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Tom Sizemoreis famous for his acting roles in mega-productions includingSaving Private RyanandBlack Hawk Down. The actor is also infamous for the legal troubles and substance abuse problems he battled during his life.
At 61 years old, Sizemore died on March 3, 2023, after being hospitalized due to a brain aneurysm two weeks prior. In a statement, Sizemore’s rep shared the news: “It is with great sadness and sorrow I have to announce that actor Thomas Edward Sizemore (“Tom Sizemore”) aged 61 passed away peacefully in his sleep today at St Joseph’s Hospital Burbank.”
But Sizemore’s best-known role came in 1998 when he starred alongsideTom HanksinSteven Spielberg’sSaving Private Ryan.
“I was very, very happy with the way my career was,” Sizemoretold theLos Angeles Timesin 2005. “Playing second fiddle to Tom Hanks inSaving Private Ryanis nothing [to sneeze at]…”
From his career highs to his legal and personal struggles, here’s a complete look at Tom Sizemore’s ups and downs over the years.
1989: Tom Sizemore stars in one of his first films,Born on the Fourth of July
In 1989, Sizemore had a small part in the anti-war dramaBorn on the Fourth of July— one of his earliest roles. The Oliver Stone film also starredTom Cruise,Kyra SedgwickandWillem Dafoe.
1996: Tom Sizemore marries actress Maeve Quinlan
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Sizemore wed actress and former tennis pro Maeve Quinlan in 1996. Quinlan got her big break playing Megan on the soap operaThe Bold and the Beautiful.
The couple also starred in the 1999 filmThe Florentinetogether, along withJim BelushiandLuke Perry.
1997: Tom Sizemore is arrested on suspicion of assaulting Quinlan
The actor wasreportedly arrestedin Los Angeles after Quinlan called the police and claimed the two had been in a physical argument. Quinlan told police Sizemore had injured her, but she later declined to press charges.
July 1998: Tom Sizemore stars inSaving Private Ryan
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Sizemore starred in Steven Spielberg’s World War II dramaSaving Private Ryanas Mike Horvath, Tom Hanks' second-in-command. The film earned multiple accolades, winning the Golden Globe for best drama and the Academy Award for Best Director, among others.
“It was the greatest experience of my life actually as an actor,” Sizemoresaid in a press interviewabout filmingSaving Private Ryan.
1999: Tom Sizemore and Maeve Quinlan divorce
Quinlan and Sizemore divorced in 1999,theL.A. Timesreported.
“She left me,” Sizemore latertold The Daily Beastabout his divorce. “I used to tell people that I left her. I was always minimizing everything.”
January 23, 2000: Tom Sizemore earns a Golden Globe nomination
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He was up against actorsSam Shepard,Liev Schreiberand Jack Lemmon in the category. He lost the Golden Globe to Lemmon, who won for the Showtime filmInherit the Wind.
2001: Tom Sizemore stars inBlack Hawk Down
Three years afterSaving Private Ryanpremiered, Sizemore played another soldier in the 2001 movieBlack Hawk Down. The film, which was based on a true United States military operation in 1993, also starredEwan McGregor,Tom HardyandOrlando Bloom.
December 2002: Tom Sizemore is arrested on suspicion of hitting and threatening a woman
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TheBlack Hawk Downactor wasarrested in December 2002on suspicion of hitting and threatening a woman who claimed to be his fiancée,Entertainment Weeklyreported. The woman told police that she and Sizemore were arguing about wedding plans when he “punched her in the face and threw her to the ground.”
Sizemore’s lawyer said at the time, “Tom Sizemore is a popular and nice guy. An individual became unruly when asked to leave and was escorted out of Mr. Sizemore’s house. Subsequently, the individual asked me, Mr. Sizemore’s attorney, for money. This is a shakedown and we are confident that it will go away.”
May 2003: Tom Sizemore is arrested for threatening his ex-girlfriend Heidi Fleiss
The actor’s trouble with the law continued when he wasarrested in L.A. for allegedly threatening his ex-girlfriend Heidi Fleiss, in an attempt to prevent her from testifying against him in his previous domestic violence case.
Sizemore’s publicist released a statement at the time of his arrest that read: “Tom Sizemore and Heidi Fleiss have had a turbulent and unhealthy relationship. For his own well being, Mr. Sizemore had decided to move on. It is regrettable that Ms. Fleiss has elected to publicly display her anger at Mr. Sizemore’s decision. Mr. Sizemore is confident that he will be vindicated in court.”
October 2003: Tom Sizemore is sentenced to six months in prison
After being found guilty of domestic violence, making criminal threats and harassing his ex-girlfriend Fleiss, Sizemore wassentenced to six months in prison. The sentence also required Sizemore to complete a residential drug rehab program, counseling for anger management and three years of probation.
