Tom Arnold (actor)

Thomas Duane Arnold (born March 6, 1959) is an American actor and comedian.

Tom Arnold
Arnold in 2000
Born
Thomas Duane Arnold

(1959-03-06) March 6, 1959
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • television host
Years active1970–present
Spouse(s)
    (m. 1990; div. 1994)
      Julie Lynn Champnella
      (m. 1995; div. 1999)
        Shelby Roos
        (m. 2002; div. 2008)
          Ashley Groussman
          (m. 2009; div. 2020)
          Children2

          He has appeared in several films, including True Lies (1994), Nine Months (1995) McHale's Navy (1997), Animal Factory (2000), Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), Mr. 3000 (2004), Happy Endings (2005), The Great Buck Howard (2008), and Madea's Witness Protection (2011). He was also the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years, and appeared on Sons of Anarchy.

          Early life

          Arnold was born Thomas Duane Arnold in Ottumwa, Iowa, the son of Linda Kay (née Graham) and Jack Arnold.[1][2] He has six siblings. His mother abandoned the family when he was a child, and he and his siblings were raised by their father. He was sexually abused from age 4–7 by a male babysitter.[3]

          During his youth, he worked at a meatpacking plant.[4] He attended Ottumwa High School, Indian Hills Community College, and the University of Iowa from 1981 to 1983, where he studied business administration and writing.[5][6]

          Career

          In the early 1980s, Arnold had a prop-based comedy routine called "Tom Arnold and the Goldfish Review."[7] Roseanne Barr brought him in as a writer for her television sitcom, Roseanne. He married her in 1990, after she divorced her first husband. Arnold wrote himself into the show as the character "Arnie Thomas" (a play on his name). The couple's marriage attracted media and especially tabloid attention due to their sometimes outrageous behavior. In 1992, Arnold starred in his own sitcom, The Jackie Thomas Show. Airing after Roseanne on ABC, the show lasted 18 episodes.

          In 1993, Arnold and Barr bought a house together in Arnold's hometown of Eldon, Iowa and opened a restaurant, 'Roseanne and Tom's Big Food Diner' nearby. The diner served loosemeat sandwiches similar to the specialty of the fictional Lanford Lunch Box on Roseanne, which in turn was based on the real-life Canteen Lunch in the Alley in Ottumwa. Both appeared in the 1993 movie The Woman Who Loved Elvis, filmed in Ottumwa.[8] Arnold and Barr divorced in 1994 due to irreconcilable differences. Their restaurant closed in 1995.

          After Arnold's divorce from Barr, he narrated and starred in several Craftmatic Adjustable Bed commercials that aired throughout 1995. The last commercial that he filmed culminated in Arnold lying in a bed that caught on fire and melted a strand of his underarm hair during the taping; the footage was never released. Arnold commented on Twitter in 2014: "Me and Mike (Michael Jackson) (he was one of my best friends) used to laugh about how [I] had a Pepsi commercial of my own".[9]

          In November 2000, Arnold played the role of Al Raymond in the second-season Baywatch Hawaii episode, "The Cage".

          In a late 1990s interview on radio's The Howard Stern Show, Arnold admitted that his share of his and Barr's estate amounted to "over $20,000,000", including a percentage of the Roseanne ABC-TV series, but would not elaborate, citing a confidentiality clause. In 1994, Arnold appeared as the sidekick to Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in the James Cameron's action blockbuster film True Lies. From 2001 through 2005, he was one of the hosts of The Best Damn Sports Show Period. From 2003 to 2005, Arnold was the voice of Arby's "Oven Mitt" commercials.

          Arnold had his first romantic leading man part in the 2005 movie Happy Endings. That same year, Arnold starred in The Kid & I. From 2008 to 2011, he hosted the CMT show My Big Redneck Wedding.[10] He hosted CMT's The Biggest Redneck Wedding Ever in 2008, in which he served as the wedding planner, created a wedding that exceeded the dreams of a couple who wanted to be married in a mud bog, and performed the actual ceremony.[11] CMT also made three series of "My Big Redneck Vacation" presented by Arnold and featuring the Clampet Family from Shreveport, Louisiana.

          Arnold's role as a child molester in Gardens of the Night sparked revelations that he had been a victim of sexual abuse in his childhood. He decided to take on the role to shed more light on the issue.[12]

          In January 2017, Tom Arnold was revealed as a celebrity contestant on the Australian edition of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. He was the first evictee from the jungle, after 17 days, and stated he was paid between $US600,000 and $US700,000 for his participation in the program. In June 2017, Arnold filed a lawsuit against companies Network Ten and 'A List Entertainment' for defrauding him for being on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. Arnold claims that he was promised a payment of $425,000 and a comedy tour in Australia. However, he was missing $140,000 in payment and Network Ten backed out of the comedy tour.[13]

          In 2018, Arnold's Viceland show The Hunt for the Trump Tapes premiered to low ratings and mainly negative reviews. The show was canceled after one season.[14]

