Tom Sizemore passed away at the age of 61

Tom Sizemore, the talented but troubled actor who brought a tough-guy bravado to films like Heat, Natural Born Killers, and Saving Private Ryan, has passed away at the age of 61. Rolling Stone confirmed the news, stating that the actor died on Friday after his family made the tough decision to remove him from life support at a Los Angeles-based hospital. Tom’s manager, Charles Lago, released a statement saying, “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 were at his side.”

Tom’s brother Paul Sizemore said, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of my big brother Tom. He was larger than life. He has influenced my life more than anyone I know. He was talented, loving, and giving and could keep you entertained endlessly with his wit and storytelling ability. I am devastated he is gone and will miss him always.”

Tom Sizemore was found unconscious after suffering a brain aneurysm from a stroke at his Los Angeles home on February 19th. He was transferred to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank after his collapse, where he remained in critical condition and in a coma under intensive care. On February 27th, a rep confirmed that his family was “deciding end of life matters” and that doctors stated that there was no chance for his recovery.

Sizemore made his breakthrough in Hollywood after briefly appearing in Oliver Stone’s 1989 anti-war film Born on the Fourth of July. He went on to act alongside Hollywood heavyweights like Robert De Niro, Willem Dafoe, and Martin Scorsese, to name a few. Despite his success, his substance abuse issues, which he claimed to have had since he was a teenager, led to his career’s eventual halt. Sizemore’s drug issues with heroin and methamphetamines continued throughout the 2000s, leading to convictions for domestic abuse and rehab stints.

Despite his off-screen issues, Sizemore’s castmates often spoke highly of him. His Heat co-star Robert De Niro reportedly paid for one of the actor’s rehab stints. In 2013, Sizemore recounted his personal struggles and his career in a memoir titled By Some Miracle I Made It Out of There. Although he largely appeared in direct-to-DVD movies over the past two decades, he made a comeback in 2017 with roles in Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House and David Lynch’s Twin Peaks revival.

Sizemore’s passing is a great loss to the entertainment industry, and his legacy will live on in the memorable characters he brought to life on the big screen. The family will hold a private cremation service, with a larger celebration of life event planned in a few weeks.