“I have permitted my personal demons to take over my life,” Sizemore wrote in a letter to the judge. “I do not want to make excuses but I am convinced that if I had not been under the influence of drugs, I would have controlled my behavior.”
February 2005: A judge warns Tom Sizemore to “recover” or “die”
After multiple probation violations throughout 2004 — includingfailed drug tests—Sizemore received a stern warningfrom a California judge.
“There are two ways for you to go,” Judge Antonio Barretto Jr. told Sizemore. “One is to recover. The other is to die.”
The following month, he was sentenced to 17 months in jail and four months in rehab for his probation violations,according toEntertainment Weekly. Sizemore avoided jail for the time being, however, pending the appeal of his 2003 domestic violence conviction.
July 2005: Tom Sizemore welcomes twin sons with then-girlfriend Janelle McIntire
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In July 2005, Sizemore became a first-time father when his ex Janelle McIntire gave birth to twin sons,Jagger and Jayden Sizemore.
Sizemore’s problems with the law and substance abuse prevented him from being involved in the twins' early life. “Fatherhood didn’t change me in the beginning very much. I was ill,” he said, referencing his drug addictions, in a 2012 interview with The Reel Breakdown. “And the boys were kept from me.”
January 2007: Tom Sizemore’s reality showShooting Sizemoredebuts
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Shooting Sizemore, a documentary reality series that aired on VH1, premiered in January 2007. The six episodes followed Sizemore as he attempted to get both his life and career back on track, while also working through his substance abuse problems.
May 2007: Tom Sizemore is arrested for violating his probation
Sizemore fell into trouble with the law again when he was arrested on May 8, 2007, outside of a Bakersfield, California hotel for allegedly being in possession of crystal methamphetamine. At the time of his arrest, Sizemore was already serving a three-year probation following his conviction for meth possession in October 2004.
The actor was charged with multiple drug-related felonies at the time of the May 2007 arrest. He pleaded not guilty and surrendered to an L.A. court the following month. Sizemore faced up to 16 months in state prison if found guilty of violating his probation.
June 2007: Tom Sizemore is sentenced to 16 months in prison
Despiteasking a California judgeto spare him prison time, Sizemore wassentenced to 16 months in prisonfor violating his probation.
“I think it’s clear from his record that probation isn’t the answer,” Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney told PEOPLE. “He used a Whizzinator, he lied to the court, he has a history of domestic violence and of deceiving the court, and given somebody with that kind of problem, the court needs to send him to the kind of rehab he’s not going to be able to walk away from: prison.”
Sizemore served his sentence from August 2007 to January 2009.
January 2010: Tom Sizemore appears on season three ofCelebrity Rehab
At the convincing of musician and drug counselor Bob Forrest, Sizemore signed up to appear on season three ofCelebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. The actor’s ex-girlfriend, Fleiss, also appeared on the same season.
Despite showing up late for filming due to legal troubles, Sizemore became sober on the show and appeared on its follow-up series,Sober House.
Sizemore continued, “When I watched my first couple privates with Drew, I thought, ‘The guy sitting there looks like the saddest guy that ever lived.’ I’m grateful I have that since addicts have the propensity to forget how bad it was and I can’t because it’s there on tape.”
May 2011: Tom Sizemore is questioned in the disappearance of a female friend
Sizemore was cooperative in his interviews and was not considered a suspect in the missing person case, LAPD Det. Carmine Sasso told PEOPLE.
Wren was later found in May 2011 at a home near downtown L.A.
“I am relieved and happy Megan is safe and sound. It is unfortunate that she did not come forward immediately as this has caused me a lot of concern,” Sizemore said at the time. “However, I am pleased no harm has come to Megan and I wish her and her family the best and I am putting this matter behind me.”
July 19, 2016: Tom Sizemore is arrested for domestic violence
In July 2016, Sizemore wasarrested on suspicion of domestic violenceafter an alleged altercation with his girlfriend in L.A., in which she claimed he struck her in the head and face.
Sizemore was later charged with three misdemeanors in connection with the arrest: intimate partner abuse, intimate partner battery and making terrorist threats,theL.A. Timesreported. He faced up to three years in jail (one year for each count) if convicted on all charges.
February 7, 2017: Tom Sizemore pleads no contest to domestic violence charges
The actor avoided a 210-day prison sentence when he pleaded no contest to two domestic violence charges related to his July 2016 arrest,according to theL.A. Times.
Instead, the judge sentenced the actor to 36 months of probation and 30 days of community labor. The plea deal also required Sizemore to complete a yearlong domestic violence program, follow two protective orders, avoid using force or violence and pay various fines and fees.
May 2017: Tom Sizemore reveals he’s been sober for 4 years
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In aninterview with theDaily Mail, Sizemore revealed that he was nearly four years sober after a “long history with substance abuse.”
“My life’s gotten a lot better, it’s been a real chronicle,” he said in the interview. “I was in a really bad place.”