          Personal life

          Arnold in 2004 producing
          The 1 Second Film

          Arnold met comedian Roseanne Barr when she saw his act in 1983. Their relationship was complicated by his alcoholism and drug addiction,[15] but eventually he became sober. The two married in 1990 and divorced in 1994. In an April 2009 interview on Anytime with Bob Kushell, Arnold discussed why when he divorced Barr, he did not take any alimony.[16] During the next ten years, Arnold married two subsequent times. Both marriages ended in divorce. In August 2008, Arnold broke his scapula in a motorcycle accident on the Pacific Coast Highway.[17]

          Over Thanksgiving weekend 2009, Arnold married his fourth wife, Ashley Groussman, in Maui before 75 guests. Dax Shepard served as Arnold's best man.[18] He appeared December 10, 2009 on the late night talk show Asia Uncut.[19] The couple have two children and four dogs.[20][21] In January 2019, the couple announced their intention to divorce.[22] The divorce was finalized in July 2020.[23]

          Arnold was raised a Methodist.[24] Some sources say he converted to Judaism upon marrying Roseanne Barr in 1990,[25] but in a podcast interview with Andrew Santino he speaks of growing up Jewish in Iowa. He still practices Judaism.[26]

          Involvement in Falwell scandal

          In 2019, Arnold tape-recorded a phone call with Michael Cohen (fixer for Donald Trump and others) where Cohen divulged his involvement in the cover-up of a scandal involving Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Falwell Jr. and a pool boy.[27] [28]

          Filmography

          Film

          Year Title Role Notes
          1991 Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare Childless Man
          1991 Backfield in Motion Howard Peterman
          1992 Hero Chick
          1993 The Woman Who Loved Elvis Jack Jackson Television film
          1993 Coneheads Golfer Uncredited
          1993 Body Bags Morgue Worker No. 1 Television film
          1993 Undercover Blues Vern Newman
          1994 True Lies Albert "Gib" Gibson
          1995 Nine Months Marty Dwyer
          1996 Big Bully Roscoe "Fang" Bigger
          1996 Carpool Franklin Laszlo
          1996 The Stupids Stanley Stupid
          1997 Touch August Murray
          1997 McHale's Navy Lt. Commander Quinton McHale, Jr.
          1997 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Texan Uncredited
          1997 Hacks Danny
          1998 National Lampoon's Golf Punks Al Oliver
          1998 Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night Fritz (voice) Direct-to-video
          1999 Jackie's Back Martin Pritz Television film
          2000 Bar Hopping Eddie
          2000 Animal Factory Buck Rowan
          2000 We Married Margo Himself Cameo
          2000 Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth Doughy Primesuspect / Hardy (The Killer) Direct-to-video
          2000 Just Sue Me Barbuto
          2000 Welcome to Hollywood Himself Cameo
          2001 Exit Wounds Henry Wayne
          2001 Lloyd Tom
          2002 Hansel & Gretel Boogeyman
          2002 Romantic Comedy 101 James Ford Television film
          2002 Children on Their Birthdays Lionel Quince
          2003 Manhood Dr. Levanthal
          2003 Cradle 2 the Grave Archie
          2003 National Lampoon's Barely Legal Mr. Lewis
          2003 Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Himself Cameo
          2003 Just for Kicks Coach Martin Direct-to-video
          2004 Soul Plane Elvis Hunkee
          2004 Mr. 3000 Himself Cameo
          2005 Happy Endings Frank McKee
          2005 Kicking & Screaming Himself Cameo
          2005 Rebound Himself Cameo
          2005 The Kid & I Bill Williams Also producer and writer
          2005 Chasing Christmas Jack Cameron Television film
          2005 Three Wise Guys Murray Crown Television film
          2007 Homo Erectus Gay Caveman
          2007 Pride Richard Binkowski
          2007 Game of Life Richard Originally known as Oranges
          2007 Palo Alto Morgan
          2007 The Final Season Burt Akers
          2008 Gardens of the Night Alex
          2008 Good Dick Dad
          2008 This Is Not a Test Himself
          2008 Remarkable Power Van Hagen
          2008 Moonlight and Mistletoe Nick Crosby Television film
          2008 Unstable Fables: The Goldilocks and 3 Bears Show Mac Bear (voice) Direct-to-DVD film
          2009 The Skeptic Sully
          2009 American Summer Himself
          2009 April Showers Martin Blackwell
          2009 The 1 Second Film Producer
          2010 Group Sex Herman
          2011 Walk a Mile in My Pradas Joe
          2012 Fred 3: Camp Fred Floyd Spunkmeyer Television film
          2012 Madea's Witness Protection Walter
          2012 Hit and Run U.S. Marshal Randy Anderson
          2012 Chilly Christmas Quarterman Direct-to-video
          2013 Jewtopia Bruce Daniels
          2013 Pulling Strings Art
          2014 Dumbbells Daddy
          2014 Shelby Doug the Dog Catcher
          2015 Jungle Shuffle Coati King (voice)
          2015 Underdog Kids Gene "Geno" Burman
          2015 Sex School Principle Hyman
          2015 A Mouse Tale Dalliwog the Wizard (voice)
          2015 I Am Chris Farley Himself
          2015 The Curse of Downers Grove Chuck's father
          2017 Maximum Impact Barnes
          2018 The Hunt for the Trump Tapes with Tom Arnold Himself
          2018 Bigger Roy Hawkins
          2018 Saving Flora Runyon
          2019 Christmas Scavenger Hunt Carl Hallmark Movie

