Longtime Montville Actor Killed In Traffic Accident

MONTVILLE, NJ — Thomas Morrissey was a kind soul. He was humble and always willing to help others.

Morrissey, 56, of Lincoln Park was a longtime collaborator at The Barn Theater in Montville. He joined the theater in 1979, but took a 20-year break to get married and raise a family.

Morrissey suffered a severe head injury Tuesday after he slipped and fell in an Oakland parking lot and was hit by a box truck, authorities previously said.

First responders tried to save his life, but he was pronounced dead a the scene. The driver was not charged, police said.

"Tom was and incredibly gifted actor and a tireless volunteer at The Barn Theatre, always willing to step in and help out in any way he could," said Tom Schopper, one of The Barn Theater's trustees. "But more than that, Tom was our friend — one of the sweetest, nicest, most humble guys you could ever want to meet."

As good of an actor as his colleagues said he was, Morrissey was an even better friend.

Jeff Knapp was friends with Morrissey for 15 years and directed him in half a dozen productions.

Morrissey acted in dozens of productions, most recently in "Fiddler on the Roof" as Constable, since he joined the theater in 1979. He returned in 2003. That's when he became friends with Knapp. He also constructed sets and was a member of the crew for other productions. He did everything from make sets to work spotlights.

"He was an active presence on our stage," Knapp said, noting that Morrissey was an audience favorite. "He was cast so often because he was such a great collaborator," Knapp said. "He would do big parts or small parts."

Schopper said Morrissey was "a gem."

"To say that Tom will be sorely missed is an understatement. His passing has ripped a hole in our hearts and we are all so shocked and saddened by this," Schopper said. "We are all just in shock about his passing."

Morrissey's theater colleagues paid tribute to him on Facebook Thursday.

Related: Man Dies After Vehicle Hits Him In Oakland Parking Lot: Police

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Photo: Tom Morrissey/Courtesy of The Barn Theater