Tom Sizemore: Film Roles and Career

William Earl
·2-min read

Tom Sizemore died Friday after suffering a brain aneurysm earlier this month. One of the defining character actors of the 1990s, his run through the decade saw him work with several of Hollywood’s top filmmakers, including Oliver Stone, Kathryn Bigelow, Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese, Tony Scott and Steven Spielberg. Sizemore’s penchant for playing tough guys made him a mainstay in crime and war films, always bringing color to an ensemble.

After his enviable run through the ’90s, Sizemore remained a reliable actor into the new millennium. He appeared in numerous projects per year, often boosting low-profile films with his star presence. Sizemore also brought to life one of the more enduring characters to emerge from video games, voicing mob boss Sonny Forelli in “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.” He also made impactful appearances on television shows like “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Hawaii Five-0” and the 2017 Showtime revival of “Twin Peaks.”

More from Variety

Revisit some of Sizemore’s most iconic roles below.

Best of Variety

“True Romance” (1993)

“True Romance” (1993)
“True Romance” (1993)

(Pictured: Christopher Penn and Tom Sizemore)

Quentin Tarantino wrote this Tony Scott crime film.


“Strange Days” (1995)

“Strange Days” (1995)
“Strange Days” (1995)

Kathryn Bigelow’s thriller was a box office bomb, but has amassed a cult following in recent years.


“Devil in a Blue Dress” (1995)

“Devil in a Blue Dress” (1995)
“Devil in a Blue Dress” (1995)

(Pictured: Tom Sizemore and Denzel Washington)

Carl Franklin directed this mystery based on Walter Mosley’s novel.


“Relic” (1997)

“Relic” (1997)
“Relic” (1997)

Peter Hyams directed this museum-based creature feature.


“Saving Private Ryan” (1998)

“Saving Private Ryan” (1998)
“Saving Private Ryan” (1998)

(pictured: Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns and Adam Goldberg)

Steven Spielberg’s WWII epic is widely considered one of the best war films of all time.


“Bringing Out the Dead” (1999)

“Bringing Out the Dead” (1999)
“Bringing Out the Dead” (1999)

(pictured: Tom Sizemore and Nicolas Cage)

Paul Schrader wrote this underrated Martin Scorsese film about a night in the life of a New York City paramedic.


“Pearl Harbor” (2001)

“Pearl Harbor” (2001)
“Pearl Harbor” (2001)

Michael Bay directed this high-budget war epic.


“Black Hawk Down” (2001)

“Black Hawk Down” (2001)
“Black Hawk Down” (2001)

Ridley Scott directed this true story of a 1993 military raid.


“Dreamcatcher” (2003)

“Dreamcatcher” (2003)
“Dreamcatcher” (2003)

This Stephen King adaptation was a flop but has gained a cult following since its release.


“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (2010)

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (2010)
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (2010)

(pictured: Charlie Day and Tom Sizemore)

Sizemore had a guest role in the Season 6 episode, “The Gang Gets Stranded in the Woods.”


“Twin Peaks: The Return” (2017)

“Twin Peaks: The Return” (2017)
“Twin Peaks: The Return” (2017)

(pictured: Tom Sizemore and John Savage)

Tom Sizemore joined David Lynch’s massive new “Twin Peaks” season as Anthony Sinclair.


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