Trivia

For the last ten or so years of his life (starting in at least 1984), he was a computer software developer working on business application frameworks. He was regarded as one of the experts, a software guru in the area of desktop PC database applications such as dBase. At the time of his untimely death he was a central figure in the community of FoxPro database developers.

Was Marilyn Monroe's youngest date ever when he escorted her to the premiere of River of No Return (1954) in 1954.

In the 1970s he and his family lived on a farm near Arroyo Grande, CA, where he secretly grew marijuana between rows of corn. His multiple drug busts eventually destroyed his marriage.

While making The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953) he became acquainted with dog trainer Frank Weatherwax, whose brother Rudd bought the "Lassie" rights from MGM for an upcoming TV series. He auditioned and, to determine who would make the best Jeff, the brothers invited Tommy and two other child actors up for the part to spend a week at their North Hollywood ranch with the three collies who would play the lead. Tommy won the contract at $2,500 a week.

After appearing with Mary Martin in "Annie Get Your Gun" for 22 months, Tommy was offered more stage roles, including "Peter Pan" and "The Member of the Wedding," the latter play featuring Brandon De Wilde. His strong-willed mother, however, decided Tommy should go for the movies. Interestingly, Tommy won the boy role on Lassie (1954) after de Wilde turned it down.

TV folklore has it that when the producers had narrowed the casting down to three juveniles for the part of Lassie's young master, they allowed Lassie herself to make the final decision. Supposely the dog walked straight over to Tommy and affectionately nuzzled the boy, thus winning him the role.

For the last several years of his life Tom was a successful software developer. His products in Dbase and FoxPro were used by hundreds of other developers.

More than anything else, due to his shortness (5' 4") his adult career never panned out.

Rettig remained a staunch advocate of recreational drug use throughout his adult life and in 1983 championed a proposed California initiative to legalize marijuana. He said he continued to use marijuana in middle age but gave up stronger drugs when he became a vegetarian.

He and his wife moved to a California farm, where he cultivated marijuana; he was sentenced to two years' probation in 1972, but in 1975 was ordered to serve five years for running cocaine. That was dropped on appeal, but he was indicted again in 1980 for drug offenses.

Graduated from Los Angeles' University High School.

Father of Mason Storm.

Two sons: Tom and Deane.

Profiled in the 2016 book "X Child Stars: Where Are They Now?" by Kathy Garver and Fred Ascher.

His father was Jewish, the son of emigrants from Russia. His mother was the daughter of Italian parents, whose families were from Tuscany and Sicily.