Tom Sizemore

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TomSize Last Updated: 10/14/25
Real Name: Thomas Edward Sizemore, Jr.
Born: November 29, 1961
Died: March 3, 2023 (aged 61)
Height: 5' 10"

Grade: C+
Actor/Movie Star: 100%-0%
Prime Years: 1989, 1992-95, and 1998-2001
Most Famous Film: Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Most Infamous Film: Pearl Harbor (2001)
Masterpiece: None
Outstanding: Lock Up (1989), Natural Born Killers (1994), and Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Honorable: Heat (1995) and Witness Protection (1999)

Opinion: The first time I saw Tom Sizemore was Lock Up. It was Sylvester Stallone's picture, and I couldn't help paying attention to how terrific Tom Sizemore was as Dallas, almost stealing the film. He didn't do anything noteworthy again until years later by appearing regularly in big-budget pictures such as Passenger 57, Natural Born Killers, and Heat. When his drug problem went out of control, that was the end of him. Overall, I found Tom Sizemore to be a great character actor in supporting roles even though his behavior resembled a druggie with major ADHD.

Confirmed: Born in Detroit, Michigan. For generations, his namesake used to be very prominent in Clay County, Kentucky. Father was a lawyer, never indulged in drugs, and became addicted to reading. Mother was a housewife. Both insisted on Tom Sizemore being perfect in everything he did, especially academics and athletics. Saw his calling as a performer in 5th grade when he was chosen by his music teacher to sing "Silent Night" for a Christmas concert.

Played basketball and football. While in 10th grade, found out his father was having an affair, and nothing was the same for him again that was filled with fights and moving around. Decided to be an actor while in high school, having been influenced by Taxi Driver and biographies of James Dean, Montgomery Clift, and Marlon Brando. Performed in plays and sang in musicals for local theater groups.

Went to Michigan State University but dropped out in less than a year. Was lost for a bit while and then decided to enroll at Wayne State University where his father taught because it had a good theater program. Graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1983 with a bachelor's in theater and did most of the plays there. Got serious notices, leading him to enroll in graduate school at Temple University. After earning his master's, moved to New York City in 1986 where he worked at Ensemble Studio Theatre with odd jobs on the side.

Credited Risa Bramon, a casting director, and Kathryn Bigelow via Blue Steel for helping him break through Hollywood in Born on the Fourth of July. Movie work followed fairly quickly, causing him to stay busy for years. Did his very first line of coke with Robert Downey, Jr., during the filming of Heart and Souls and became a daily user afterwards. Was introduced to heroin by Peter Greene at the end of 1992. Worked hard to get the role of Mickey Knox in Natural Born Killers but got Jack Scagnetti as a consolation prize.

Was cast in Heat, thanks to his idol Robert De Niro. Got into multiple fights with Val Kilmer (who actually started the whole thing) during the making of Red Planet because of his elliptical machine in order to lose weight that was gained for Witness to the Mob. Got accused indirectly by his ex-wife, Maeve Quinlan, of spousal abuse.

Started doing crystal meth with Heidi Fleiss in 2001. The year after, the TV show Robbery Homicide Division was canceled, signaling the decline in quality of his work. In 2003, was found guilty of punching Heidi Fleiss in the jaw. It would be a repeating pattern for him with different women in the next decade. Was kicked off a movie set during the same year for molesting a 11-year-old girl named Kiersten Pyke. A sex tape of him circulated in 2005. Five years later, appeared in Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew.

Was an alcoholic and a drug addict, which ran deep in the family, that began at age 15. Had been in and out of rehabs and jails constantly for more than two decades but always relapsed. Liked to read a lot. Was a sex addict, had low self-esteem, and liked to make inappropriate comments. Lost everything, having declared bankruptcy in 2005, and was often homeless.

Rumors: None.