Thomas Aquinas McGreevey was born in New York City and served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War from 1950 to 1954. After his discharge, he trained at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts and went on to study with Charles H. Shattuck at the University of Illinois, where he appeared in many plays, including the role of Sir Toby Belch in "Twelfth Night".
In the early 1960s, McGreevey performed at the renowned Karamu Theater in Cleveland, Ohio, and played in summer stock with the Peninsula Players. He also had a brief career in radio, leading to the role of "Mr. Patches" on the long-running children's show "Uncle Al".
In his mid-40s, McGreevey returned to New York City, committing to work full-time as an actor. He appeared in commercials and print ads for national brands, including Lipton, McDonald's, and Budweiser, and had roles on several daytime soap operas, including "All My Children" and "General Hospital".
During the 1980s, McGreevey continued to perform in legitimate theater, including "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", "A Case of Libel", and "A Delicate Balance". He also appeared in many successful TV series, including "Dallas", "Dynasty", "Remington Steele", "Fame", "Golden Girls", "Hill Street Blues", and "L.A. Law".
In addition to his TV work, McGreevey appeared in several made-for-television movies, including "Rock Hudson", "Polly", "An Inconvenient Woman", and "Lady Against the Odds", for which director/cinematographer Bradford May won an Emmy. His role as Officer O'Connor in the Emmy-winning "Ziggy's Gift" teamed him with Tom Wilson, the creator of Ziggy.
McGreevey's feature films include "The Naked Gun 2 ½: The Smell of Fear", "Angel Town", "The Favorite", and "Airplane II: The Sequel". He was often typecast as a "three piece suit", playing ministers, doctors, judges, and administrators, which contrasted with his effervescent and broadminded personality.
In 1992, McGreevey retired from acting to write books and articles about film history. He co-authored "Movie Westerns" and "Our Movie Heritage".
