---
name: "Tom Arnold"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/tom-arnold"
fi1m_id: "tom-arnold"
imdb_id: "nm0000792"
tmdb_id: 74036
wikidata_id: "Q353755"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "6 March 1959"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-10-23T04:10:16.412422+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Tom Arnold

## Identity

Tom Arnold

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/tom-arnold
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** tom-arnold
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000792
- **TMDB ID:** 74036
- **Wikidata ID:** Q353755
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Arnold_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q353755, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000792/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/74036

Actor. Born 6 March 1959 in Ottumwa, Iowa, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 6 March 1959, Ottumwa, Iowa, USA
- **Active:** 1988–2015
- **Also known as:** Thomas Duane "Tom" Arnold, Thomas Duane Arnold
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 3: 2 acting, 1 writing
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (1), 1990s 80 (2)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Arnold_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q353755, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000792/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/74036

## Streaming the US now

- **Peacock:** [*Roseanne*](https://film.one/tv/roseanne.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Tom Arnold

> Tom Arnold makes impatience funny without slowing an action film down. We rate his supporting work in *True Lies* more highly than the film around him, and would rather see that precise timing used than simply ask him to be loud.

In *True Lies* (1994), Tom Arnold's Gib sounds fed up even when the film is working hard to amuse us. Arnold Schwarzenegger supplies the seriousness; Arnold supplies the impatience, with James Cameron making room for both in his action comedy. We laughed at the irritation in Gib's delivery, which makes the elaborate business around him feel briefly less laboured. He does not need the film to stop and make an occasion of the joke. The speed and bluntness are enough.

The habit makes sense for a performer who came through stand-up and sitcom work. He wrote for *Roseanne* and played its recurring character Arnie Thomas before *True Lies* became his film breakthrough. *Nine Months* (1995), alongside Hugh Grant, and the lead in *The Stupids* (1996) followed in the move towards film comedy. The wisecracking sidekick became a familiar assignment, with the danger that loudness could be mistaken for all he had to offer. What interests us in Gib is how precisely the irritation is timed, rather than how forcefully it is delivered.

Cameron gets good work from him, but that is not a reason to excuse the rest of *True Lies*. The lengthy excursion into marital jealousy is sour, and Jamie Lee Curtis has to work too hard to make it funny. Arnold's ease can make those failings more noticeable: he gets a laugh with his delivery while the screenplay keeps finding elaborate ways to set one up. Schwarzenegger helps by allowing his own seriousness to become comic without signalling every joke. Their contrasting deliveries are a better reason to watch than the domestic farce.

There are useful reminders elsewhere that the comic sidekick need not be the only job. Steve Buscemi's prison drama *Animal Factory* (2000) gave him the supporting role of Buck Rowan, and he played Frank in the independent ensemble *Happy Endings* (2005). Those parts leave room for something beyond the loud, direct comedy that has so often been his job. We would welcome more opportunities in that direction before another assignment as the man providing jokes beside the action hero. Start with *True Lies*, but do not expect the rest of it to be as brisk as Gib.

## Biography

Tom Arnold is an American actor and comedian. Born Thomas Duane Arnold on 6 March 1959 in Ottumwa, Iowa, he began performing stand-up comedy in the 1980s. He later worked as a writer on the sitcom *Roseanne* and appeared on the show as Arnie Thomas.

Arnold is best known for his supporting role as Gib, the wisecracking sidekick to Arnold Schwarzenegger's character, in James Cameron's *True Lies* (1994). His other film credits include *Nine Months* (1995), *The Stupids* (1996) and *Cradle 2 the Grave* (2003). He has also appeared in television series such as *Sons of Anarchy* and *Psych*.

From 2001 to 2005 he co-hosted the sports talk show *The Best Damn Sports Show Period*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, ew.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

### Performed in (2) — the average rests on these

- *True Lies* (1994), Fi1m 68, as Gib — [page](https://film.one/film/true-lies.md)
- *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), Fi1m 91, as Tom Arnold — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md)

### Wrote (1)

- *Roseanne* (1988), Fi1m 84, Writer — [page](https://film.one/tv/roseanne.md)

