Tom Sullivan

Tom Sullivan (born March 27, 1947) is an American singer, actor, writer, and motivational speaker. Blind since infancy, he has been a public advocate for assistive services for the blind, and research into treatments for blindness.

Personal life Sullivan was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Marie C. (née Kelly) and Thomas J. Sullivan, who owned a saloon. His premature birth caused him to need oxygen treatment while in an incubator. Though the treatment saved his life, he was given too much oxygen, which left him permanently blind. (This condition is now known as retinopathy of prematurity.)

Sullivan had a close and lifelong friendship with actress Betty White and her husband Allen Ludden; they met in 1968 while they were performing in Cape Cod. Sullivan and White co-wrote a book, Leading Lady, about Sullivan's first seeing eye dog, who lived with White after being retired.

Career Sullivan has worked as an author, composer, motivational speaker, and singer, as well as an actor, director, and producer. Sullivan sang "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States, at Super Bowl X, and the 1976 Indianapolis 500.

He played a recently blinded soldier in a 1976 episode of M*A*S*H, which led to additional acting roles. He also starred as a blind business owner in the WKRP in Cincinnati episode "To Err is Human". He had a recurring role on Highway to Heaven as Frank Riley, who ultimately marries Priscilla Barnes's character. Among the songs Sullivan has written and performed are "All the Colors Of the Heart", which was used as the theme for his debut episode of Highway to Heaven.

If You Could See What I Hear, a 1982 movie based on his time in college, was directed by Eric Till and starred Marc Singer as Sullivan.

Awards Sullivan won the American Foundation for the Blind's "Helen Keller Achievement Award" in 1997.

Discography Studio albums + List of albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions AUS If You Could See What I Hear Released: 1972 Format: LP Label: Perception — Yes I'm Ready / Tom Sullivan Released: 1976 Format: LP Label: ABC Music (ABCD-967) 97

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AUS "Beauty Is in the Eyes of the Beholder" 1975 — "Yes I'm Ready" 1976 74 "Fools Rush In" — "If You Could See What I Hear" 1982 —

Selected television and movie credits Acting filmography Touched by an Angel (in episode "Then Sings my Soul" as Clarence), 1999 Renegade (in episode "Love Hurts" as Denny Martin), 1996 Designing Women (in episode "One Sees, the Other Doesn't" as Danny), 1989 Highway to Heaven (two episodes, as Frank Riley) Knight Rider (in episode "Knight Song" as Charley Connors), 1985 Search for Tomorrow (as Michael Kendall), 1983 Mork & Mindy (in episode "Mork Learns to See" as Tom Bickley), 1980 Airport '77 (as Steve), 1977 M*A*S*H (in episode "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" as Tom Straw), 1976 WKRP in Cincinnati (in episode "To Err is Human" as Hester Sherman), 1982 Fame (in episode "Solo Song" as blind vocal coach), 1982

Miscellaneous filmography The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (as himself with his seeing eye dog named Eddison, a German Shepherd). Right after Julie Chen and before Michelle Yeoh. July 30, 2008. Moving Through Space: A Day with Tom Sullivan (composer of song "Idle Hands"), 2003. Good Morning America (as himself – feature correspondent), 1978–1983 Super Bowl X (sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" with the cast of Up with People), Jan. 18, 1976 Black Sunday (sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" with the cast of Up with People), 1977