Tom Pittman

Tom Pittman March 16 1932 October 31 1958 was an American film and television actor After his death at the age of 26 the Los Angeles Times called him one of Hollywoods most promising young actors Pittman was born Jerry Lee Alten in Phoenix Arizona His father was television and radio actor Frank Alten Pittman began his career in acting in 1956 with a guest starring role on Science Fiction Theatre He made his film debut that same year in DDay the Sixth of June Pittman went on to roles in numerous television Westerns including Gunsmoke playing Jimmy McQueen a young affable yet smart herder who seeks revenge on a career horsethief in the 1956 S1E32 entitled Dutch George and in 1957 as Budge Grilk a psychotic stepson in S3E5s Potato Road Cheyenne Have Gun Will Travel The Restless Gun and Cimarron City He also appeared in the 1957 drama The Young Stranger 1957 and the musical comedy Bernardine 1957 His final two roles were in the films Verboten and High School Big Shot both released in 1959 the year following his death On October 31 1958 Pittman was driving home after a Halloween party when he ran his Porsche Spyder off the road at a sharp curve in the Hollywood Hills After he failed to return home his father filed a missing persons report On November 19 Los Angeles police officer Roy Kerton retraced the roads Pittmans father said his son liked to drive and found the wreckage of Pittmans Porsche at the bottom of a 150foot ravine Pittman died after crashing through the guard rail his car landing at the bottom of the ravine where it remained out of sight