Rip Torn is Arrested for Burglary

This is from the I-didn't-even-know-he-was-alive file.

Actor and alcoholic Rip Torn was arrested for burglary and carrying an illegal weapon.

The 78-year-old Rip Torn allegedly broke into a Litchfield, Connecticut bank brandishing a loaded weapon and visibly drunk. Police picked him up as he stood inside the bank.

He was booked on charges of burglary and possession of a firearm without a permit. He is being held on a $100,000 bond.

Rip Torn was previously arrested once for drunk driving in Connecticut and twice in New York. After his last offense, he was supposed to enter an alcohol education program.

Born Elmore Torn in Temple, Texas in 1931, Rip Torn will turn 79 next week. He has been working in film since 1956 and has made a number of appearances on television. Rip Torn was part of "The Larry Sanders Show" for which he was nominated for six Emmys for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He only one the award one time, in 1996. He also made several appearances on "30 Rock". He was also nominated for an Emmy for this recurring role.

Rip Torn was supposed to have Jack Nicholson's part in "Easy Rider" but he got into a fight with Dennis Hopper that involved Hopper pulling a knife on Torn. After that, he left the picture. Years later Dennis Hopper claimed that it was Rip Torn who pulled the knife on Hopper. Torn sued for defamation and won.

Rip Torn has been in dozens of films and has won a variety of awards for his work on screen. He was nominated for an Academy Award for 1983's "Cross Creek."

Recently Rip Torn has appeared in movies such as "Dodgeball; A True Underdog Story," "Freddy Got Fingered" and "Rolling Kansas".

Besides television and film, Rip Torn has also had a successful career on Broadway. His stage work includes "The Glass Menagerie" and "Sweet Bird of Youth," for which he was nominated for a Tony. Off-Broadway he was in "Desire Under the Elms," "Seduced" and other plays.

Rip Torn is currently married to his third wife, actress Amy Wright. They have two children together. He has four other children with his previous wives. The actor has had criminal problems with alcohol since 2004.