 Tom
Murphy was born and raised in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, the heart
of the anthracite coal region. He graduated from Pottsville High and
after receiving his bachelor degree from East Stroudsburg University,
he moved to Stowe, Vermont to pursue a career as a professional acrobatic
skier. During his illustrious two year stint as a professional athlete
Mr. Murphy was sidetracked by the smell of the grease paint and the
bright foot lights. . . he turned his energies to the stage. Although
a performing career offered little more in the way of security, Mr.
Murphy was able to quit his waiter job and successfully make a go
of it.
After his conversion he co-founded two international touring comedy
troupes: Mountain Mime and Klown Shoes. He shared his talent as
a teacher in Denmark, France, Germany, Austria, and the U.S. as
a faculty member at the Boston University Theater Institute and
three years at Ringling Brotherâs Clown College.
A few years ago he was featured on a SHOWTIME special from THE
JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL in Montreal. In Paris he was awarded Number
One CLOWN at the 1987 international circus competition, Cirque De
Demain . After recently finishing a three-month engagement at the
International Resorts Hotel in Atlantic City he traveled to Hollywood
to make his film debut in Avaâs Magical Adventure starring
Timothy Bottoms and Patrick Dempsey. For the past half decade Mr.
Murphy has been touring primarily in Europe and the United States
where he has made a solid reputation as a Theater Clown, garnering
descriptions such as "Der Chaos Poet," "...a descendant
of the great clown, Charlie Rivel," and "...Dotender,
warm, compassionate" "...One Of The Greats Of Our Time."
Mr. Murphy is no stranger to Broadway either! In 1984, while still
a mere babe, he co-produced with clarinet virtuoso Jean Kopperud,
a show called The Ladder and the Clarinet at the Symphony Space‹it
was just a bit shy of critical acclaim. In November 1998 Mr. Murphy
performed his solo show on Broadway at the New Victory Theater.
It was a 13 show, sold out engagement that the New York Times called
"a sure-fire cure for the blahs." In the same vein as
Keaton, Lloyd and Chaplin, Mr. Murphy continues to be one of the
top slapstick comedians alive today.
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