Version 1.16
Last Updated 3/9/03
This FAQ was compiled by Rachel Ward and is now maintained by Tucker Smallwood. Permission to distribute and copy this FAQ in its original, unmodified form is granted. Other reprintings are prohibited.
Send questions/comments to: webmaster@tuckersmallwood.com
Newest version of FAQ is here: http://www.tuckersmallwood.com/tsfaq.html
Download this FAQ as a text file
Section I: Who is Tucker Smallwood?
1.1 A brief introduction to Mr. Smallwood
Section II: Personal
2.1 Where is he from?
2.2 What is his educational background?
2.3 Has he served in the military?
2.4 Is he married?
2.5 Does he have children?
2.6 When is his birthday?
2.7 I've seen several of his characters play the guitar. Is that really Tucker?
2.8 What does he like to do besides acting?
Section III: Professional
3.1 What is Space: Above and Beyond, anyway?
3.2 Who is Commodore Ross?
3.3 What S:AAB episodes has Tucker appeared in?
3.4 How did Tucker become involved with S:AAB?
3.5 What does Tucker think of Commodore Ross?
3.6 How does Tucker feel about the rest of the cast of S:AAB?
3.7 What else has Tucker done besides S:AAB?
3.8 How did he get into acting to begin with?
3.9 I've heard about a CD he's recorded. Does it really exist?
3.10 What projects is he currently working on?
Section IV: Contacting Tucker/Finding more information
4.1 Does Tucker have a Web page?
4.2 How do I send him e-mail?
4.3 I would like to write Tucker via snail mail. Where do I send it?
4.4 I would like to request a photo of Tucker. Do I have to do anything special to get it?
4.5 I've still got questions. Where can I find more information?
1.1 A Brief Introduction to Tucker Smallwood
Tucker Smallwood is a veteran American actor who has done theater, TV and film work since the early 1970s. He is best known at this time for his portrayal of Commodore Ross on the canceled military drama/science fiction show "Space: Above and Beyond." He has recently done a lot of science fiction, including Babylon 5, Millennium, X-Files, Star Trek: Voyager and The Others.
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2.1 Where is he from?
Tucker was born and raised in Washington, D.C. but spent two years of his childhood in Salonika, Greece. He has also lived in Baltimore, Maryland. He's now residing in California.
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2.2 What is his educational background?
Tucker attended Antioch College, the University of Maryland in Munich, Germany, and UM in College Park, MD. He earned a BA in Speech/TV Production.
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2.3 Has he served in the military?
Yes. Tucker served in the Army Infantry, Airborne. He was an OCS Tactical Officer at Fort Benning, a military advisor in Vietnam, and instructed Officer Candidates at Fort Belvoir in patrolling, raids, ambush, escape and evasion. He earned the rank of First Lieutenant.
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2.4 Is he married?
Tucker is single.
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2.5 Does he have children?
He has no children.
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2.6 When is Tucker's birthday?
Tucker celebrates his birthday on February 22 and his "rebirth day" on September 14. (His life was saved by a doctor in Vietnam and he remembers the day every year.) Want to send him a birthday note? Read how to contact Tucker via e-mail.
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2.7 I've seen Commodore Ross play the guitar. Is that really Tucker?
Yes. Tucker has been a musician his whole life, playing violin and bass as a child, then picking up the guitar while in college. During the 60's he played in folk clubs. When he returned from Vietnam, he developed a passion for the blues and learned the traditional method of picking a guitar that predates electrical techniques. The results can be heard in the S:AAB episodes "Hostile Visit," "River of Stars" and "Dear Earth." His guitar's name is Roslyn, at least on the show. Please see section 3.9 for information on his musical recordings.
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2.8 What does he like to do when he's not acting and playing music?
Tucker loves to play golf, and says he "lives to break 80." He also has a passion for a good crossword puzzle, especially The New York Times; likes acrostics, and any other games that provide mental exercise. Poker and bridge are two of his favorite card games.
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3.1 What *is* Space: Above and Beyond, anyway?
Space: Above and Beyond - abbreviated "S:AAB" and pronounced like "sob" - was a military drama/science fiction show from the Fox Network. It aired Sunday nights at 7 p.m. It was canceled after one season. The SciFi Channel picked it up for reruns. Ironically, it ran them at 7 p.m. on Sundays.
The SciFi Channel still occasionally airs airing reruns of S:AAB.
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3.2 Who is Commodore Ross?
Commodore Glen Van Ross is the CO of the S.C.V.N. Saratoga, a nuclear-powered space carrier which is the living quarters and base of operations for S:AAB's main characters, the 58th Squadron (Wildcards). Ross is in the Navy; the 58 are Marines. Known for such memorable sayings as "Take that out of my sky" and "If you are here to gripe, take it on out," Ross plays the blues on an acoustic guitar named Roslyn, drinks rum, and is fond of strawberries in rich, heavy cream. He is also the only revealed friend of Lt. Col. T.C. McQueen, the CO of the Wildcards, and the only person who uses the Colonel's first name - Ty.
