Introduction
John J. Tormey Jr. (August 4, 1937—March 3, 2022) was an American actor. He is best known for his performance as "Louie" in the 1999 film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.
Early life
Tormey was born on August 4, 1937, in Willimantic, Connecticut, to John J. Tormey Sr. and Sara Tormey (March 11, 1914 – December 12, 2012). He has one sister, Caroline, and a brother Charles (deceased). He got his start in acting as a child actor and performer in the 1940s.
Career
Tormey portrayed the "Harassing Man" in Tom DiCillo's The Real Blonde starring Mathew Modine, Catherine Keener, Elizabeth Berkley, and Daryl Hannah (1997).
In Jim Jarmusch's In Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1998), Tormey played the character "Louie", a local mobster for whom the title character Ghost Dog (played by Forest Whitaker) serves as a hitman.
Tormey has also acted on stage. For example, in 2000, he portrayed "Emil" in David Mamet's The Duck Variations at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York City.
According to his son, Tormey was also a dancer.
Personal life
Tormey's wife Norma was also an actress, as well as a model. Their son John J. Tormey III is a New York entertainment lawyer.
Death
Tormey died on March 3, 2022, at age 84.
Filmography (selected)
- 20??: Ghost Dog 2
- 2014: She's Funny That Way
- 2014: Rob the Mob
- 2012: Not Fade Away
- 2010: How Do You Know
- 2010: Friendship!
- 2009: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony
- 2009: I Hate Valentine's Day
- 2008: Be Kind Rewind
- 2007: Manhunt 2
- 2007: Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot
- 2007: The Ten
- 2005: Stay
- 2005: The Warriors
- 2005: The Honeymooners
- 2005: Game 6
- 2004: Keane
- 2004: Our Italian Husband
- 2002: Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven
- 2001: The Curse of the Jade Scorpion
- 2000: The Yards
- 2000: Joe Gould's Secret
- 1999: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
- 1999: Just the Ticket
- 1998: Safe Men
- 1998: Mob Queen
- 1997: The Real Blonde
- 1997: Kiss Me, Guido
- 1997: Commandments
- 1997: Jungle 2 Jungle