Biography
Tom, a graduate of The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and recipient of an ITT International Fellowship through the Fulbright Competition, is a versatile character actor known for his ability to transform into diverse roles. His performances range from portraying white-collar professionals to playing Brian David Mitchell in the CBS television movie "The Elizabeth Smart Story." He earned critical acclaim for his comedic role as a dweeb/nerd/gofer in "Winning Isn't Everything" at New York's Hudson Guild Theatre, directed by the legendary George Abbot, and portrayed southern white trash Alfredo Sawyer in "Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw 3."
Notable roles include the scruffy Sgt. Pepper, reminiscent of George "Gabby" Hayes, in "Dances With Wolves," the disciplined National Security Officer Jack Doherty in "Air Force One," and the black stovepipe-hatted Mosely Baker in "The Alamo." Tom has also created many memorable and unique characters in lesser-known films, such as Assistant Coach to James Earl Jones in "Best of the Best" and Rabbitt in "Prison" alongside Viggo Mortensen.
He has collaborated multiple times with acclaimed directors and producers, including three films each with Kevin Costner, John Lee Hancock (including Hancock’s debut "Hard Time Romance," co-starring Tom's friend Leon Rippy), and Michael Bay. Other frequent collaborators include Alex Graves, Kevin Falls, the late Jeff Burr, Michael Pressman, Frank Von Zerneck & Bob Sertner, Jeff Morton, Renny Harlin, Peter Segal, and Michael Ewing.
On television, Tom has appeared in numerous roles, such as Rory Carmichael, a condemned death row inmate in the pilot of "The Beast" directed by Mimi Leder; recurring roles as Charles Frost on "The West Wing" and Dr. Elliot Langley on "Journeyman."
In addition to acting, Tom is a talented cellist, guitarist, and country/folk singer-songwriter. He released an album of original songs in 1971 on RCA Records titled "Porchlight On In Oregon" and has independently released albums including "Still Waters (A Collection of Years)," "House at the End of the Block," and "Watershed of an Earlier Heart: Songs of the Oregon Troubadour." All four albums are available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Pandora, and Tidal.
Tom received scholarships to Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, NYU Tisch School of the Arts—where he earned an MFA—and Perry-Mansfield School of Drama and Dance. After 12 years in New York studying, refining his craft, and acting in five Broadway productions, numerous off-Broadway and regional theater performances, and serving as a Resident Member of The American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Connecticut, he eventually relocated to Los Angeles.
Although he has never owned a house, Tom recently purchased his first piece of real estate: a burial plot nestled among the greenery and trees of his native Oregon.