## Complete filmography (186)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Nickels* (2026), as Bill Diller
- *Alien Storm* (2026), Actor
- *New Toy Story* (2026), as Ozzie (voice)
- *Bodyman* (2026), as Dave Garrett
- *Mermaid* (2026), as Todd
- *Airplane 2025* (2025), as Senator Rufus
- *Desert Fiends* (2024), as Parker
- *Final Wager* (2024), as Gary
- *Adventures of the Naked Umbrella* (2023), as Sheriff Buzz Clark
- *Abomination* (2023), as The Alchemist
- *Underdeveloped* (2023), series, as Ralph
- *As Luck Would Have It* (2023), series, as Captain Taylor
- *Sherlock Santa* (2023), as Frank
- *Transmorphers: Mech Beasts* (2023), as Brady
- *FUBAR* (2023), series, as Norm Carlson
- *Ape vs Mecha Ape* (2023), as Hamilton
- *True Lies* (2023), series, as Arnie Orwig
- *A Prince and Pauper Christmas* (2022), as Cushing
- *A Wonderful Time of the Year* (2022), as Alf Landon
- *The Good Witch of Christmas* (2022), as Frank
- *A Day with Santa* (2022), as Frank
- *A Marriage Made in Heaven* (2022), as Johnny Angel
- *Dumbbells Special Edition* (2022), as Daddy
- *The Rookie: Feds* (2022), series, as Miles Butkus
- *MVP* (2022), as Tom
- *Good Mourning* (2022), as Famous Director
- *Toomie: The Hungry Tumor* (2022), as Tom
- *Christmas Thieves* (2021), as Frank
- *High Holiday* (2021), as Greg Corksey
- *Finding Love in Quarantine: The Movie* (2021), as Steve Middlestein
- *Hollywood.Con* (2021), as El Jade
- *1 Interrogation* (2020), as Robert Jenks
- *For NYC* (2020), Actor
- *Saving Flora* (2019), as Runyon
- *Christmas Scavenger Hunt* (2019), as Carl
- *Undateable John* (2019), as Billy
- *3 Days with Dad* (2019), as Andy
- *Pegasus: Pony With a Broken Wing* (2019), as Daniel Warren
- *Bigger* (2018), as Roy Hawkins
- *Tom Arnold: Past & Present Imperfectly* (2018), Screenstory, Producer
- *Maximum Impact* (2017), as Agent Barnes
- *Dead Ant* (2017), as Danny
- *Landline* (2017), as Chuck Gout
- *Wild Costa Rica* (2016), Actor
- *Turtle Tale* (2015), as Goliath (Voice)
- *Christmas Trade* (2015), as Gus
- *Beginner's Guide to Sex* (2015), as Principle Hyman
- *The Curse of Downers Grove* (2015), as Charlie
- *Underdog Kids* (2015), as Gene "Geno" Burman
- *Any Day* (2015), as Roland
- *Sin City Saints* (2015), series, as Kevin Freeman
- *Shelby: The Dog Who Saved Christmas* (2014), as Doug the Dog Catcher
- *Ava & Lala* (2014), Actor
- *NCIS: New Orleans* (2014), series, as Elvis Bertrand
- *Mission Air* (2014), as Johnny Dingo
- *Dumbbells* (2014), as Daddy
- *All I Want for Christmas* (2013), as Charles
- *Pulling Strings* (2013), as Art
- *Chilly Christmas* (2012), as Quarterman
- *The First Family* (2012), series, as Arthur Crandall
- *Hit & Run* (2012), as Randy Anderson
- *FRED 3: Camp Fred* (2012), as Floyd Spunkmeyer
- *Madea's Witness Protection* (2012), as Walter
- *Grassroots* (2012), as Tommy
- *Jewtopia* (2012), as Bruce Daniels
- *Last Call* (2012), as Gabe
- *Tom Arnold: That's My Story And I'm Sticking To It!* (2011), Writer
- *A Christmas Wedding Tail* (2011), as Pat
- *Walk a Mile in My Pradas* (2011), as Joe Bergers
- *Restitution* (2011), as Tom Lipnity
- *Beethoven's Christmas Adventure* (2011), as Beethoven
- *Franklin & Bash* (2011), series, as Ronny Streppi
- *Hard Breakers* (2011), as Harold
- *Workaholics* (2011), series, as George
- *Hawaii Five-0* (2010), series, as Ron Alberts — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/hawaii-five-0.md)
- *Group Sex* (2010), as Herman
- *Kill Speed* (2010), as Rhaynes
- *Hot in Cleveland* (2010), series, as Danny
- *Skott & Behr* (2010), Actor
- *The Bad Penny* (2010), as Frank
- *Unstable Fables: Goldilocks and the Three Bears* (2010), as Mac Bear (voice)
- *Kid Pitch* (2010), series, Actor
- *Endure* (2010), as Simon
- *The Pool Boys* (2009), as Tom Arnold
- *The Skeptic* (2009), as Sully
- *April Showers* (2009), as Mr. Blackwell
- *The Jerk Theory* (2009), as Father Bailey
- *A Christmas Proposal* (2008), as Malone
- *Childrens Hospital* (2008), series, as Tom Arnold
- *Moonlight & Mistletoe* (2008), as Nick
- *Gardens of the Night* (2008), as Alex
- *Good Dick* (2008), as Dad
- *Sons of Anarchy* (2008), series, as Georgie Caruso — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/tv/sons-of-anarchy.md)
- *Remarkable Power* (2008), as Van Hagen
- *The Year of Getting to Know Us* (2008), as Tom Rockett
- *The Great Buck Howard* (2008), as Tom Arnold
- *The Final Season* (2007), as Burt Akers
- *Palo Alto, CA* (2007), as Morgan
- *Homo Erectus* (2007), as Rog (uncredited)
- *Game of Life* (2007), as Richard
- *Pride* (2007), as Bink
- *Dirt* (2007), series, as Jimmy Darby
- *Psych* (2006), series, as Garth Mathers
- *Goose on the Loose* (2006), as Randall the Goose (voice)
- *Cloud 9* (2006), as Tom Arnold
- *Chasing Christmas* (2005), as Jack Cameron
- *The Kid & I* (2005), as Bill Williams · Writer, Producer
