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Tom Ellis, longtime Boston news anchor, dies at 86

By adamg on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 2:13pm

WNEV-TV first revamped newscast 1982

NBC Boston reports the death of longtime Boston TV anchorman Tom Ellis, who, spent 40 years in Boston TV news, ending with 14 years at NECN, according to his biography at the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame. at which he was an inductee.

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Tom Ellis


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Comments

By bostnkid on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 2:33pm.

i emailed him once and he replied.

Mr Ellis
First let me say that I have enjoyed your work for years. I am 40 years old and I don't remember a time when you were not on the air in Boston.I have a question for you that has been driving me a little crazy for years now. Were you in Spike Lee's film Malcom X?
I swear you are sitting on the plane when Malcom flies to Mecca.Not a speaking role but I am almost sure it is you. Am I right? I did a bit of research and I see you were in some other movies but no mention of this.If you have a minute could you give me a no or a yes?

Thanks
Bostnkid

and he replied..

Hi, Bostnkid,

You nailed it. I was the man asleep on the plane as Malcolm X returns from Mecca. I was free-lancing in NYC at the time as a news correspondent for WNBC-TV, and doing some acting and commercial and voice-over work on the side. There must have been at least 150 "estras" working on the movie. Spike Lee walked in one afternoon, and looking over the crowd somehow zeroed in on me and said, "You! Come here. You're going to be the man asleep on the plane". He took me into another building where there was one-half of a real plane of that era set up on a sound stage. He sat me down in one of the seats and told me that I would be right behind Denzel when he took his seat. Spike wanted me to pretend to be asleep while they were shooting the scene, and warned me in no uncertain terms not to interact with anyone in any way. I laid my head back on the seat and promptly went to sleep - *actually* went sound asleep - and did not wake up until the entire scene had been shot, and Denzel and the other actors and crew had left. I felt a little disappointed that I had missed all of the action, but also rather amazed that I had been able to put myself into such a deep sleep. I figured that was a step beyond Acting 101. I also was among the passengers getting off the plane at the original antique LaGuardia Airport.

I'm amazed that you were able to recognize me. By the way, thanks for being one of my viewers for all these years.

Here's to health, wealth and happiness. Tom Ellis

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By Kapil on Tue, 04/30/2019 - 7:54am.

This is what it’s all about.

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By cybah on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 3:10pm.

A true statesmen who is gone now.

Neat video of Boston tho... nice look at Boston in the early 1980s.

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By Turalura Lipschitz on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 3:53pm.

at biting his lower lip to show he was sad

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By anon on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 4:13pm.

He looked great in a vest.

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By anon on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 4:18pm.

Loved him in the "Untouchables".

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By anon on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 4:46pm.

Dealt with him on several occassions. Class act. RIP.

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By anon on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 4:55pm.

He gave us breaking news without calling it breaking news.

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By Patriciax on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 5:09pm.

So sad to hear of another old time familiar face is gone. Janet Langhart! - she seemed to be just starting then at the station. All so young.

I am sorry to hear of Tom Ellis' passing, he was one of the better anchor people.

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By stonian on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 9:31pm.

Janet Langhart Cohen is still alive and tweeting, as of yesterday.

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By Dave on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 9:46pm.

The Ellis-Pepper Bandwagon, together again.

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By Dave-from-Boston on Tue, 04/30/2019 - 8:08am.

The one low point for Tom Ellis during his career was relationship with Jacobson at he was paired with her at Channel 5 from 1978 to 1982. Jacobson is generally credited helped chasing the then-heavyweight out of the station with her on-air antics. She did not enjoy a reputation of being a particularly nice person while Ellis was seen as been kind to most of the people he encountered.

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By Patriciax on Tue, 04/30/2019 - 9:14am.

Natalie always seemed like the consummate professional. Were you on "watch" for her baby news? We would anxiously await the evening news to see if she had given birth. A Boston soap opera.

Off topic: ever notice how female news casters of just a few years ago seemed to dress professional, not like they are going out dancing? Natalie, Liz, etal were professional people that new their craft and dressed the part. Today's talking heads can't seem to find a dress that will cling tighter to show off their marketable assets, whereas women like Natalie were respected for their intelligence.

Seems like women are going backwards...

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By Scratchie on Tue, 04/30/2019 - 9:28am.

Thanks for turning Ellis' death into an opportunity to bash a strong, intelligent woman. I'm sure a lot of old-timers had a problem with seeing a "gal" behind the news desk, but this isn't the time or the place to work out your issues.

Jacobson is generally credited helped chasing

Also, speak English!

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By Dave-from-Boston on Tue, 04/30/2019 - 10:15pm.

You really need to get a grip or ask your doctor to up the dosage on your meds.

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By scollaysq on Tue, 04/30/2019 - 2:40pm.

In a courthouse scene or two. I remember rocketing off the sofa yelling "There's Tom Ellis!"

There was also a terrific ad for WBZ (I think) where his half his face went transparent and Vietnam war scenes played behind it as Simon & Garfunkel sang about "The Boxer". I was just a kid but it was such a powerful image I never forgot it.

RIP Mr. Ellis. You were the face of Boston news.

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