Tom Arnold Biography

Fast Facts

• Received a Peabody Award for writing "Roseanne․"
• Shared a 1993 Vanguard Award with actress Roseanne Barr at the GLAAD Media Awards
• Started out as a comic by performing at open mic nights at the University of Iowa and decided to pursue his hobby professionally after winning first place at the 1988 Minneapolis Comedy Competition
• Quote: "20 years ago there were people that said 'He'll never work again'․․․Here I am․ You don't know what's going to be huge or whatever, but you do know this․ If you're in the game, you're one phone call away from your whole career changing․ Knowing that, you go about your life and be happy, because you remember that you worked at a meat-packing plant for three years․ You couldn't be any luckier․"
• Quote: "(On doing stand-up) "I started over 30 years ago, and it's the one consistent career that I've done․ A lot of actors, once and awhile they'll do a play, something in front of a live audience․ To me, it makes me a better actor and a writer․ Once and awhile I'm able to put together a tour and I feel very lucky to do it․""
• Performs stand-up comedy characterized by its unscripted, loose atmosphere that encourages interaction between the comic and audience
• Often plays characters who provide comic relief in films
• Broke his scapula while riding a motorcycle along the Pacific Coast Highway in 2008
• Attended actress and artist Gloria Stuart's 100th birthday party
• Worked at a meat packing plant before venturing into show business