Tom Sizemore, an actor known for his work in blockbuster films such as “Saving Private Ryan”, “Boat Killers” and “Heat”, has died at the age of 61, his representative Charles Lago told the CNN on Friday night (3).
The actor was hospitalized after suffering a brain aneurysm in mid-February, Lago explained to CNN in season.
Sizemore “passed away peacefully in her sleep” at Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., with her two children and her brother, Paul Sizemore, at her side, said a statement released on behalf of the family by the representative.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my older brother Tom. He was larger than life. He influenced my life more than anyone I know,” Paul Sizemore said in the statement.
“He was talented, loving, generous and could keep you endlessly entertained with his wit and storytelling ability. I am devastated that he is gone and will always miss him.”
On Monday (27), the actor’s family revealed that doctors informed him that “there was no more hope” and recommended “end of life decision” due to his health status.
“We ask for privacy for his family during this difficult time and they want to thank everyone for the hundreds of messages of support and prayers received. This has been a difficult time for them,” the statement said.
Career
Born in Detroit, USA, Sizemore made a name for himself in Hollywood playing tough guys.
He had an early small role in Oliver Stone’s 1989 film “Born on the Fourth of July” and played Sergeant Vinnie Ventresca in the ABC series “China Beach”.
Sizemore followed with performances in several films, including “Point Break” in 1991, “True Romance” in 1993, “Natural Born Killers” in 1994 and “Strange Days” in 1995.
His role as Bat Masterson in Kevin Costner’s Western “Wyatt Earp” brought Sizemore acclaim. He had other major roles in “Pearl Harbor” and “Black Hawk Down”, both released in 2001.
He was perhaps best known for his role as Sergeant Mike Horvath in the 1998 World War II film Saving Private Ryan.
Sizemore recently appeared in the Netflix series “Cobra Kai” and the independent supernatural film “Impuratus”.
Problems and recovery away from screens
His on-screen fame was sometimes overshadowed by the news of his off-screen life.
Struggling with substance abuse for years, in 2003 he was convicted of domestic abuse against ex-girlfriend and “lady of Hollywood” Heidi Fleiss.
He had other legal run-ins and appeared on the VH1 series “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” in 2010.
That same year, I told Larry King of CNN who had been addicted to cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.
Sizemore later spoke about starring in the comedy series “Barbee Rehab”, in a 2022 interview with Decider, in which he was asked if he was hesitant about taking on the role.
“There were a few, but it was so silly and so different from rehab that I got through it,” Sizemore said, laughing at the time. “Besides, it wasn’t about drugs. It’s about obsessions and compulsions and… Barbees!”
In the same interview, he reflected on seeing magic in films like “The Wizard of Oz” as a child and, later, as a teenager watching “Taxi Driver”.
“I saw this movie every week for, like, two months when it was showing in the theater. I saw eleven weeks in a row. That’s when I started thinking, ‘Whatever they’re doing up there, I want to be a part of it. I want to do this,” he revealed.
Source: CNN Brasil
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