(CNN) –– Tom Sizemore, an actor recognized for his work in hit films such as “Saving Private Ryan,” “Natural Born Killers” and “Heat,” died Friday, his representative Charles Lago confirmed to CNN. He was 61 years old.
The actor was hospitalized after suffering a brain aneurysm in mid-February, Lago told CNN at the time. On Monday, his family announced in a statement provided to CNN that they were “deciding matters related to the end of his life.”
“Today, the doctors informed his family that there is no more hope left and they have recommended the decision to end his life. The family is now deciding the final matters of life and a new statement will be issued on Wednesday,” it was reported in that moment.
“We are asking for privacy for his family during this difficult time and they would like to thank everyone for the hundreds of messages of support and prayers that have been received. This has been a difficult time for them.”
Born in Detroit, Sizemore made a name for himself in Hollywood playing tough-guy characters.
He had an early small role in Oliver Stone’s 1989 film “Born on the Fourth of July” and got his television break playing Sergeant Vinnie Ventresca on the ABC series “China Beach.”
Sizemore continued her career 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 co-starring role as Bat Masterson in Kevin Costner’s western “Wyatt Earp” earned him recognition. He followed up with 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.”
Off-screen issues and recovery
Sizemore’s on-screen performances were sometimes overshadowed by coverage of his off-screen life.
After struggling with substance use for years, in 2003 he was convicted of domestic abuse against his ex-girlfriend Heidi Fleiss. He had other legal run-ins and appeared on the VH1 series “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” in 2010.
That same year he told CNN’s Larry King that he had been addicted to cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.
Later, Sizemore discussed starring in the comedy series “Barbee Rehab” in a 2022 interview with Decider and was asked if she had any hesitations taking on the role.
“There were a few, but it was so dumb and not like rehab that I got over it,” Sizemore said, laughing at the time. “Besides, it wasn’t about drugs. It’s about obsessions and compulsions.”
In the same interview, Sizemore reflected on seeing magic in movies like “The Wizard of Oz” as a child and then as a teenager watching “Taxi Driver.”
“I watched that movie every week for, like, two months when I was in the theater. I saw him eleven weeks in a row,” Sizemore said. “That’s when I started thinking, ‘Whatever they’re doing up there, I want to be a part of it. I want to do that.'”
(CNN) –– Tom Sizemore, an actor recognized for his work in hit films such as “Saving Private Ryan,” “Natural Born Killers” and “Heat,” died Friday, his representative Charles Lago confirmed to CNN. He was 61 years old.
The actor was hospitalized after suffering a brain aneurysm in mid-February, Lago told CNN at the time. On Monday, his family announced in a statement provided to CNN that they were “deciding matters related to the end of his life.”
“Today, the doctors informed his family that there is no more hope left and they have recommended the decision to end his life. The family is now deciding the final matters of life and a new statement will be issued on Wednesday,” it was reported in that moment.
“We are asking for privacy for his family during this difficult time and they would like to thank everyone for the hundreds of messages of support and prayers that have been received. This has been a difficult time for them.”
Born in Detroit, Sizemore made a name for himself in Hollywood playing tough-guy characters.
He had an early small role in Oliver Stone’s 1989 film “Born on the Fourth of July” and got his television break playing Sergeant Vinnie Ventresca on the ABC series “China Beach.”
Sizemore continued her career 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 co-starring role as Bat Masterson in Kevin Costner’s western “Wyatt Earp” earned him recognition. He followed up with 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.”
Off-screen issues and recovery
Sizemore’s on-screen performances were sometimes overshadowed by coverage of his off-screen life.
After struggling with substance use for years, in 2003 he was convicted of domestic abuse against his ex-girlfriend Heidi Fleiss. He had other legal run-ins and appeared on the VH1 series “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” in 2010.
That same year he told CNN’s Larry King that he had been addicted to cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.
Later, Sizemore discussed starring in the comedy series “Barbee Rehab” in a 2022 interview with Decider and was asked if she had any hesitations taking on the role.
“There were a few, but it was so dumb and not like rehab that I got over it,” Sizemore said, laughing at the time. “Besides, it wasn’t about drugs. It’s about obsessions and compulsions.”
In the same interview, Sizemore reflected on seeing magic in movies like “The Wizard of Oz” as a child and then as a teenager watching “Taxi Driver.”
“I watched that movie every week for, like, two months when I was in the theater. I saw him eleven weeks in a row,” Sizemore said. “That’s when I started thinking, ‘Whatever they’re doing up there, I want to be a part of it. I want to do that.'”
