While filming the title role in The Cardinal (1962), Tom suffered from Otto Preminger's Teutonic directing style and became physically ill. He considered his best role to be in In Harm's Way (1965), which is also regarded as one of the better films about World War II. He was part of the all-star cast in The Longest Day (1962), a film of the World War II generation, credited with saving 20th Century Fox Studios, after the disaster of Cleopatra. He appeared in several horror and science fiction films: I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958) and Moon Pilot (1962) and in westerns: Three Violent People (1956) and Winchester '73 (1967). Tom was cast in the title role of the Disney TV series Texas John Slaughter (1958) that made him something of a household name. In 1955, he moved to California to try his hand at the movies, and the next year made his film debut in The Scarlet Hour (1956). He also worked in television at the time, but as a production assistant.

He made his Broadway debut in 1952 in the chorus of the musical Wish You Were Here. He was part of the all-star cast in The Longest Day (1962) It was Noel Coward’s partner, Gertrude Lawrence, who encouraged Tom to try acting. It was Noel Coward’s partner, Gertrude Lawrence, who encouraged Tom to try acting.

Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon