LITCHFIELD, Conn. — Rip Torn was so intoxicated when he broke into a Connecticut bank carrying a loaded gun that he thought he was home, taking off his hat and boots and leaving them by the door, according to court records.
The 78-year-old actor, whose real name is Elmore Rual Torn, was arraigned on several charges after spending the weekend in a police holding cell near his hometown of Salisbury.
Torn, who did not enter a plea, was released on $100,000 bond a few hours later.
He is expected to enter an alcohol rehabilitation center in New York as early as today, according to his attorney.
Torn was given probation last year in a Connecticut drunken-driving case and allowed to enter an alcohol education program. He completed the first stage of that program.
He also has two previous drunken-driving arrests.
The actor is accused of breaking into the Litchfield Bancorp branch through a window Friday night in Salisbury, where officers responding to an alarm found him wandering in the lobby and nearly incoherent.
According to court records, Torn was disoriented, reeked of alcohol and asked the state police troopers repeatedly why they were taking him out of his home.
Officers found a loaded .22-caliber revolver in Torn’s pocket, according to court records.
A breath test showed his blood-alcohol content as 0.203 percent — more than twice the 0.08 legal limit for driving in Connecticut, court records say.
Torn is charged with criminal trespass, carrying a gun without a permit, carrying a gun while intoxicated, burglary and criminal mischief.
The actor has appeared on the television show “30 Rock” and won an Emmy in 1996 for his work on “The Larry Sanders Show.”
In addition to “Men in Black,” his recent movie credits include “The Insider” and “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
