Actor Rip Torn appeared in Bantam Superior Count on Monday to answer a charge of DUI stemming from a traffic stop on December 14 in Salisbury, Connecticut. The 77 year old and his attorney, A. Thomas Waterfall entered a plea of not guilty, which will likely lead to a trial.
A State Trooper stopped Torn on Route 44 near the borders of New York and Massachusetts shortly after he had left the White Hart Inn. Driving a 1994 Subaru with a Christmas tree tied to the top, he was driving in the breakdown lane when police pulled him over.
Torn failed part of the field sobriety test, refused a breathalyzer test and swore at the officer. His attorney said, “All I can tell you is that we will review the reports, and Mr. Torn and I will meet to discuss his defense options. At this point, I don’t know what they are.”
Rip is amassing quite a record of DUI related stops. He was arrested in Westchester, New York in December 2006 on a charge of DUI. At that time his 1995 Chevy Cavalier collided with a tractor-trailer. He ended up paying a $380 fine and lost his license for 90 days. He was acquitted in 2004 of DUI charges that involved a fender-bender with a Manhattan taxi.
The actor has a recurring role on the Emmy-award winning NBC comedy 30 Rock. He has appeared five times in 2008 as the head of network Don Geiss.
UPDATE January 31, 2010: Rip Torn was arrested for breaking into a bank – see details here.
More photos below.