Tom Sizemore, a talented but troubled actor who made a career playing a tough guy, but struggled to stay on the right side of the law, has died at the age of 61, his manager said on Friday.
He suffered a brain aneurysm in February and was taken off life support Friday, days after doctors concluded he could no longer survive, Charles Lago said.
“It is with great sadness and sorrow that I have to announce that actor Thomas Edward Sizemore (‘Tom Sizemore’) aged 61 passed away peacefully today at St Joseph’s Hospital Burbank,” the statement read.
“Her brother Paul and her twins Jayden and Jagger (17) are by her side.”
The actor has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood during his decades-long career, but away from the screen he has led an often troubled life, battling addiction and enduring spells in jail.
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Tom Sizemore’s career
Born in Detroit in 1961, Sizemore worked as an actor in New York in the 1980s, and first rose to fame with a role in the 1989 Oliver Stone film. Born on the 4th of July.
Throughout the 1990s, he played in films including stars True Romancewritten by Quentin Tarantino, and violent cult hit Stone Natural Born Killers.
But that was for a role in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 World War II epic Keep Ryan private that he came to more public attention, playing second-in-command to Tom Hanks in a small group of soldiers sent to bring home a serviceman whose three brothers have died.
The film received a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars and the stars, which also include Matt Damon, were nominated for outstanding performances by the Screen Actors Guild.
A few years later, he was part of an ensemble that included Ewan McGregor and Tom Hardy in Ridley Scott. Black Hawk Downabout the botched military operation in Somalia.
His acting is often praised, and his work is admired by his professional peers.
Personal problems
But Sizemore’s life on screen remains unclear.
He blamed heavy drug use, including crystal methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, for some of his darker episodes.
In 2003, he was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend and served eight months in prison.
Drug possession landed him in trouble with the law several times in later years, at least once resulting in more jail time.
In 2017, he pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge.
Despite his personal problems, he continued to work, appearing on TV standards including Hawaii Five-O and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
On February 18, he collapsed at his home in Los Angeles after suffering a stroke and subsequent aneurysm. He has been in intensive care since.
Lago said he will miss his “good friend”.
“Tom is one of the most genuine, kind and generous human beings I have had the pleasure of knowing. His courage and determination through adversity has always been an inspiration to me.
The actor’s brother, who was with him when he died, said he was “deeply saddened.”
“He was larger than life. He has influenced my life more than anyone I know. He was talented, loving, giving and could entertain you endlessly with his wit and storytelling ability. I am sad that he is gone and will miss him.
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