Tom Sizemore, ‘Saving Private Ryan’ Actor, Dies at 61

BURBANK, Calif.—Tom Sizemore, the “Saving Private Ryan” Actor, whose shining 1990s star was ruined by his own domestic violence convictions and drug convictions in the 1990s, has died at the age of 61.

On February 18, the actor suffered a brain aneurysm at his Los Angeles home. Charles Lago, the actor’s manager, said that he passed away peacefully in Burbank, California.

Sizemore was a star thanks to his acclaimed appearances in “Natural Born Killers” And the cult-classic crime thriller “Heat.” His career was destroyed by serious substance dependency and abuse allegations. He was also subject to multiple legal battles that left him homeless.

Sizemore was accused by groping a Utah girl aged 11 on a 2003 set. He called the allegations “highly disturbing,” He said he would never touch a child inappropriately. No charges were filed.

Despite the raft of legal trouble, Sizemore had scores of steady film and television credits—though his career never regained its onetime momentum. Other than Sizemore, “Black Hawk Down” And “Pearl Harbor,” Most of his roles in the 21st century were in low-budget productions that rarely saw him. He continued to portray the tough, gruff characters he was famous for.

“I was a guy who’d come from very little and risen to the top. I’d had the multimillion-dollar house, the Porsche, the restaurant I partially owned with Robert De Niro,” Sizemore, a Detroit-born writer, wrote this 2013 memoir. “By Some Miracle I Made It Out of There.” “And now I had absolutely nothing.”

The title of the book was taken from a line that he used in his character’s dialogue. “Saving Private Ryan,” This role earned him Oscar buzz. He wrote that his success made him a bestselling author. “spoiled movie star,” An “arrogant fool,” And finally “a hope-to-die addict.”

He was a suspect in several domestic violence cases. Sizemore was previously married to Maeve Quilan in 1997. He was accused of beating Quinlan. The charges were dropped and the couple got divorced in 1999.

Sizemore was convicted of abusing ex-girlfriend Heidi Fleiss in 2003—the same year he pleaded no contest and avoided trial in a separate abuse case—and sentenced to jail. Former Hollywood madam, Sizemore, testified that he had hit her in the jaw at a Beverly Hills Hotel and then beat her in New York. “Black Hawk Down” premiere.

While drug abuse was most likely to have been a catalyst, it was clear that the testimony showed that a man had serious problems with women. Fleiss called Sizemore “a zero” In a conversation with The Associated Press following his conviction.

Sizemore apologized in writing, stating that he was sorry. “chastened” That and more “personal demons” Although he claimed that she had taken over his family’s lives, he later denied the abuse and accused her faking a photograph of her bruises.

Fleiss also sued Sizemore. She claimed she suffered emotional distress when he threatened to revoke her probation. Fleiss was convicted in 1994 for running a highly-priced call girl ring. This lawsuit was settled with undisclosed terms.

Two workplace sexual harassment lawsuits against Sizemore were filed in connection to the CBS 2002 show. “Robbery Homicide Division,” He was a detective in the police force. He was recently arrested in 2016 for another case of domestic abuse.

Sizemore was sentenced to prison from August 2007 to January 2009. He failed several drug tests during probation, and authorities discovered methamphetamine inside his car after Bakersfield, California.

“God’s trying to tell me he doesn’t want me using drugs because every time I use them I get caught,” Sizemore spoke to The Bakersfield Californian during a prison interview.

Sizemore said to the AP in 2013 he believed that his dependency was due to the success trappings. As a result, he struggled to keep his emotions in check. “I looked like I was 100 years old. I had no relationship with my kids; I had no work to speak off. I was living in squat.”

He was a guest on the reality TV program “Celebrity Rehab” Its spinoff “Sober House,” The AP was told by him that he did the shows in order to get help but also to pay off accumulated loans that had reached the millions.

Many of Sizemore’s films later in his career had a sci fi, horror, or action bent. In 2022 alone, he was a star in movies with these titles. “Impuratus,” “Night of the Tommyknockers,” And “Vampfather.” But Sizemore still nabbed a few meaty roles—including in the “Twin Peaks” revival—And guest spots on popular shows like “Entourage” and “Hawaii Five-O.”

Sizemore Pictures and Paramount Pictures were sued by a stuntman in 2016. He claimed that he was injured after an intoxicated actor ran him off set while filming USA’s. “Shooter.” According to state records, Sizemore was not supposed to have been in the car unmoving and that he had already signed the affidavit. “improvised at the end of the scene and drove away in his car.” Sizemore was fired “Shooter” And the lawsuit brought by the stuntman was settled at undisclosed terms.

Neben his TV and film credits, he was also part the voice cast for 2002. “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” video game. Recent advertisements indicate that he taught classes at the LA West Acting Studio.

He is survived his twin brothers Jayden (17 years old) and Jagger (17 year old), who were with him when he passed away.

“I’ve led an interesting life, but I can’t tell you what I’d give to be the guy you didn’t know anything about,” Sizemore wrote his memoir.