), “The Ordeal Of Dr. Mudd” (1980), “The Pilot” (1980), “Island Claws” (1980), “Blue Skies Again” (1983), “Eureka” (1983), “Virtual Weapon” (1997), and “Sweat” (2007). Besides, the two episodes of “Flipper” (1964 and 1966), his other television credits include the role of ‘Gus the Bartender’ in the two-part episode entitled,

“Pirate’s Key” of the”Simon & Simon,” detective series which also starred Parker Stevenson and Gerald McRaney in 1983. He was also a stuntman who did stunts for the films, “Shaft” (1971), “Come Back Charleston Blue” (1972), and “Ganja & Hess” (1973).

Besides, his film, television, and stunt work, he also appeared on stage in “Cop and Blow” at the Players End Public Theatre in New York City, New York, and “Time Turns Black” at Bolling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. He was also a jazz musician and played trumpet and flugelhorn at New York City, New York’s prestigious Blue Note Jazz Club throughout the 1980s.

He passed away from COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease which is a chronic inflammatory lung disease at Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 29, 2021, at the age of 83. He was survived by his wife, seven children, a stepson, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.