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Tom Arnold (actor)

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Tom Arnold
Arnold in 2023
Born
Thomas Duane Arnold

(1959-03-06) March 6, 1959 (age 65)
Ottumwa, Iowa, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • television host
Years active1981–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1990; div. 1994)​
Julie Lynn Champnella
​
​
(m. 1995; div. 1999)​
Shelby Roos
​
​
(m. 2002; div. 2008)​
Ashley Groussman
​
​
(m. 2009; div. 2020)​
Children2

Thomas Duane Arnold (born March 6, 1959) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Arnie Thomas on Roseanne, which starred his ex-wife Roseanne Barr.

He has appeared in several films, including True Lies (1994), Nine Months (1995), Big Bully, Carpool, The Stupids (all 1996), McHale's Navy (1997), Animal Factory (2000), Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), Mr. 3000 (2004), Happy Endings (2005), Pride (2007), 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

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Arnold was born Thomas Duane Arnold in Ottumwa, Iowa, the son of Linda Kay (née Graham) and Jack Arnold. His mother was Jewish.[1][2][3] He had 2 siblings: a sister Lori and a brother Scott. As a child, Arnold was diagnosed with autism.[4] His mother abandoned the family when he was a child, and he and his siblings were raised by their father:

The three were still very young when their mother, who Tom Arnold said was an alcoholic, moved out. That left them in the care of a father in his early 20s whose role as breadwinner left him little time for parenting, Arnold said.[5]

In their teens, Arnold and his sister moved back in with their mother. With her mother's consent, Lori was married at age 14 to a man who was 23 years old. Soon Lori was a heavy drug user and dealer running one of the largest meth operations in the Midwest until her arrest in 1989.[6][7]

Arnold escaped his sister's fate, and worked at a meatpacking plant.[8] He attended Ottumwa High School, Indian Hills Community College, and from 1981 to 1983, the University of Iowa, where he studied business administration and writing.[9][10]

Career

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In the early 1980s, Arnold had a prop-based comedy routine called "Tom Arnold and the Goldfish Review."[11] 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).[citation needed] 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 the town 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.[12] In 1994, Arnold appeared as the sidekick to Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in James Cameron's action blockbuster film True Lies. 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".[13]

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. 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.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16]

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.[citation needed] 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.[17]

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.[18]

Personal life

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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,[19] 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.[20] 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.[21]

Over Thanksgiving weekend 2009, Arnold married his fourth wife, Ashley Groussman, in Maui before 75 guests. Dax Shepard served as Arnold's best man.[22] He appeared December 10, 2009 on the late night talk show Asia Uncut.[23] The couple have two children and four dogs.[24][25] In January 2019, the couple announced their intention to divorce.[26] The divorce was finalized in July 2020.[27]

Arnold was raised a Methodist.[28] Some sources say he converted to Judaism upon marrying Roseanne Barr in 1990,[29] but in a podcast interview with Andrew Santino he speaks of growing up Jewish in Iowa.[30] Arnold has denied converting to Judaism,[31][32] which he still practices.[33]

Arnold has given much of his time to charities including giving out toys during the holidays to those in need through the Miracle on 1st Street Toy Giveaway, an annual tradition of his.[34]

Involvement in Falwell scandal

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In 2019, Arnold tape-recorded a phone call with Michael Cohen where Cohen divulged his involvement in the cover-up of a scandal involving Jerry Falwell Jr., his wife, and a pool boy.[35][36]

