Accusations of Serial Sexual Harassment: Who Is Tom Gleadow, Actor, Director & Prof. at Two Colleges

Accusations of Serial Sexual Harassment: Who Is Tom Gleadow, Actor, Director & Prof. at Two Colleges

Tom Gleadow was what one theater professional called an “actor’s actor” -- a seasoned professional who appeared in everything from Showtime's Brotherhood as the character Mort to Trinity’s A Christmas Carol to a play written by America’s first female Attorney General Arlene Violet. 

Gleadow seemed to be on every stage. He portrayed the role of Belarius in the production of Cymbeline by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company.

But while he worked throughout the region, it was in Rhode Island where he did most of his acting, teaching and was a serial harasser, according to multiple women.  He taught theater at both the University of Rhode Island and at Salve Regina University.

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As GoLocal first reported, there are a growing number of women who say Gleadow manipulated them into privately playing women in bondage and with him videotaping them.

As Kat Witschen, the first woman to come forward about Gleadow described, "He asked to bind and gag me because I was playing an FBI agent who was captured by the enemy. And even then, I was very uncomfortable but I swallowed it and continued so I could show I was easy to work with. My character removed herself from the restraints, escaped, and finally the photoshoot was over. My professor paid me and I left his house feeling gross but happy that he seemed happy with the final product.”

“I can't remember if it happened one or two more times after that but the scenarios definitely escalated. The bondage got worse and the photos became a video. This time he was a participant and pretended to knock me out and even had gross dialogue,” she says. 

Multiple women have described the same experience to GoLocal and on posts on social media.

 

Universities Deny Knowledge

He accomplished this manipulation by using his position as their professor - both schools deny they knew about accusations about Gleadow’s behavior. URI claims it first learned this September and Salve said it first was made aware of accusations by multiple women in August.

“The University of Rhode Island has been made aware of allegations against Tom Gleadow, who taught one course at URI --Theater 112, Acting, in spring 2020," said Linda Acciardo, spokesperson for URI.

“The University’s Department of Theatre learned of the allegations Wednesday, September  2, and on Thursday, notified students in last year’s class. University officials have no record of any complaints filed against Gleadow,” she added.

Gleadow’s URI connections, however, go back much further. “Gleadow earned his bachelor of fine arts degree in 2011 from URI. In spring 2012, he directed URI Theatre’s production of Tartuffe,” says Acciardo.

Salve refused to disclose when Gleadow began teaching at the University.

“This matter was first brought to the University’s attention in August and we immediately reached out to Newport Police. Mr. Gleadow’s employment at Salve Regina was subsequently terminated in a matter of days. As this is an active police investigation, the university will not be commenting further at this time. We continue to refer questions about the investigation to Newport Police,” says Matt Boxler, spokesperson for Salve.

Newport Police spokesperson Lt. April Amaral refused to comment on the investigation.

 

Theater Companies

Gleadow acted at nearly every local theater company — Trinity Rep, The Wilbury Theatre Group, The Gamm, Theater by the Sea — he directed, starred, and played supporting roles.

All during this time, women say he carried on his alleged sexual harassment in his home and their apartments.

"The Gamm Theatre is aware of allegations of misconduct regarding actor Tom Gleadow, and our thoughts are with the victims who bravely brought them forward. The behavior detailed in these allegations is unconscionable and inexcusable in any context. As one of many area theaters that have worked with Mr. Gleadow over the years, we find these revelations deeply distressing,” said Tony Estrella, Artistic Director and Amy Gravell, Managing Director in a statement to GoLocal

“Gamm Theatre leadership is not aware of any similar actions perpetrated by Mr. Gleadow while working at the theater on one of our productions, we do realize however that many of our staff and valued colleagues have been directly affected by this. Most immediately, we have reached out to our staff and community of artists to make them aware and are providing professional mental health services to process the grief and trauma associated with these incidents. The Gamm remains firmly committed to providing an environment where everyone can do their work free of harassment, in a safe and supportive setting,” Estrella added.

The Wilbury’s Artistic Director Josh Short says that his company was not aware of his behavior or allegations. "Tom Gleadow worked on three shows with us, once in 2019 and twice back in 2013. We have reached out to the casts and crews of those productions to make sure they are aware of the allegations, and we encouraged any of them with any knowledge or experience with the allegations to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation," said Short.

In 2017, Gleadow was nominated as the best male lead in Rhode Island for his portrayal of Henry Drummond in Inherit the Wind at the now-defunct Ocean State Theater Company.

In 2019, he won a BroadwayWorld Rhode Island Award for his work at Theater By The Sea’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for Best Actor in a Musical for his supporting role.

GoLocal’s Features Editor wrote about Gleadow in his role in Arlene Violet’s 2011 mob musical, The Family, "The show gets off to an infectious start with 'Family Values,' a song that puts a menacing bounce into omerta. The large cast, done up in garish 1970s polyester, surrounds Tom Gleadow as Don Marco, our Tony Soprano (or really Raymond Patriarca). Gleadow's big, round baritone holds its own, and the singing throughout the cast is strong."

GoLocal has attempted to reach Gleadow repeatedly by phone and social media.