R.I.P Tom Neyman, “The Master” from Manos: The Hands Of Fate

Tom Neyman, best known for his role as The Master in the 1966 cult classic Manos: The Hands Of Fate, died on Saturday. His daughter, Jackey Neyman, who also appeared in the film as young Debbie, shared the news on Facebook, stating that Neyman “has now transcended to become Manos. #HeIsAlwaysWithUs.” He was 80.
Born in 1935, Neyman—a professional artist—was active in community theater throughout the ‘60s. His only film credit is Harold P. Warren’s Manos: The Hands Of Fate, made famous by Mystery Science Theater 3000 and deemed “The Worst Movie Ever Made” by Entertainment Weekly. Made as a result of a bet with In The Heat Of The Night screenwriter Stirling Silliphant for a budget of $19,000, Manos featured local theater actors and models and was shot on 16mm, with all dialogue and sound effects dubbed in during post-production. Manos premiered on November 15, 1966, and was called a “brave experiment” by the El Paso Herald-Post.
“[Harold P. Warren] wanted something that, regardless of the quality of the movie, would get some attention and get some attendance,” Neyman explained in the 2013 interview with Synapse Films above. “His notion, at least as he expressed it, was, ‘once this one brings in some money then we’ll have more cash to work with to make other films.’ I’m just not real sure that it did that.” In addition to starring in the film, Neyman helped in designing Torgo’s extremely large kneecaps, as well as painting the self-portrait of “The Master” that hung in the living room of the lodge.