Tom Bickley is the adult son of Mr. Bickley, who strikes up a friendship with Mork & Mindy during his visit to his father in Boulder. He is portrayed by Tom Sullivan, and appears in the Season 2 episode Mork Learns to See.
Character summary[]
Tom was born blind to Franklin Bickley and his wife, and lived with them till aged 6. During that time, he and his father enjoyed a wonderful father/son relationship. At that point however, afraid of making a shut in of his son, Frank Bickley resolved to send his son away to the best schools and best doctors in order to give him the best chance of caring an independent life for himself. In that he succeeded but at the cost of their relationship, and his marriage, as, forced to work two jobs to pay for Tom's schooling, Bickley was away from home from long stretches at time, losing touch with both his wife and son. Going twelve years without actually meeting his son face to face from the time Tom was 14. As a result, Tom long mistakenly believes his father has rejected him because of his handicap, but keeps trying to make contact him, not realizing it's Franks guilt about cutting ties to try and make him independent that is the problem.
Personality[]
Tom, who makes his living as a singer/songwriter, has lived up to everything Bickley wished for him. Upbeat, warm and full of humor and laughter, Tom lives life to the fullest focusing on the positives not the negatives whenever he can, and turning the negatives into positives where he can. Making light of his blindness, he plays golf, waterskies, jogs, cycles and skydives as some of his leisure activities.
He tries hard to keep a brave face too on his father's absence in his life, but he wishes his father would accept him for who he is rather than, as he believes, being ashamed of him.
Relationships[]
Family[]
Franklin Delano Bickley - A strong relationship in their early years, is finally repaired at the end of Mork Learns to See, with father and son reunited, and Tom coming no doubt to understand that Franklin's distance was not to do with shame surrounding his son's handicap, but in his cutting his ties with him in an attempt to try and give him a chance at having an independent life.
Friendship[]
Mork & Mindy - Mork being in a funk at the time of meeting the highly positive Tom, struck up a strong relationship, Tom helping Mork to see life through different eyes. As of Reflections and Regrets Mork & Mindy were still in touch with Tom, checking in with him about his Father's birthday.
Behind the scenes[]
Tom Sullivan, the actor who plays Tom Bickley, is actually blind. In addition to acting, he is a singer and motivational speaker.