- Had a crossed eye as a child and relied on the advice of a doctor who suggested visual exercises. Since Tommy couldn't read very well, his mother decided on dance lessons to correct it, which relies heavily on spotting and focusing.
- Made a cameo in Funny Girl (1968) as Barbra Streisand's exasperated ballet partner in the "Swan Lake" spoof.
- Studied tap dancing, acrobatic dance, and ballet from an early age.
- Tommy played Lucentio in the musical film Kiss Me Kate (1953) opposite Ann Miller's Bianca. The Cole Porter song and dance number, From This Moment On, was not in the original Broadway show but was added to the movie to highlight the incredible dancing skills of not only Rall and Miller, but Bobby Van, Bob Fosse, Jeanne Coyne, and Carol Haney. It remains one of MGM's most thrilling dance sequences.
- Later worked in the Trust Department in a bank and also took commissions as a painter.
- Made his musical comedy debut in 1948, in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
- His first MGM movie role was a short subject called "Vendetta" which was about Napoleon.
- He was a lifelong Democrat.
- Upon his death, he was cremated and his ashes returned to his family.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content