Torn was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his part as Marsh Turner in Cross Creek (1984). His work includes the role of Artie the producer on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated for six Emmy Awards, winning in 1996. Torn also won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Male in a Series, and two CableACE Awards for his work on the show, and was nominated for a Satellite Award in 1997 as well.\n', '

Torn was born in Temple, Texas on February 6, 1929, the son of Elmore Rual "Tiger" Torn Sr. and Thelma Mary Torn (née Spacek). The senior Elmore (1906–1971) was an agriculturalist and economist who worked to promote the consumption of black-eyed peas, particularly as a custom on New Year\'s Day. Thelma was aunt of actress Sissy Spacek. The family is of German, Austrian, and Czech/Moravian ancestry. The nickname "Rip" is a family tradition in the Torn family. Torn uses "Rip Torn" as a legal name in contracts and court filings, although his arrest and conviction record for his 2010 bank robbery in Connecticut uses his given name of Elmore Rual Torn. Torn graduated from Taylor High School in Taylor, Texas in 1948.\n', '

Torn was a member of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, although he graduated from the University of Texas where he studied acting under Shakespearean professor B. Iden Payne, and was a member of the Alpha Nu chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity. After graduation, he served in the Military Police in the United States Army. While serving as a 2nd lieutenant at Fort Hood, Texas, Torn was known as something of a likeable rebel by the enlisted men. He got himself into a bit of trouble with his superiors when he left the field maneuver known as Operation Spearhead to go back to the base for a visit home. He was not alone in his attitude toward an exercise that had as its stated purpose the dispersal of the 1st Armored Division during an atomic attack.[citation needed]\n', '

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