Tom Sizemore rose in prominence throughout the 1990s, establishing
himself as a memorable tough-guy actor, sought by the most respected
directors in the business.
Thomas Edward Sizemore, Jr. was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Judith
(Schannault), an ombudsman staff member, and Thomas Edward Sizemore,
Sr., a lawyer and professor. Sizemore grew up idolizing the tough-guy
characters of the movies he watched. After attending Wayne State
University, he got his master's degree in theatre from Temple
University in 1986.
Like many, he moved to New York City and struggled, waiting tables and
performing in plays. His first break came when
Oliver Stone cast him in a bit part
in
Geboren am 4. Juli (1989).
Bigger roles soon followed throughout the early 1990s, such as
Schuldig bei Verdacht (1991),
True Romance (1993), and
Tödliche Nähe (1993). 1994
proved to be an even bigger year for Sizemore, as he won the role of
"Bat Masterson" in Kevin Costner's
star-studded biopic Wyatt Earp - Das Leben einer Legende (1994),
as well as one of his first truly memorable roles as "Detective Jack
Scagnetti" in Oliver Stone's
controversial
Natural Born Killers (1994).
In 1995 he appeared in
Teufel in Blau (1995),
Strange Days (1995), as well as the
acclaimed crime epic Heat (1995), directed
by Michael Mann. Sizemore's first
big leading role is in
Das Relikt (1997), the big-budget
effects thriller directed by Peter Hyams.
According to a 2001 interview in The Calgary Sun, Sizemore entered a
drug rehabilitation program in 1998 after his mother and his friend
Robert De Niro appeared on his door-step
during the filming of
Witness to the Mob (1998).
Telling him they were there to drive him to jail or to rehabilitation,
Sizemore chose the latter. After completing rehabilitation, he
counseled adolescents involved in substance abuse.
Offered roles in W.W.II films directed by both
Terrence Malick and
Steven Spielberg, Sizemore chose the
role of "Sergeant Horvath" in
Der Soldat James Ryan (1998).
The role and film received wide acclaim and introduced Sizemore's
talents to a much broader audience in a more human and well-rounded
role than he had previously been given. Sizemore also credits this
shoot and Steven Spielberg for helping
him with his recovery from addiction, with
Steven Spielberg threatening to re-shoot
the entire film if Sizemore failed a drug test even once.
After a flamboyant and uncredited mobster role in
Der Staatsfeind Nr. 1 (1998),
Sizemore then portrayed a psychotic paramedic in
Bringing Out the Dead - Nächte der Erinnerung (1999)
directed by Martin Scorsese. Seemingly
taking it easy, he then turned in fine but stereotypical performances
in
Knocked Out - Eine schlagkräftige Freundschaft (1999),
Red Planet (2000), and
Pearl Harbor (2001). Sizemore then
received another leading role in the high-profile military drama
Black Hawk Down (2001) directed
by yet another legendary director,
Ridley Scott.
Specializing in the sort of ultimate tough-guy/manly man roles that
hearken back to a different era in film, Sizemore continued to be a
favorite of Hollywood's greatest directors. Never afraid to speak his
mind about anyone and anything, his sense of blunt honesty and lack of
pretension was refreshing. A commanding voice and presence on film,
Sizemore looked to continue as one of Hollywood's greatest actors,
until his untimely death from a brain aneurysm on March 3, 2023.
