TOM TROUPE, R.I.P. (AND CAROLE COOK BELATEDLY, AS WELL)

The late actor, Tom Troupe, may not be familiar to everyone, but those in the theatre world really know his name. He and his wonderful late wife, Carole Cook, were beloved and respected among show biz denizens.

My previous column was about two new show biz couples whom I admire. In the article, I also wondered where all the long-time twosomes were, (besides Mr. X and me, of course.) Well, the Troupes were the King and Queen of those! They were married for fifty-nine years, until Carole’s passing two years ago.

I’m happy to report that I knew them a bit, if only very briefly. So I’m sorry that I didn’t do a tribute to Ms. Cook in this e-zine back then.  But, because Mr. Troupe and I once had such a lovely conversation, I must laud him here. And tell you about our meeting.

When I was doing my TV show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue, I was asked to be a judge for a cooking contest a popular Creole-Cajun restaurant in town. I usually had a friend with me at every event, (as I always still do, because I want to share my advantages in life,) but, because of circumstances, and being reliable enough to not cancel when my friend did that night, I showed up alone. That was a tad uncomfortable for me, but two other judges took me under their wings and hung-out with me all night, even after some of the others befriended me, as well. And the kind duo was—you guessed it—Tom and Carole!

Carole was always the life of the party, and this night was no exception. But my convo with Tom that night has always stuck with me. He asked me a simple question, which no one else ever has. He inquired, “So, Karen, tell me—who are your favorite actor and actress?” I didn’t have to think twice—I readily answered, “Anthony Hopkins and Gene Tierney!” He was definitely a bit taken aback that a young girl had such surprising answers—they were both far from my generation! He said, “Great choices!,” and then asked me why I chose them. He seemed generally entertained as I went on and on about my love of those two.

[Side note: I had met Mr. Hopkins a few years earlier, at a party at Lynn Redgrave’s house, when he wasn’t as famous and revered as he is now, and I told him that he was my fave. Instead of just a quick, “Thank you,” he thoughtfully asked me which of his roles I most especially liked. And when I told him it was that of Bruno Hauptmann in the TV movie, The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case, he seemed genuinely pleased. There’s something about that older group of actors that can never be replicated, in my humble opinion.]

I’ve always been grateful to Tom and Carole for making my night at that eatery so easy. And memorable!

And, by the way, as a teenager, I had seen Tom on stage in a play in Hollywood in my first year out here in LA! So to be ostensibly “working” with him all those years later, was a delight. And a privilege.

I didn’t run into them again for many years, except once when they were walking quickly down the street in my direction, and I didn’t want to stop them. I also spied them a time or two at opening nights, when we were all engaged by others, and I thought I’d get over to them afterwards. (But never did.)

And then about a dozen years ago, I was celebrating my birthday with a friend at the trendy eatery, Craig’s, in West Hollywood, and was seated near the, as I described them back then, “married-forever couple Carole Cook and Tom Troupe.” So our hello that night was just a brief one because, as I knew several other diners there that night, I didn’t want to schmooze long at any one table.

I’m happy that Tom is now reunited with his precious wife after being on this level of life for just about ninety-nine years! It’s a blessing that he appeared to live a good, long life.

And now, R.I.P., Tom Troupe. (And Carole Cook, too.)