          Television

          Year Title Role Notes
          1989–1993 Roseanne Arnold Shep "Arnie" Thomas 20 episodes
          1992–1993 The Jackie Thomas Show Jackie Thomas 18 episodes
          co-producer
          1994 Tom Tom Graham 12 episodes
          1994 General Hospital Billy Boggs 9 episodes
          1997–1998 The Tom Show Tom Amross 19 episodes
          1998 Space Ghost Coast to Coast Himself (voice) Episode: "Joshua"
          1999 The Simpsons Himself (voice) Episode: "Treehouse of Horror X"
          2000 Baywatch: Hawaii Al Raymond Episode: "The Cage"
          2001 Weakest Link Himself
          2001 Fairly OddParents Corporate Santa (voice)
          2007 The Celebrity Apprentice Himself
          2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Rev. Calvin Riggins Episode: "Brother's Keeper"
          2008–2009 My Big Redneck Wedding Himself as host and narrator 16 episodes
          2009–2011 Sons of Anarchy Georgie Caruso 4 episodes
          2011 Franklin & Bash Ronny Streppi Episode: "You Can't Take It With You"
          2013 The First Family Vice President Arthur Crandall 3 episodes
          2014 Psych Garth Mathers Episode: "A Touch of Sweevil"
          2015 Workaholics George
          2016 Trailer Park Boys Himself 3 episodes
          2016–2019 NCIS: New Orleans Elvis Bertrand 4 episodes
          2017 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Himself
          2020 World's Funniest Animals Guest 1 episode

          References

          1. Arnold, Booty (November 2003). How I Lost 5 Pounds in 6 Years: An Autobiography. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 14. ISBN 0-312-32244-5.
          2. "Tom Arnold profile". Retrieved May 27, 2014.
          3. CBS (November 6, 2008). "New Film Tackles Child Abuse" via YouTube.
          4. "Tom Arnold profile". Biography.com. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
          5. "Tom Arnold – Iowa fan Actor keeping state in front of TV, movie cameras". The Gazette. June 6, 1992. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
          6. "Tom Arnold: Tackling a monster". Retrieved May 27, 2014.
          7. I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics By Ritch Shydner, Mark Schiff. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
          8. The Woman Who Loved Elvis details, IMDb, retrieved November 27, 2015
          9. "Tom Arnold". Twitter. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
          10. My Big Redneck Wedding: About the Show, Country Music Television. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
          11. CMT's Biggest Redneck Wedding Ever: About the Special, Country Music Television. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
          12. "Tom Arnold Says He Was Sexually Abused", TV Guide. November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
          13. Cullins, Ashley (June 15, 2017). "Tom Arnold Sues Australian Reality TV Network for Fraud". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
          14. Espinoza, Russ. "Tom Arnold To Keep Hunting As 'Trump Tapes' Ends at Viceland". Forbes. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
          15. "Tom Arnold profile". Biography.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
          16. "Anytime with Bob Kushell feat. Tom Arnold". Anytime with Bob Kushell. Season 2. Episode 7. April 28, 2009.
          17. Dr. Drew Live, September 4, 2008.
          18. Cristina Everett (November 29, 2009). "Tom Arnold and Ashley Groussman wed in intimate Hawaiian ceremony". Daily News. New York.
          19. Joyce Eng. "Tom Arnold Marries for Fourth Time". TV Guide.
          20. "Tom Arnold Welcomes Son Jax Copeland". People. April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
          21. Murphy, Desiree (December 18, 2015). "Tom Arnold and Wife Welcome a Baby Girl – Find Out Her Adorable Name!". Yahoo!.
          22. McDermott, Maeve (January 22, 2019). "Tom Arnold confirms split from wife Ashley Groussman: 'It's a long time coming'". USA Today. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
          23. "Tom Arnold's Divorce from Ashley Groussman Finalized After More Than a Decade of Marriage". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
          24. Schwartz, Missy (January 23, 2002). "Trash of the Titans". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
          25. Arnold, Tom (November 2003). How I Lost 5 Pounds in 6 Years: An Autobiography. St. Martin's Griffin. pp. 145–46. ISBN 0-312-32244-5.
          26. "Salt Lake City News, Sports, Archive". The Salt Lake Tribune. July 30, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
          27. Ryan Bort. "The Saga of Jerry Falwell Jr.'s Bizarre Relationship With a Miami Beach Pool Boy, Explained".
          28. Brian Hiatt. "Who's Afraid of Tom Arnold?".
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