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 well-known for playing Arnie Thomas on the TV show Roseanne. This show starred his former wife, Roseanne Barr.

Tom Arnold has appeared in many movies. Some of these include True Lies (1994), Nine Months (1995), and Madea's Witness Protection (2011). ..... Later, he appeared on the TV series Sons of Anarchy.

Early Life and Education

Tom Arnold was born 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 Tom was young, his mother left the family. He and his siblings were then raised by their father. Tom Arnold attended Ottumwa High School. He also studied at Indian Hills Community College. From 1981 to 1983, he went to the University of Iowa. There, he studied business and writing.

Acting and Comedy Career

In the early 1980s, Tom Arnold performed a comedy act. It was called "Tom Arnold and the Goldfish Review." Later, comedian Roseanne Barr hired him as a writer for her TV show, Roseanne.

He married Roseanne Barr in 1990. Tom Arnold then created a character for himself on the show. This character was named "Arnie Thomas." Their marriage often attracted media attention.

In 1992, Tom Arnold starred in his own TV show. It was called The Jackie Thomas Show. This show aired after Roseanne on ABC. It ran for 18 episodes.

In 1993, Arnold and Barr bought a house in Eldon, Iowa. They also opened a restaurant nearby. The restaurant served loosemeat sandwiches. These were similar to the food in the fictional Lanford Lunch Box on Roseanne. The couple also appeared in the 1993 movie The Woman Who Loved Elvis. This film was made in Ottumwa.

In 1994, Tom Arnold played a sidekick role. He appeared with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the action movie True Lies. Arnold and Barr divorced in 1994. Their restaurant closed in 1995.

After his divorce, Tom Arnold appeared in commercials. ..... He also voiced the "Oven Mitt" character for Arby's commercials.

In 2005, Arnold had his first romantic lead role. This was in the movie Happy Endings. That same year, he starred in The Kid & I. From 2008 to 2011, he hosted the CMT show My Big Redneck Wedding. He also hosted The Biggest Redneck Wedding Ever in 2008.

In January 2017, Tom Arnold was a contestant. He appeared on the Australian TV show I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. He was the first person to leave the show. He later filed a lawsuit against the companies involved. He claimed he was not paid the full amount promised.

In 2018, Arnold had a show on Viceland. It was called The Hunt for the Trump Tapes. The show ran for one season.

Personal Life and Interests

Arnold in 2004 producing
The 1 Second Film

Tom Arnold met comedian Roseanne Barr in 1983. He became sober during their relationship. They married in 1990 and divorced in 1994. After this, Arnold married two more times. Both of these marriages also ended in divorce.

In August 2008, Arnold had a motorcycle accident. He broke his shoulder blade. In November 2009, he married Ashley Groussman. They were married in Maui. The couple has two children. In January 2019, they announced their divorce. It was finalized in July 2020.

Arnold was raised as a Methodist. He has said he grew up Jewish in Iowa. He continues to practice Judaism.

Tom Arnold supports many charities. He gives out toys during the holidays. This is part of his annual Miracle on 1st Street Toy Giveaway.

Views on Politics

Tom Arnold owns guns. He supports the Second Amendment. However, he also supports universal background checks for gun sales. He believes some people should not own guns. This includes violent criminals.

Arnold is known for his criticism of Donald Trump. He has accused Trump of being racist. He also starred in a show called The Hunt for the Trump Tapes. In this show, Arnold looked for information about Trump. In 2019, Arnold recorded a phone call with Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Family Reunion

On October 8, 2020, Tom Arnold reunited with his siblings. His brother Scottie and sister Lori joined him. They met in their hometown of Ottumwa, Iowa. This was their first reunion in 28 years.

During this time, Lori was filming a docu-series. ..... Tom Arnold helped to produce this series. It tells the story of Lori's past. The series was released on Discovery+ in May 2021.

Filmography

Film

Television