Tom Nardini  Tom Nardini (born April 16, 1945) is an American film actor who had a lengthy career in television in which his best known role was in "Cowboy in Africa" (1967). In film his best known role was in "Cat Ballou" (1965) for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe award. Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1945 as Thomas Nardini, he was the son of Joseph and Chechi Nardini. Nardini's father worked as an aircraft worker after having a career as a jazz musician and his mother worked in vaudeville as a comedian, dancer, and singer. He attended Morningside High School in Inglewood, CA, graduating in 1963. Nardini furthered his education by attending El Camino Junior College in Torrance, CA where he studied theater and joined a Shakespearean group. Nardini met an agent named Lester Miller, who was able to get him an interview to audition for "Mr. Novak." This led to one of Nardini's first roles appearing in three episodes of "Novak" as Abel King from 1964 to 1965. This allowed Nardini to land other roles as guest leads on other television shows such as "The Lieutenant" and "My Three Sons" and Bewitched. Nardini was then cast for his most notable role in the television series "Cowboy in Africa", where he played the character, John Henry. Nardini then signed a seven-year contract with Columbia studios, which produced his film debut "Cat Ballou" in 1965. Nardini was cast as Jackson Two Bears, a Native American ranch hand for Cat Ballou's father. Nardini was nominated for Most Promising Newcomer - Male at the 23rd Golden Globe Awards for his performance. In the films "Cat Ballou" and "Africa: Texas Style", Nardini played a Native American character, which presented the risk of being typecast as a Native American in all his roles. In 1966, Nardini co-starred in a pilot about a World War II-era historical novel written by James Jones called, "From Here to Eternity". "From Here to Eternity" was a drama series that never sold as a pilot. Nardini has been married three times, first to Judy K. Cooper during 1966, then Melody Gay Barsocchini from 1970 to 1981 with whom he had one son, and has been married to Ruth Helen Belding, with whom he has two sons, since 1985.