Sizemore continued: “I’m coming up on four years sober, it was really difficult, the first two years were miserable. I thought I’d never smile again. But I am smiling again, you’ve got to stick around until you feel better.”
November 13, 2017: A report reveals Tom Sizemore was sent home from a movie set in 2003 after an 11-year-old girl claimed he molested her
A report fromThe Hollywood Reporterrevealed that Sizemore wassent home from the Utah set of the 2003 movieBorn Killersafter an 11-year-old actress claimed that he had inappropriately touched her genitals.
The incident reportedly happened while the young actress was sitting on Sizemore’s lap for photos toward the end of production, according to the dozen cast and crew members who spoke toTHR. Once news of the alleged molestation made its way to the film’s producers, Michael Manshel and Gus Spoliansky, Sizemore was removed from the set. He was allowed to return for reshoots after the girl’s parents declined to press charges.
When producers informed Sizemore of the allegations, Manshel claimed the actor said, “I’ve done a lot of awful things, and I’d never do anything with kids.”
Sizemore declined to comment on the allegation toTHR, according to his agent Stephen Rice. “Our position is ‘no comment,’ " Rice said.
In May 2018, the former actress who claimed Sizemore groped her on the set ofBorn Killerswhen she was just 11 years oldsued the actor for $3 million. In the lawsuit, the Utah woman stated that the alleged incident — which occurred in 2003 and was first reported on in 2017 — had caused her permanent damage, including post-traumatic stress and addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Though reps for the actor did not return PEOPLE’s request for comment at the time of the lawsuit, Sizemore had previously called the allegations against him “highly disturbing” and said he would never inappropriately touch a child.
January 5, 2019: Tom Sizemore is arrested for drug possession
Adding to his litany of various drug and domestic violence arrests, Sizemore was arrested for misdemeanor drug possession in Burbank, California, on Jan. 5, 2019,according toThe Hollywood Reporter.
The arrest came after Sizemore was pulled over for driving without a front license plate and with expired registration stickers. A search of his vehicle revealed “various illegal narcotics,“THRreported. He was released after posting bail.
TMZ later reportedthat Sizemore struck a plea deal in the case, in which he had to complete a yearlong drug prevention program and remain drug-free for a year.
January 24, 2020: Tom Sizemore is arrested and booked for DUI and drug possession
Sizemore’s problems with substance abuse continued in 2020 when he was arrested and booked for driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance,according to TMZ.
The actor was pulled over in Glendale, California, at 2:30 a.m. for a traffic violation. TMZ reported that he showed signs of being under the influence and was found with narcotics on him.
August 26, 2020: A Utah judge dismisses the civil suit against Tom Sizemore
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A lawyer for the woman toldUSA Todaythat the dismissal was due to Utah’s statute of limitations for sex crimes.
February 18, 2023: Tom Sizemore suffers a brain aneurysm
On Feb. 18, 2023, Sizemore was hospitalized and in critical condition aftersuffering a brain aneurysm. His manager Charles Lago confirmed his condition to PEOPLE, revealing the actor was in intensive care and that his prognosis was “a wait-and-see situation.”
“His family is aware and waiting for updates,” Lago said. “There are no future updates at this time.”
According to TMZ, Sizemore collapsed around 2 a.m. on Feb. 18 in his L.A. home. He was still active on his social media up until the day before his hospitalization,posting on his Instagramon Friday, Feb. 17. He was also scheduled to teach aweekly acting classat Harvelle’s Nightclub in L.A. the same day he suffered from the brain aneurysm.
February 27, 2023: Tom Sizemore’s family is “deciding end-of-life matters” after aneurysm
After Sizemore suffered a brain aneurysm earlier in the month, his manager Lago provided an update on the actor’s condition. According to a statement shared with PEOPLE, “doctors informed his family that there is no further hope and have recommended end of life decision.”
“The family is nowdeciding end-of-life mattersand a further statement will be issued on Wednesday,” Lago added.
The 61-year-old actor had remained in a coma in intensive care since Feb. 18.
“We are asking for privacy for his family during this difficult time and they wish to thank everyone for the hundreds of messages of support, and prayers that have been received. This has been a difficult time for them,” Lago concluded.
March 3, 2023: Tom Sizemore dies after suffering a brain aneurysm
Sizemoredied with his brother, Paul, and twin sons at his side. His death occurred two weeks after having a stroke, which lead to a brain aneurysm.
“It is with great sadness and sorrow I have to announce that actor Thomas Edward Sizemore (“Tom Sizemore”) aged 61 passed away peacefully in his sleep today at St Joseph’s Hospital Burbank,” Sizemore’s rep said in a statement.
His brother Paul honored his memory, sharing, “He was larger than life. He has influenced my life more than anyone I know. He was talented, loving, giving and could keep you entertained endlessly with his wit and storytelling ability. I am devasted he is gone and will miss him always.”
source: people.com
