Tom Arnold (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tom Arnold
Arnold in 2023
Born	Thomas Duane Arnold (1959-03-06) March 6, 1959 (age 66) Ottumwa, Iowa, U.S.
Occupation	Actor comedian television host
Years active	1981–present
Spouse(s)	Roseanne Barr ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 1994)​ Julie Lynn Champnella ​ ​ (m. 1995; div. 1999)​ Shelby Roos ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2008)​ Ashley Groussman ​ ​ (m. 2009; div. 2020)​
Children	2

Thomas Duane Arnold (born March 6, 1959) is an American actor and comedian. He is famous for playing Arnie Thomas on the TV show Roseanne. He has also been in many movies like True Lies (1994) and Nine Months (1995). Tom Arnold was also a TV host for a sports show called The Best D*** Sports Show Period. He also appeared in the TV series Sons of Anarchy.

About Tom Arnold's Early Life

Tom Arnold was born on March 6, 1959, in Ottumwa, Iowa. His parents were Linda Kay and Jack Arnold. He has two siblings, a sister named Lori and a brother named Scott. When he was a child, Tom was diagnosed with autism. He grew up in Ottumwa and went to Ottumwa High School. He also studied at Indian Hills Community College and the University of Iowa. At the University of Iowa, he studied business and writing.

Tom Arnold's Career in Entertainment

In the early 1980s, Tom Arnold started his comedy career. He had a funny show called "Tom Arnold and the Goldfish Review." Later, the famous comedian Roseanne Barr asked him to be a writer for her TV show, Roseanne.

Becoming a TV Star

Tom Arnold married Roseanne Barr in 1990. He then started acting on Roseanne as a character named "Arnie Thomas." This character was a playful version of his own name. Their marriage was often talked about in the news. In 1992, Tom Arnold got his own TV show called The Jackie Thomas Show. It aired after Roseanne but only lasted for 18 episodes.

Movies and Other Projects

In 1993, Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr opened a restaurant in Eldon, Iowa. It was called 'Roseanne and Tom's Big Food Diner'. The diner served a type of sandwich similar to one on the Roseanne show. In 1994, Tom Arnold appeared in the big action movie True Lies. He played the sidekick to Arnold Schwarzenegger's character. Tom and Roseanne divorced in 1994, and their restaurant closed in 1995.

After his divorce, Tom Arnold continued to act. In 2000, he was in an episode of Baywatch: Hawaii. From 2001 to 2005, he was one of the hosts of The Best D*** Sports Show Period. He also did voice-overs for Arby's commercials.

Later Roles and Hosting Gigs

In 2005, Tom Arnold had his first main romantic role in the movie Happy Endings. That same year, he starred in The Kid & I. From 2008 to 2011, he hosted a show on CMT called My Big Redneck Wedding. He even helped plan and perform a wedding on the show! He also hosted a series called "My Big Redneck Vacation."

In 2017, Tom Arnold was a contestant on the Australian TV show I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. He was the first person to leave the show after 17 days.

Tom Arnold's Personal Life

Arnold in 2004 producing
The 1 Second Film

Tom Arnold met comedian Roseanne Barr in 1983. They got married in 1990 and divorced in 1994. After that, Tom Arnold married two more times, but both marriages also ended in divorce. In 2008, he had a motorcycle accident and broke his shoulder blade.

In 2009, Tom Arnold married his fourth wife, Ashley Groussman, in Maui. They have two children and four dogs together. They announced their divorce in 2019, and it was finalized in 2020.

Tom Arnold was raised as a Methodist. He has said that he grew up Jewish in Iowa and still practices Judaism. He is also known for helping charities, like giving out toys to children in need during the holidays.

Family Reunion

On October 8, 2020, Tom Arnold reunited with his brother Scottie and sister Lori. It was the first time they had all been together in 28 years. They met in their hometown of Ottumwa, Iowa.

Selected Filmography

Film

Television