Tom Sizemore, who mastered the art of playing the tough guy in films starting in the 1980s, is dead. He died Friday, two weeks after suffering a brain aneurysm resulting from a stroke.
Charles Lago, his manager, confirmed his client’s death, saying Sizemore “passed away peacefully in his sleep at St Joseph’s Hospital Burbank. His brother Paul and twin boys Jayden and Jagger were at his side.”
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my big brother Tom,” Paul Sizemore said in a statement. “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 devastated he is gone and will miss him always.”
Maevee Quinlin, Paul Sizemore’s ex-wife, shared, “My heartfelt condolences to the entire Sizemore family. … Most especially, my thoughts and prayers go out to Tom’s two sons, Jayden and Jagger. May God hold you both in the palm of his hand, give you strength and bless you all the days of your lives.”
“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,” Lago stated. “This has been a difficult time for them.”
There will be a private cremation service for the immediate family, with a bigger celebration of life event scheduled in a few weeks.
Sizemore started his own career with minor roles in Born on the Fourth of July and Point Break and spent the ’90s mostly in action movies. Those blockbusters include titles: Saving Private Ryan, where he played Sgt. Horvath, and Black Hawk Down, Passenger 57, Heat, True Romance, Natural Born Killers, Devil in a Blue Dress, The Relic, and Strange Days.
His stellar film career was overshadowed by his personal life, which included arrests, alcohol and drug dependency, and mental health issues that stemmed from his success. He wrote about his struggles in a 2013 memoir, By Some Miracle I Made It Out of There.
He was also accused of domestic violence and molesting an 11-year-old girl.
According to his agent, the troubled actor was getting his life back on track in recent years. Lago said that Sizemore “was getting his life back to a great place. He loved his sons and his family.” He called Sizemore “one of the most sincere, kind and generous human beings I have had the pleasure of knowing” and said the actor’s “courage and determination through adversity was always an inspiration to me.”
The actor is survived by is twin sons, Jayden and Jagger, 17, from his relationship with Janelle McIntire.