Family reunion

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On October 8, 2020, Tom Arnold, his brother Scott, and sister Lori reunited for the first time in 28 years, back together again in their hometown of Ottumwa, Iowa. During this time, Lori was filming a 3-part docu-series called Queen of Meth, which her brother Tom helped to produce. It recounts her time as the "queen-pin" of a huge drug business that she ran from Iowa to California. Queen of Meth was originally released on Discovery+ in May 2021.[6][7]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare Childless Man
Backfield in Motion Howard Peterman
1992 Hero Chick
1993 The Woman Who Loved Elvis Jack Jackson Television film
Coneheads Golfer Uncredited
Body Bags Morgue Worker No. 1 Television film
Undercover Blues Vern Newman
1994 True Lies Albert "Gib" Gibson
1995 Nine Months Marty Dwyer
1996 Big Bully Roscoe "Fang" Bigger
Carpool Franklin Laszlo
The Stupids Stanley Stupid
1997 Touch August Murray
McHale's Navy Lt. Commander Quinton McHale, Jr.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Texan Uncredited
Hacks Danny
1998 National Lampoon's Golf Punks Al Oliver
Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night Fritz (voice) Direct-to-video
1999 Jackie's Back Martin Pritz Television film
Dancing Outlaw II: Jesco Goes to Hollywood Himself Documentary
2000 Bar Hopping Eddie
Animal Factory Buck Rowan
We Married Margo Himself Cameo
Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth Doughy Primesuspect / Hardy (The Killer) Direct-to-video
Just Sue Me Barbuto
Welcome to Hollywood Himself Cameo
2001 Exit Wounds Henry Wayne
Lloyd Tom
2002 Hansel & Gretel Boogeyman
Romantic Comedy 101 James Ford Television film
Children on Their Birthdays Lionel Quince
2003 Manhood Dr. Levanthal
Cradle 2 the Grave Archie
National Lampoon's Barely Legal Mr. Lewis
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Himself Cameo
Just for Kicks Coach Martin Direct-to-video
2004 Soul Plane Elvis Hunkee
Mr. 3000 Himself Cameo
2005 Happy Endings Frank McKee
Kicking & Screaming Himself Cameo
Rebound Himself Cameo
The Kid & I Bill Williams Also producer and writer
Chasing Christmas Jack Cameron Television film
Three Wise Guys Murray Crown Television film
2007 Homo Erectus Gay Caveman
Pride Richard Binkowski
Game of Life Richard Originally known as Oranges
Palo Alto Morgan
The Final Season Burt Akers
2008 Gardens of the Night Alex
Good Dick Dad
This Is Not a Test Himself
Remarkable Power Van Hagen
Moonlight and Mistletoe Nick Crosby Television film
Unstable Fables: The Goldilocks and 3 Bears Show Mac Bear (voice) Direct-to-DVD film
2009 The Skeptic Sully
American Summer Himself
April Showers Martin Blackwell
The 1 Second Film — Producer
2010 Group Sex Herman
2011 Walk a Mile in My Pradas Joe
The Jerk Theory Father Bailey
2012 Fred 3: Camp Fred Floyd Spunkmeyer Television film
Madea's Witness Protection Walter
Hit and Run U.S. Marshal Randy Anderson
Chilly Christmas Quarterman Direct-to-video
2013 Jewtopia Bruce Daniels
Pulling Strings Art
2014 Dumbbells Daddy
Shelby Doug - the dog catcher
2015 Jungle Shuffle Coati King (voice)
Underdog Kids Gene "Geno" Burman
Sex School Principal Hyman
A Mouse Tale Dalliwog the Wizard (voice)
I Am Chris Farley Himself
The Curse of Downers Grove Chuck's father
2017 Dead Ant Danny
Maximum Impact Barnes
2018 Bigger Roy Hawkins
Saving Flora Runyon
2019 Christmas Scavenger Hunt Carl Hallmark Movie
2021 Hollywood.Con El Jade
Christmas Thieves Frank
Queen of Meth Himself
High Holiday Greg Corske
2022 Good Mourning Famous Director
2023 Alien Storm Mayor Harrison
Ape vs. Mecha Ape Hamilton
2024 Dragpires Bob Post-production

