Tige Andrews, Stage Performer and "Mod Squad" Star, Dies at 86 | Playbill

Related Articles
Obituaries Tige Andrews, Stage Performer and "Mod Squad" Star, Dies at 86 Tige Andrews, a classically trained stage actor who found fame on the hip 1960s cop show "The Mod Squad," died on Jan. 27 of cardiac arrest at his home in Encino, CA. He was 86.

Mr. Andrews plays Capt. Adam Greer, the officer who recruited the three young undercover hipster cops (Clarence Williams III, Michael Cole and Peggy Lipton) in the groundbreaking television series, which ran from 1968 to 1973.

Born to Lebanese parents in Brooklyn on March 19, 1920, Mr. Andrews began his acting career on the stage. He was educated at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. During World War II, he served in the Army. He returned home after being wounded in Sicily. In 1948, he was cast in the hit war comedy Mister Roberts on Broadway.

Filmmaker John Ford saw Mr. Andrews in the play and cast the actor (who was then billed as Tiger Andrews) in the 1955 film version of the comedy. Ford used him again in "The Wings of Eagles."

Throughout the '50s and '60s, Mr. Andrews was typically cast in military films and television shows, playing members of the armed services. He also worked frequently in Westerns and police dramas.

His other major stage credit was the famed 1955 Off-Broadway revival of Brecht and Weill's The Threepenny Opera at the Theatre de Lys. He played the role of the Streetsinger. His wife of 46 years, Norma Thornton, died in 1996. He is survived his children Barbara, John, Gina, Steve, Julianna and Tony; and 11 grandchildren.

 
RELATED:
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!