Actor and director Tom Forman was born Thomas Powers Duthitt on February 22, 1893, in Mitchell County, Texas. At an early age, his parents divorced, and his mother Mary wed Joseph Foreman in 1901, when he was eight years old and was adopted by his stepfather. Forman (he dropped the ‘e’) made his first film for Jesse L. Lasky's production company in 1914. He enlisted in the army during World War I as a member of the Rainbow Division and was discharged as a lieutenant of the Flying Corps. Forman directed Lon Chaney's Shadows (1922), but his biggest achievement was realized directing the second screen version of Owen Wister's The Virginian (1923). Soon after, his career faltered, and he was reduced to working on cheap Poverty Row melodramas. Forman was set to direct the Columbia film The Wreck, which was to start shooting on November 8, 1926, however, he had a nervous breakdown ten days earlier and the day before he was to start work, he was at his parent’s house in Venice. While his mother was preparing breakfast, Forman locked himself in the bathroom and committed suicide by shooting himself with a 45-caliber revolver through the heart. The Hollywood American Legion oversaw Forman’s services at 1634 El Centro Avenue where his body lay in state. An escort of Hollywood Legionnaires accompanied the body to Hollywood Cemetery Chapel where military rites were conducted. Honorary pallbearers included Robert G. Vignola, Norman Kerry, George Melford, Monte Blue, and Milton Hoffman. Forman was interred in the Corridor Mausoleum, Bldg B, Crypt 442. Forman was survived by his wife Mary Forman, and a son, Tom Forman, Jr., six years of age (his son was killed in Italy during World War II at age of 23). Adela Rogers St. Johns based the character of Maximillian Carey in her original story for What Price Hollywood? (1932) on Forman.