14 Facts About Tom Neal

Tom Neal had two older sisters, Mary Elizabeth and Dorothy Helen.

Tom Neal attended Lake Forest Academy and Evanston Township High School before enrolling at Northwestern University where he majored in mathematics.

Tom Neal was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and was active in the drama club.

Tom Neal dropped out of Northwestern after a year, and moved back to Chicago.

Tom Neal appeared in various stage productions in summer stock before making his way to New York City in 1933.

In 1935, at the age of 21, Tom Neal made headlines for announcing his engagement to marry 32-year-old Inez Norton, the ex-Follies girl and former girlfriend of slain gangster Arnold Rothstein.

Tom Neal beat Tone severely while Payton reportedly watched the fight.

Tom Neal's only child, Patrick Thomas Neal, was born in 1957.

Tom Neal acted sporadically but became more known for his tumultuous on-and-off relationship with Payton.

In 1961, Tom Neal married receptionist Gail Bennett in Las Vegas.

Tom Neal, who was not at the home when police arrived, became an immediate suspect.

At his trial, Tom Neal admitted that he and Bennett were separated at the time of her death but said that her death was accidental.

Tom Neal said the two began fighting after he accused Bennett of sleeping with other men.

Tom Neal claimed that Bennett pulled out a gun and held it to his head, and the two began to struggle.