Actor Tom Sizemore passed away this week after he was taken off life sport, per Variety.
The actor’s manager, Charles Lago, confirmed that Sizemore’s family made an end-of-life decision this week.
Sizemore was previously in a coma after suffering a brain aneurysm last month.
Tom Sizemore Passes Away After Being Taken Off Life Support
Lago said in his statement, “It is with great sadness and sorrow I have to announce that actor Thomas Edward Sizemore (‘Tom Sizemore’) aged 61 passed away peacefully in his sleep today at St Joseph’s Hospital Burbank. His brother Paul and twin boys Jayden and Jagger (17) were at his side.”
Sizemore’s brother Paul, also said in a statement he issued, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of my big brother Tom.” He continued, “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.”
Earlier this week, Lago had stated that doctors informed Sizemore’s family that there was no further hope of recovery and that doctors recommended an “end-of-life decision.”
On February 18, Sizemore reportedly collapsed at his Los Angeles home. He was then taken to a hospital by paramedics. Doctors diagnosed that he had suffered a brain aneurysm due to a stroke. Sizemore had remained in the hospital in a coma in the intensive care unit.
Sizemore’s Early Career And Success
Sizemore hailed from Detroit, Michigan before moving to New York City in the 1980s to pursue acting. One of his earliest roles was in Oliver Stone’s Best Picture-nominated film, “Born on the Fourth of July,” which was released in 1989.
Throughout the 1990s, Sizemore began appearing in many prominent, acclaimed films, including “True Romance,” “Passenger 57,” and “Natural Born Killers.” In 1995, he costarred in the classic heist film, “Heat,” for director Michael Mann opposite such stars as Al Pacino, Rober De Niro, and Val Kilmer. In 1999, he also worked for director Martin Scorcese in the film “Bringing Out the Dead.”
He later had a major role in Steven Spielberg’s iconic 1998 war movie, “Saving Private Ryan,” where he portrayed Technical Sergeant Mike Horvath. The film was a hit and was also nominated for Best Picture.
He and other fellow cast members Tom Hanks and Matt Damon were also nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture by the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He also had prominent roles in Michael Bay’s “Pearl Harbor” and Ridley Scott’s “Black Hawk Down” in 2001.
More recently, Sizemore appeared in the latest season of the hit Netflix series, “Cobra Kai.” He also had a recurring role in David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks: The Return” in 2017.
Many of Sizemore’s more prominent film roles began to dry out during the 2000s due to various drug and legal issues. However, he continued acting in multiple film and television shows over the years.
Sizemore’s Legal Troubles & Battle With Addiction
Sizemore also had a long ongoing history of legal issues and drug addiction. In 2003, he was convicted of assaulting then-girlfriend Heidi Fleiss, the infamous Hollywood madam. Variety also noted that, in 2017, Sizemore pled no contest to two charges of domestic violence.
He was arrested several months earlier on suspicion of assaulting his partner. His most recent arrest came in January 2020. TMZ reported at the time that he was pulled over for a traffic violation and charged with DUI and possession of a controlled substance.
The actor previously revealed in an interview with Dr. Phil that his battle with drug addiction went back to his teens and started when he was 15 years old. He also appeared on “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew” regarding his various drug issues. In 2013, he released a self-titled memoir about his battle with drug addiction. It was titled “By Some Miracle I Made It Out of There.”
Sizemore is survived by his two children, Jagger and Jayden. Variety also noted that a private cremation service will be held by his family, along with a larger celebration of life event that’s scheduled for a few weeks later.
