Tom Villard

Thomas Louis Villard (November 19, 1953 – November 14, 1994) was an American actor. Heartbreak Ridge, He attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, before moving to New York City to attend the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in the early 1970s. In 1980, Villard moved to Los Angeles and soon started landing roles on television and in movies. He also continued performing on stage until the end of his career.

Career Villard performed throughout his career on television, in feature films, and on stage around the country. He starred in situation comedies and episodic TV series, and had leading roles in lower- and mid-range budgeted features.

Villard appeared on television as minor characters in two different episodes of The Golden Girls, a panelist on Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour, and a repeat celebrity guest on Body Language. During one episode of Body Language, Villard spoke of his collaborations with performance artist John Fleck.

At the peak of his career, Villard had supporting roles in big-budget studio fare, such as Clint Eastwood's Heartbreak Ridge, and My Girl (with Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis). Villard also had the title role in the 1987 independent film The Trouble With Dick, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. One of his final roles was playing a Bajoran monk on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Personal life and illness Toward the end of his life, Villard became one of the few actors in Hollywood in the early 1990s who chose to be open about his homosexuality, and the challenge of living with HIV and AIDS. In February 1994, Villard made an appearance on the celebrity-profiling newsmagazine TV show Entertainment Tonight, acknowledging to "...more than 13 million viewers that he was gay, that he had AIDS, and that he needed some help."

According to a POZ magazine profile in December of that year Villard said, "An awful lot of people suddenly wouldn't let me in the door for auditions. I started speaking a couple of months ago about living with AIDS and having hope," he said. "It feels a little more useful than things (I've done) in the past." He went on to explain that since his appearance on Entertainment Tonight, a whole other group of people had come forward to welcome him. Bill Melamed, Villard's manager added: "I'm particularly proud of him. The reality is, acting is a lousy business... He made a decision that was courageous in any walk of life, but it doesn't surprise me. He has one of the most open spirits."

Death On November 14, 1994, five days shy of his 41st birthday, Villard died of AIDS-related pneumonia.

As a tribute to him, a non-profit foundation was created by his partner Scott Chambliss, close friend Caren Kaye, and his friend and chiropractor Cheryl Revkin. The Tom Villard Foundation was a Silver Lake community-based effort which engaged local businesses to provide free goods and services for community members living with AIDS. The beneficiaries were the client base of the former Silver Lake AIDS support organization, Being Alive. The Tom Villard Foundation no longer exists. Being Alive is now headquartered in West Hollywood.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1980 CHiPs Neil Episode: "Sick Leave" 1981 Force: Five Disciple 1981 Sidney Shorr: A Girl's Best Friend Eric TV movie 1982 Parasite 3-D Zeke 1982 Grease 2 Boy Greaser (Willie) 1983 Taxi Cartoonist Episode: "A Grand Gesture" 1983 High School U.S.A. Crazy Leo Bandini TV movie 1983–1984 We Got It Made Jay Bostwick 46 episodes 1984 Surf II Jocko O'Finley 1985 MacGruder and Loud Floyd Episode: "The Inside Man" 1986The A-Team Barry Green Episode: "Beneath the Surface" 1986 One Crazy Summer Clay Stork 1986 Weekend Warriors Seblinsky 1986 The Trouble with Dick Dick Kendred 1986 Heartbreak Ridge Profile 1986 The Golden Girls Rick Episode: "Vacation" 1989 Who's the Boss? Andy Drake Episode: "First Date" 1989 Swimsuit Willard Thurm TV movie 1990 Hunter John Skouros Episode: "Second Sight" 1991 Popcorn Toby 1991 Whore Hippie 1991 Shakes the Clown Dirthead in the Car 1991 My Girl Justin 1992 The Golden Girls Randy Becker Episode: "Rose: Portrait of a Woman" 1992 Baywatch Howie Episode: "Reunion" 1994 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Prylar Bek Episode: "The Collaborator" 1994 In The Army Now Obnoxious Salesguy 1995 Op Center Press Aide TV movie (final film role)