Barry Sullivan was born Patrick Barry Sullivan on August 29, 1912 in New York City. He was the seventh son of a seventh son, a birth order with mystical significance in Celtic families. While never a major movie star, he established himself as a well-known and highly regarded character lead and second lead in motion pictures and television in a career that lasted 50 years. Sullivan was one of those elite of actors who are always in demand until the day they decide to retire.
汤姆在1969年拍摄了第一部电影，主要电影作品有《三个奶爸一个娃娃》，扩阔戏路之作汤姆中扮演一名同性恋记者，更与凯文·克莱恩有接吻戏，诺曼底大风暴，饰演艾森豪威尔。
