Tom Dillon, who died Monday at age 86, was the long-serving president of the Actors’ Fund of America, the philanthropic organization for entertainment professionals.

He died at the Lillian Booth Actors’ Home, in Englewood, N.J., where he had lived since retiring, the fund announced. Dillon served as president of the fund from 1989 until 2004, when he was replaced by Brian Stokes Mitchell.

As president, Dillon oversaw many social service programs for professional entertainers, including emergency food, rent, and medical care. The fund even administers a special shoe bequest that pays $40 toward any eligible entertainer’s footwear.

During Dillon’s presidency, the fund’s AIDS initiative grew to include support groups, benefits advocacy, and a return-to-work program. The fund serves more than 14,000 professional entertainers.

Dillon was born September 3, 1918, in Brooklyn, where he lived until his retirement. An acclaimed Irish boy soprano, Dillon made his debut on WNYC radio at age 18.

Dillon served in the Army during World War II, and in 1944 appeared on Broadway in the Moss Hart play “Winged Victory,” starring a cast of servicemen. He also appeared in the film version of the play the same year.

He appeared in many early television programs with Milton Berle, Victor Borge, Kate Smith, and Martha Raye. He also sang at Miss America pageants, and toured in vaudeville with the song and dance man Burt Wheeler.

Dillon was a Shepherd of the Lambs Club, a member of Actors Equity, the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the American Guild of Variety Artists.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, the former Alice Parker.