Television

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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
1993 The Larry Sanders Show Himself 1 episodes
1994 Tom Tom Graham 12 episodes
General Hospital Billy Boggs 9 episodes
1996 Brotherly Love Jack 1 episode
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"
The Norm Show Andrew Episode: "Gambling Man"
2000 Baywatch: Hawaii Al Raymond Episode: "The Cage"
2001 Weakest Link Himself
The Fairly OddParents Corporate Santa (voice) Episode: "Christmas Every Day"
The Outer Limits Jerry Miller Episode: “Family Values”
2003 King of the Hill Norm Glidewell (voice) Episode: "Megalo Dale"
2004 Hope & Faith Bob Thompson Episode: "Faith's Husband"
According to Jim Max Episode: "Poking the Bear"
2007 The Celebrity Apprentice Himself
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"
2012 Hawaii Five-0 Ron Alberts Episode: "Huakaʻi Kula"
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
2017–2019 Funny You Should Ask Himself 41 episodes
2018 The Hunt for the Trump Tapes with Tom Arnold Himself 8 episodes
2020 World's Funniest Animals Guest 1 episode
2022 The Rookie: Feds Miles Butkus Episode: "The Reaper"
2023 True Lies Arnie Orwig Episode: "Bitter Sweethearts"[37]
FUBAR Norm Carlson Episode: "Here Today, Gone To-Marrow"
Underdeveloped Ralph 6 episodes
2024 The Bold and the Beautiful Captain Deuce Stevens Guest star, 2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ "Comedian Tom Arnold is in his happy place". August 8, 2014.
  2. ^ Arnold, Tom (November 2003). How I Lost 5 Pounds in 6 Years: An Autobiography. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 14. ISBN 0-312-32244-5.
  3. ^ "Tom Arnold profile". Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  4. ^ "Tom Arnold says he's on the Spectrum for the first time..." Facebook. September 17, 2018.
  5. ^ Porter, Sierra A. (October 28, 2020) "After 28 years, Hollywood star and Iowan Tom Arnold reconnects with brother, sister — in Ottumwa". Des Moines Register.
  6. ^ a b Porter, Sierra A. (May 10, 2021) "Former 'Queen of Meth' Lori Arnold, Iowa native and sister of actor Tom Arnold, tells all in documentary". Des Moines Register.
  7. ^ a b Beg, Mirza Aaqib (May 13, 2021). "Where to Stream Queen of Meth?". thecinemaholic.com
  8. ^ "Tom Arnold profile". Biography.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  9. ^ "Tom Arnold – Iowa fan Actor keeping state in front of TV, movie cameras". The Gazette. June 6, 1992. Retrieved May 27, 2014 – via Newsbank.
  10. ^ "Tom Arnold: Tackling a monster". AZ Central. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  11. ^ I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics By Ritch Shydner, Mark Schiff. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  12. ^ The Woman Who Loved Elvis details, IMDb, retrieved November 27, 2015
  13. ^ "Tom Arnold". Twitter. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  14. ^ My Big Redneck Wedding: About the Show, Country Music Television. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  15. ^ CMT's Biggest Redneck Wedding Ever: About the Special, Country Music Television. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  16. ^ "Tom Arnold Says He Was Sexually Abused", TV Guide. November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  17. ^ Cullins, Ashley (June 15, 2017). "Tom Arnold Sues Australian Reality TV Network for Fraud". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  18. ^ Espinoza, Russ. "Tom Arnold To Keep Hunting As 'Trump Tapes' Ends at Viceland". Forbes. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  19. ^ "Tom Arnold profile". Biography.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  20. ^ "Anytime with Bob Kushell feat. Tom Arnold". Anytime with Bob Kushell. Season 2. Episode 7. April 28, 2009.
  21. ^ Dr. Drew Live, September 4, 2008.
  22. ^ Cristina Everett (November 29, 2009). "Tom Arnold and Ashley Groussman wed in intimate Hawaiian ceremony". Daily News. New York.
  23. ^ Joyce Eng. "Tom Arnold Marries for Fourth Time". TV Guide.
  24. ^ "Tom Arnold Welcomes Son Jax Copeland". People. April 6, 2013. Archived from the original on January 22, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  25. ^ Murphy, Desiree (December 18, 2015). "Tom Arnold and Wife Welcome a Baby Girl – Find Out Her Adorable Name!". Yahoo!.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ "Tom Arnold's Divorce from Ashley Groussman Finalized After More Than a Decade of Marriage". People. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  28. ^ Schwartz, Missy (January 23, 2002). "Trash of the Titans". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ "Tom Arnold - Whisky Ginger with Andrew Santino". February 15, 2019.
  31. ^ Mal Vincent (August 8, 2014). "Comedian Tom Arnold is in his happy place". The Virginian-Pilot.
  32. ^ Arnold, Tom [@tomarnold] (August 21, 2016). "Didn't convert. Jewish blood from mom." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ "Comedy: Back in Utah, Tom Arnold to find himself again". The Salt Lake Tribune. July 30, 2009. Archived from the original on August 4, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  34. ^ "Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Arnold Host Annual 'Miracle On 1st Street' Christmas Toy Giveaway". CBS News. December 14, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  35. ^ Ryan Bort (June 20, 2019). "The Saga of Jerry Falwell Jr.'s Bizarre Relationship With a Miami Beach Pool Boy, Explained". Rolling Stone.
  36. ^ Brian Hiatt (August 13, 2018). "Who's Afraid of Tom Arnold?". Rolling Stone.
  37. ^ Ayoola, Simbiat (February 2, 2023). "'True Lies' Series Trailer Reveals a Familiar Face From the James Cameron Movie". Collider. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
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