Who is Tom Arnold?
American actor, screenwriter, producer and comedian Thomas Duane Arnold was born in Ottumwa, Iowa USA, under the zodiac sign of Pisces on 6 March 1959. He’s appeared in over 200 TV series and movies, but is perhaps still known best for playing Gib in the 1994 action thriller comedy movie “True Lies”, which starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and was written and directed by James Cameron. It follows a secret agent who’s just found out that his wife’s cheating on him with a used-car salesman – the movie won eight of its 31 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Effects, Visual Effects.
This is an accurate portrait of my life. After we celebrated my birthday for a few minutes I went back to folding my kid’s laundry. pic.twitter.com/xRGwG5DaAb
— Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) March 12, 2022
Education and early life
Tom was raised in Ottumwa alongside his brother Scott and sister Lori, solely by their father Jack Arnold as their mother Linda Kay (nee Graham) abandoned the family when Tom was still a child; Tom’s revealed that his mother was an alcoholic.
He was diagnosed with autism at a quite an early age, but his siblings were there for him while their father was working multiple jobs to provide for the family. Tom was a teenager when he and his sister moved back in with their mother; Lori was only 14 when she married a man who was 23, became addicted to drugs, and eventually ran the largest meth operation in the Midwest, until her arrest in 1989.
Tom studied at Ottumwa High School, from which he matriculated in 1977; he then began working at a meatpacking plant, while simultaneously attending Indian Hills Community College. After two years there, Tom transferred to the University of Iowa, from which he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration and writing in 1981.
He spent the following 10 years working as a comedian, while unsuccessfully auditioning for roles in both movies and TV series.
Roles in movies
Tom’s eventual debut film role was playing Childless Man in the 1991 fantasy horror “Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare”, directed by Rachel Talalay, and which starred Robert Englund, Lisa Zane and Shon Greenblatt. It follows Freddy Krueger as he’s trying to kill the last surviving teenager in Springwood – the film won one of its five award nominations. Some of Tom’s following roles were in the 1991 family comedy “Backfield in Motion”, the 1992 romantic comedy “Hero”, and the 1993 drama “The Woman Who Loved Elvis”.
In 1995, he played Marty Dwyer in the romantic comedy “Nine Months”, which starred Julianne Moore and Hugh Grant, and was written and directed by Chris Columbus. It follows a man who’s afraid of commitment, but has now realized that his girlfriend’s pregnant; the film won one of its three award nominations. Some of Tom’s notable performances in the remainder of the ‘90s were in the 1996 thriller comedy “Big Bully”, the 1997 romantic comedy “Touch”, and the 1999 crime drama “Blue Ridge Fall”.
The year 2003 saw him play Archie in the crime action “Cradle 2 the Grave”, which starred DMX and Jet Li, and was directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. It follows a jewel thief who’s stolen a collection of black diamonds, while those whom he’s stolen from have now kidnapped his daughter; the film was nominated for six awards. Tom appeared in a couple of other popular movies in the 2000s, such as the 2003 adventure family comedy “Just for Kicks”, the 2006 sports comedy “Cloud 9”, and the 2008 romantic family drama “Moonlight & Mistletoe”.
He portrayed Charlie in the 2015 mystery horror “The Curse of Downers Grove”, which starred Bella Heathcote and Lucas Till, and was directed by Derick Martini; the movie follows two girls attending a cursed high school which claims the life of a senior every year.
Some of Tom’s most recent film roles have been in 2022 in the family comedy “A Wonderful Time of the Year”, and the mystery “A Prince and Pauper Christmas”, then the 2023 action fantasy horror “Ape vs. Mecha Ape”; he’s currently shooting for seven upcoming movies, which include “Underdeveloped”, “Alien Storm” and “The Naked Umbrella”.
Roles in TV series
Tom’s debut TV series role was playing Jackie Thomas and various other characters in 20 episodes between 1989 and 1993 of the popular comedy “Roseanne”, which Roseanne Barr both created and starred in; it aired from 1988 through 2018, follows the lives of members of an American working-class family, and won 49 of its 162 award nominations.
