REGIS TOOMEY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 02/24/1979 - HFSID 187130

REGIS TOOMEY
The prolific actor writes to a family member about his work and some memories
Autograph Letter Signed: "Regis Toomey", 8p, 7¼x10½, front and verso. Los Angeles, California, 1979 February 24. On his personal letterhead to "My dear Brother Norbutt". The letter discusses the discrimination a friend of his faced throughout her education, sharing a particularly insightful anecdote. In Part: “At any rate Caplan, an insincere Marxist type was screaming 'Revolution' that the only way the Negro could ever lift himself above the menial tasks alotted (sic) to him, mopping the hallways, cleaning the urinals etc., etc. was to revolt. Margaret suddenly stood up, she was almost six feet tall and had a voice like former Congresswoman Jordan of Texas and she bellowed 'Sit down littleman and be quiet for one minute' and then she addressed the class. 'One hundred and fifty years ago my ancestors may have eaten human flesh, and here I am, an humble and lowly Negro about to graduate near the head of my class [Toomey has added at left margin: "she was valedictorian"] living in a decent home with running water and electricity - andatelephone. Just leave us alone little man. Just give us another hundred and fifty years and we'll be all right. We wont (sic) need or want the like of you Mr. Big Mouth Marvin Caplan to be espousing our cause - We'll do it ourselves.' ". In the year he wrote this letter, Toomey, who had become interested in dramatics while attending the University of Pittsburgh, appeared as Chief Patterson in the film,C.H.O.M.P.S. Regis Toomey (1898-1991) appeared in silent films from 1922 and made his talking picture debut in 1929 in Alibi, in which he appeared in a long, climatic death scene. Toomey became a busy character actor, appearing in dozens of films, including The Big Sleep (1946) andMighty Joe Young (1949). From 1949-1982, Toomey appeared on a number of television series, including December Bride (1955), Cheyenne (1956, 1957, 1962), Perry Mason (1960, 1965) and Green Acres (1966). A friend of actor Dick Powell, Toomey was a regular on Powell's series, Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957-1958). He was also a regular on the television series Burke's Law (1963-1965). Slightly creased at lower margin of last page, not touching signature. Some pages slightly soiled, primarily at blank areas. Fine condition.