MovieChat Forums > It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) Discussion > Dabbs Greer aka Old Tom Hanks

Dabbs Greer aka Old Tom Hanks

posted 14 years ago by mousalope
3 replies | jump to latest

Watching this for the first time I note one of the rescueship crewmen is a character actor most anybody would recognize but never know by name. He had a long career, even including the part as the first man saved by George Reeves in the first episode of Superman.

Looking him up Dabbs Greer was born in 1917, making him 41 at the time of this film.

One of his last and probably his finest role was as the aged version of Tom Hanks in The Green Mile. I just think it's interesting to consider that when "It" was filmed, Hanks hadn't yet turned two.

[–] gribfritz2 12 years ago

As with all "creature" movies like this, you know some will live and some will die. My goal during the film was to root on "Rev. Alden" and hope he survived.

[–] mvance-1 10 years ago

I enjoyed Greer's brief appearance in CON AIR as the airport mechanic hiding underneath a truck when all of the shooting breaks out.

Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage): "Don't worry, old man; just stay hid under here and you'll be okay."

Old Man (Dabbs Greer): "That's easy for you to say. You don't gotta take a--"

Steve V.

[–] littlenightmusic-15077 9 years ago

I can't help thinking of Rev. Alden from Little House too.
He really did have a good career.