Tom could then have been seen appearing in an episode of the romantic crime drama “General Hospital”, the comedy “High Society”, and another comedy “Brotherly Love”. In 1997 and 1998, he starred as Tom Amross in all the 19 episodes of the comedy “The Tom Show”, which also starred Shawnee Smith and Mika Boorem, and was created by J. J. Wall; it follows TV producer Tom who’s raising his two daughters by himself now that he’s divorced their mother.
Tom appeared in an episode of various series in the 2000s, including the crime mystery “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, the comedy “Hollywood Residential”, and the drama “Dirt”.
From 2008 through 2012, he played a supporting character in 19 episodes of the comedy “Easy to Assemble”, which both starred and was created by Illeana Douglas; it follows a woman who’s decided to change her life, and the series won one of its five award nominations.
Tom’s also known for playing Kevin Freeman in eight episodes of the 2015 comedy “Sin City Saints”, which starred Andrew Santino and Malin Akerman, and was created by Chris Case and Bryan Gordon. It follows the members of a fictional Las Vegas basketball team.
Some of Tom’s most recent TV series roles have been in a 2020 episode of the reality comedy “The World’s Funniest Animals”, two episodes of the 2022 crime action “The Rookie: Feds”, and the 2023 episode “Bitter Sweethearts” of the action adventure comedy “True Lies”; he’s currently shooting for the upcoming series’ “The Gabbi Luck Mysteries” and “FUBAR”.
Other credits
Tom received special thanks for the 1998 comedy movie “Welcome to Hollywood”, the 2011 video game “Gears of War 3”, and the 2013 biographical musical documentary movie “Supermensch”.
He has 17 writing and 24 producing credits, while some of the movies which he’s both written and produced include the 2005 comedy “The Kid & I”, the 2011 comedy “Tom Arnold: That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to It”, and the 2018 comedy “Tom Arnold: Past & Present Imperfectly”.
Some of Tom’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “Ask Jillian”, “Dark Side of Comedy” and “Jeff Lewis Live”.
Awards and nominations
Tom’s won five of his eight award nominations, with some of his ‘wins’ including a 1993 GLAAD Media Vanguard Award, two The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards for Worst Actor in 1996 and 1997, for his performance in “Big Bully” and “McHale’s Navy”, respectively, and a 1997 Razzie Award for Worst Actor, for “Big Bully”.
Love life and marriages
Tom’s been married four times.He and his first wife, famous American actress, screenwriter and producer Roseanne Barr married on 20 January 1990 – their divorce was finalized on 9 December 1994.
Tom and his second wife, American actress and make-up artist Julie Armstrong married on 22 July 1995, and their divorce was finalized on 30 March 1999.
He and non-celebrity American Shelby Roos married on 29 June 2002 and divorced on 19 August 2008.
Tom and his fourth wife, American movie producer Ashley Groussman Arnold married on 28 November 2009, and she gave birth to their son Jax Copeland Arnold on 6 April 2013, while their daughter Quinn Sophie Arnold followed on 18 December 2015; Tom and Ashley’s divorce was finalized on 21 July 2020.
He seems to be unattached as of May 2023, has been married four times and has two children with his fourth wife Ashley Groussman.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Tom was addicted to both drugs and alcohol in the second half of the ‘80s, and this nearly led his then-girlfriend Roseanne Barr to break up with him; this was one of the reasons why he chose to become sober.
He was involved in a motorcycle accident in August 2008, in which he broke his scapula.
Tom was raised Jewish.
He’s a philanthropist and enjoying volunteering at charity organizations during the holidays, while he donates toys every year.
More than 40,000 people are following Tom on Instagram today, and he’s posted over 1,300 pictures and videos onto the network.
Bryan Cranston’s one of Tom’s favorite actors, and some of his favorite TV series include “Breaking Bad”, “Sneaky Pete” and “The X-Files”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Tom’s age is 64. He has brown hair and eyes, is 6ft 2ins (1.88m) tall, and weighs around 190lbs (85kgs).
Tom’s net worth’s been estimated at over $20 million, as of May 2023.
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