Heather Tom facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Heather Tom
Tom in June 2009
Born	(1975-11-04) November 4, 1975 (age 49) Hinsdale, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Actress television director
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	James Achor ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	1
Relatives	David Tom (brother) Nicholle Tom (sister)

Heather Tom (born November 4, 1975) is an American actress and director. She is famous for her roles in popular TV shows like The Young and the Restless, One Life to Live, and The Bold and the Beautiful. She has won many awards for her acting, including six Daytime Emmy Awards. This makes her one of the most awarded soap opera actresses! Besides acting, Heather also directs TV shows.

Early Life and Family

Heather Tom was born in Hinsdale, Illinois. She is the oldest of three children. Her younger brother and sister, David Tom and Nicholle Tom, are also actors. David even acted with Heather on One Life to Live. Heather and David made history in 2000 when they were the first brother and sister to be nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards in the same year. Heather has also appeared on TV with her sister, Nicholle.

When Heather was eleven, her family moved from Chicago to Seattle, Washington. A year later, her mom took the three kids to Los Angeles to try out for acting roles. They decided to stay there, and Heather's parents later divorced. Her mom became a speech therapist while the children pursued acting.

Before moving to California, Heather performed at the Seattle Children's Theatre and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. She also studied piano. In Los Angeles, she continued her acting studies. When she was fourteen, she even worked part-time baking cookies!

Heather's Acting Career

Starting Out and The Young and the Restless

Heather Tom started acting very young, at just two years old, in TV commercials and as a model. She also performed on stage in a play called Pinocchio II. After moving to Los Angeles, she got guest roles on shows like Who's the Boss? and Kids Incorporated.

In December 1990, Heather joined the cast of the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. She played the character Victoria Newman. She quickly became popular and won her first Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series in 1993. She was nominated for this award several more times.

In 1995, she appeared as herself on Diagnosis: Murder. She also starred in a TV movie called Deadly Whispers.

Theatre Work and More Awards

Heather also loves working in theatre. She helped start a theatre group in Los Angeles called Creative Outlet Theater. She produced and starred in several plays there.

In 1997, Heather won a Soap Opera Digest Award for her role on The Young and the Restless. She continued to be nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards. In 1998, she starred in a play called The Glass Menagerie. She also performed in another play, Gila, and was nominated for an award for her acting in it.

Heather won her second Daytime Emmy Award for The Young and the Restless in 1999.

Moving to One Life to Live

Heather left The Young and the Restless in December 2003 because she wanted to try new things. Soon after, she joined another ABC soap opera, One Life to Live, playing Kelly Cramer. Her character even appeared on All My Children as part of a special storyline.

In May 2004, Heather made her first appearance on Broadway, which is the highest level of theatre in New York City. She starred in a play called Prymate. She also performed in other plays like Proof and Hecuba.

On TV, Heather made a guest appearance on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role on One Life to Live in 2005. She left One Life to Live in December 2006 and received another Emmy nomination for her work on the show in 2007.

Joining The Bold and the Beautiful

In 2006, Heather appeared in a short film and a thriller movie called The Rival. In 2007, she guest-starred on The Wedding Bells with her sister and also on the show Monk.

Later in 2007, Heather joined the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful as Katie Logan. This role became very important for her career. She also had a recurring role on Ugly Betty in 2008.

For her role on The Bold and the Beautiful, Heather won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2011. She then won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in both 2012 and 2013! She also starred in a play called The Heiress in 2012.

Directing and Other Projects

Heather and her husband, James Achor, started a design business called Tight Rope Designs. They redecorate homes, and their work has been shown in popular magazines. In 2013, they even had their own TV show on HGTV called Renovation Unscripted.

In 2014, Heather went on a national tour with her sister, Nicholle Tom, for the play Vanities. She continued to receive Daytime Emmy nominations for her role on The Bold and the Beautiful, winning again in 2020.

While working on The Bold and the Beautiful, Heather started learning about directing. She eventually began directing episodes of the show herself! She has also directed episodes of The Young and the Restless, Good Trouble, and Dynasty. She has also directed several short films.

Personal Life

Heather Tom met her husband, James Achor, when she saw his band play. They started dating five years later when they were both single. They got engaged in August 2011 and were married on September 17, 2011.

Their son, Zane Alexander Achor, was born on October 28, 2012. Zane even appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful as Heather's on-screen son, Will Spencer, until he started kindergarten.

In February 2024, Heather shared that her mother had passed away.

Heather is also very active in charity work. She regularly competes in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon to raise money for Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She has also competed in the Miami Triathlon. She has worked with the organization She Votes, which encourages people to vote.

Filmography

Film

Television

Director

Awards and Nominations

Heather Tom has won many awards for her acting. Here are some of her most important wins and nominations:

See also

• In Spanish: Heather Tom para niños