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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.

I enjoyed him on YR. Who did he play on Dallas? And he worked with Rue.

He was my mother's age.

May he rest in peace.

1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

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

Even though we don't have a lot, from what's available Lucas always had the better sex appear and Masculinity, that I think Bill Bell usually went for...Who Knows why JMc's Lance was always written as being more superior to Lucas...I agree he should have had a better send off then he did.

I didn't know he did a movie with Brad Pitt.

18 minutes ago, Soapsuds said:

I enjoyed him on YR. Who did he play on Dallas? And he worked with Rue.

He was my mother's age.

May he rest in peace.

Wills in a 1987 episode (Ten Percent Solution).

He was insanely hot as Lucas. What a face.

I ran across that clip after I read about how Vanessa Prentiss' crazy demise and was searching for the balcony scene (nowhere to be found right now). Male actors don't push to that height of emotion on soaps anymore and while it seemed melodramatic, that really was talent.

6 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

Wills in a 1987 episode (Ten Percent Solution).

Thanks!

I need to rewatch the episode soon.

24 minutes ago, ReddFoxx said:

I ran across that clip after I read about how Vanessa Prentiss' crazy demise and was searching for the balcony scene (nowhere to be found right now). Male actors don't push to that height of emotion on soaps anymore and while it seemed melodramatic, that really was talent.

That heightened emotion was what seemed to make Y&R stand out in the '70s and early '80s. Something the show could use these days.

Sorry to hear this. I really liked Lucas Prentiss & Tom Ligon.

He came along at a time when Brock was at his most celibate & holiest, Derek was smarmy, Greg was played by the hammiest actor in America, Snapper had transitioned from cool & laconic to a goofy Baywatch lifeguard, and Lance was the cheesiest, dullest weenie imaginable. Couldn't help but love ole Lucas.

2 hours ago, DRW50 said:

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

I don't understand why Bell insisted building McCook's Lance up as God's gift to women. I agree with you that Bell attempted to neuter Lucas masculinity by making him shave off that awesome beard and the way he was written as the underdog. You would think that Lorie being the bad girl she would want someone as virile and manly as Lucas.

I remember seeing a risqué promo photo of Ligon and Bauer where he's shirtless and she was wearing nothing but a fur coat. Did Lucas ever get to hit the sheets with Lorie? Bell toyed with pairing Lucas with Casey Reed, but then quickly killed that by having Lucas going to bed with Leslie and Casey walking in on them. Then he dragged Lucas back into the 4 L's monotony.