Tom Berenger Biography

Fast Facts

• In 1988 the Tom Berenger Acting Scholarship Fund was established to award students pursuing theater, recognizing their excellent performances
• Won a Golden Boot Award in 2000 for making significant contributions to the Western genre
• Studied journalism at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo․, but after he graduated he decided pursue acting instead, working as a bellman and a flight attendant before getting his first break
• Quote: "I first started thinking about being an actor when I was in college at the University of Missouri․ I auditioned for a television play, and the director, who has some professional New York credits, encouraged me to pursue acting․"
• Quote: "(On playing the roles of tough or outright bad guys) "I enjoy playing them․ I find something human in them, with the exception of Mr․ Goodbar․ It was such a slimy character with no redeeming qualities․ To me it was like playing Charles Manson․ I had nightmares after I finished shooting it․ I felt dirty․ [Bad guys] are interesting, even if you don't like them․""
• Received the role as Butch Cassidy for "Butch and Sundance: The Early Days" due to his resemblance to Paul Newman, who starred in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid․"
• Started out playing aggressive, brooding roles on programs including "The Big Chill․"
• His role as a hard-edged and sociopathic Sergeant in "Platoon" solidified his position as a star
• Is fluent in Spanish and Italian and is an American history buff
• Enjoys playing villains and trying to find the humanity in them