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Tom Ligon, Actor in ‘Bang the Drum Slowly,’ Dies at 85

He also appeared in 'Paint Your Wagon,' 'The Young and the Restless' and 'Oz' and had three (very short) stays on Broadway.

I have seen some of Tom on Y&R, but I will always associate him with Oz, where he was a hell of a lot of fun as a prisoner. I remember an episode where he pushed a guard down the stairs and went "Whoops."

I thought he was very hot as Lucas to the point where I wasn't sure why he was cast, as he overshadowed Lance. They seemed to compensate for that in the writing (I wonder if that's why they made him shave off his beard). A shame Lucas never had any happy ending. I think in the end Leslie would have been happier with him.

Tom was also the star of one of my favorite soap promos of all time. How I have watched this and laughed! Bill Bell, there was no one else like you. And there was no one else like Tom.

Y&R Promo - Nov 1981

RIP Tom Ligon.

1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

Tom was also the star of one of my favorite soap promos of all time. How I have watched this and laughed! Bill Bell, there was no one else like you. And there was no one else like Tom.

Y&R Promo - Nov 1981

Of all the soap opera writers, BB was the closest to the telenovela vibe. I could totally see that scene playing out in Spanish or Portuguese.

(That's a compliment, by the way!)

RIP Tom. I do remember him quite well as Lucas. Very sad to hear he has passed.