Tucker has said more background information on Ross and the origin of Ross and McQueen's friendship would definitely have been explored if the show had been renewed for a second season.
Please see section 2.6 for episodes in which Ross played the guitar, section 3.3 for episodes he has appeared in, and section 3.5 for Tucker's thoughts on Ross, one of his all-time favorite roles.
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3.3 What S:AAB episodes has he appeared in?
NOTE: This FAQ uses the numbering system that was in use on the set of S:AAB, and NOT the old Fox WWW Site system. The WWW site counted the pilot as (SE-101) and (SE-102), while on the set they don't count it in the numbering at all.
Farthest Man From Home (SE-101)
Ray Butts (SE-104)
The Enemy (SE-105)
Eyes (SE-106)
Hostile Visit (SE-107)
Choice or Chance (SE-108)
River of Stars (SE-110)
Never No More (SE-113)
The Angriest Angel (SE-114)
Toy Soldiers (SE-115)
Dear Earth (SE-116)
R&R (SE-118)
Star Dust (SE-119)
Sugar Dirt (SE-120)
If They Lay Us Down To Rest (SE-121)
Tell Our Moms We Done Our Best (SE-122)
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3.4 How did he become involved with S:AAB?
He auditioned. He said, "I was shooting Agile Warrior, a Sony Playstation game, the only actor in the project and the work was grueling. [The] audition came and Sony would not release me. I was very disappointed, slept 14 hours and received a call to meet with producers the next day. [I] did and the rest is history."
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3.5 What does he think about Commodore Ross?
Tucker said, "Ross is strict but fair. He cares deeply for all who serve under his command. His prime directive is to never leave a soldier behind, dead or alive; they deserve to be brought home."
This aspect of Ross's personality was put to the sorest test possible in the episode Sugar Dirt (SE-120).
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3.6 How does he feel about the rest of the cast?
Tucker said, "[The] entire cast is very special and I'm not just blowing smoke. Each is well trained, talented, professional. It's a very unique group of performers and I'm very grateful to be among them. Because we're apart a great deal, I often miss them, and look forward to scenes which allow all of us to hang around. I do enjoy laughing!"
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3.7 What else has he done besides S:AAB?
An extensive Performance Biography is available at The Official Tucker Smallwood Web Site. Please see section 4.1 for more details.
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3.8 How did he get into acting to begin with?
Tucker began as a television director at WBAL in Baltimore, Maryland. After he came back from Vietnam, he decided to study acting to become a better director, and "fell in love with the process."
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3.9 I've heard about a CD he has recorded. Does it really exist?
Yes. It is a blues album entitled Incarnation. Tucker is the vocalist, and plays guitar on some of the tracks. It is available through a small private company, only through mail order. Detailed ordering information available on the Incarnation page of Tucker's Web site.
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3.10 What projects is he working on?
Exposing Incarnation, returning to musical club performances, and developing as a fiction writer. For his latest appearances in public and as an actor and musician, please see the upcoming appearances listed on his Web site.
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Section IV: Contacting Tucker/Finding
more information
4.1 Does Tucker have a WWW page?
Yes. Tucker's
official Web site, tuckersmallwood.com,
has a detailed performance biography, ordering information
for his blues CD Incarnation, the latest version
of this FAQ, links of interest, a creative
section for Ross-based works, contact information,
sounds and pictures.
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4.2 How do I send him e-mail?
Tucker has a fanmail address: tucker@tuckersmallwood.com.
All mail on this account goes directly to him. No one else sees it.
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4.3 I would like to write to Tucker via snail mail. Where do I
send it?
The Web site no longer has a snail
mail address available.
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4.4 I would like to
request an autographed photo of Tucker. Do I have to do anything special to get
it?
The site no longer accepts requests
for autographs or pictures.
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4.5 I've still got questions.
Where can I find more information?
There
is only one Web site about Tucker Smallwood at this time. There are snippets of
information on other sites.
I have attempted to consolidate the URLs in the
links of interest. It is here that you will find links
to books he has narrated, radio shows he has been on, reviews of things he has
been in, Space: Above and Beyond sites, episode summaries and so on.
If you
need/want to know something about Tucker's *professional* life and can't find
out, you can e-mail and ask.
For the true Webhound, try search
engines for links with Tucker's name in them. There are a few not listed on the
site, but the information is fairly meager.
Google: http://www.google.com
Alta
Vista: http://www.altavista.com
Yahoo: http://www.yahoo.com
Space: Above and Beyond is a trademark of and is
copyrighted by Twentieth Century Fox, Glen Morgan and James Wong and Hard Eight
Productions. The information in this FAQ does not intend or imply any infringement
on their rights.