- *Three Wise Guys* (2005), as Murray Crown
- *Saturday Night Live: The Best of David Spade* (2005), Actor
- *Rebound* (2005), as Tom Arnold
- *Road Kill* (2005), Executive Producer
- *Happy Endings* (2005), as Frank
- *TNA iMPACT!* (2004), series, Actor
- *Soul Plane* (2004), as Mr. Hunkee
- *Just for Kicks* (2003), as Presscott
- *Hope & Faith* (2003), series, as Bob Thompson
- *Barely Legal* (2003), as Mr. Lewis
- *Cradle 2 the Grave* (2003), as Archie
- *Manhood* (2003), as Dr. Levanthal
- *Hansel & Gretel* (2002), as Boogeyman (voice)
- *Ablaze* (2002), as Wendell Mays
- *Children on Their Birthdays* (2002), as Lionel Quince
- *Romantic Comedy 101* (2002), as James Ford
- *Dennis the Menace: Cruise Control* (2002), as Mr. George Wilson (voice)
- *According to Jim* (2001), series, as Max
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Calvin Riggins
- *The Agency* (2001), series, as Andrew Morland - President's Stepbrother
- *Exit Wounds* (2001), as Henry Wayne
- *Welcome to Hollywood* (2000), as Tom Arnold
- *Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th* (2000), as Doughy
- *Animal Factory* (2000), as Buck Rowan
- *Civility* (2000), as Marty Edelman
- *Just Sue Me* (2000), as Barbuto
- *Bar Hopping* (2000), as Eddie
- *Blue Ridge Fall* (1999), as Walter Perkins
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as Jay Rollins
- *Get Real* (1999), series, as Jason Eckhart
- *Jackie's Back!* (1999), as Marvin Pritz (Jackie's Former Manager)
- *The Norm Show* (1999), series, Actor
- *Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night* (1998), as Fritz / Cat (voice)
- *V.I.P.* (1998), series, as Bernie Mellon
- *L.A. Doctors* (1998), series, as Tom Arnold
- *The Lionhearts* (1998), series, as (voice)
- *Golf Punks* (1998), as Al Oliver
- *Hercules* (1998), series, as Cupid (voice)
- *Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman* (1998), as Kevin O'Brien
- *Veronica's Closet* (1997), series, as Chris
- *Sink Or Swim* (1997), as Danny
- *The Tom Show* (1997), series, Writer, Creator
- *Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery* (1997), as Cowboy (uncredited)
- *McHale's Navy* (1997), as Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale
- *Touch* (1997), as August Murray
- *King of the Hill* (1997), series, as Norm Glidewell (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md)
- *Carpool* (1996), as Franklin Laszlo
- *Arli$$* (1996), series, as Tom Arnold
- *The Stupids* (1996), as Stanley Stupid
- *Big Bully* (1996), as Rosco Bigger - Fang
- *High Society* (1995), series, as Chuck Rooney
- *Brotherly Love* (1995), series, as Jack
- *The Naked Truth* (1995), series, as Tom Arnold
- *Nine Months* (1995), as Marty Dwyer
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Jerry Miller
- *Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child* (1995), series, as Rip Winkle (voice)
- *True Lies* (1994), as Gib — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/true-lies.md)
- *Tom* (1994), series, as Tom Graham · Writer, Producer, Creator
- *Undercover Blues* (1993), as Vern Newman
- *Body Bags* (1993), as Man #1
- *Coneheads* (1993), as Golfer (uncredited)
- *The Woman Who Loved Elvis* (1993), as Jack Jackson
- *The Jackie Thomas Show* (1992), series, Writer, Producer, Creator
- *Hero* (1992), as Chick
- *The Ben Stiller Show* (1992), series, Actor
- *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), series, as Tom Arnold — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md)
- *The Rosey & Buddy Show* (1992), as Buddy (voice) · Executive Producer, Creator
- *Backfield in Motion* (1991), as Howard Peterman
- *Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare* (1991), as Childless Man
- *Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth* (1991), Writer, Executive Producer
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Tom Arnold (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Roseanne* (1988), series, as Arnie Thomas · Writer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/roseanne.md)
- *A Different World* (1987), series, as Looter
- *The Roseanne Barr Show* (1987), as Husband Tom
- *The Gun on Second Street*, as Police Chief Dick Steinberger
- *The Breakup Pill*, as Dr. Evan · Director
- *Lost Media*, as Ted
- *Unto the Son*, as Rabbi Hammerstein
- *Spychosis*, Screenplay

## Gallery

- ![Tom Arnold](https://film.one/media/person/84942/gallery-23928a9a7126.jpg) Tom Arnold — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Tom_Arnold_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Tom_Arnold_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Victor Dandridge, Kelly Arjen, Lulu Jovovich, Tom Arnold, Mark Pellegrino, Luke Edwards and Charlene Amoia speaking at the 2023 San Diego Comic Con Internationa](https://film.one/media/person/84942/gallery-38932ba983df.jpg) Victor Dandridge, Kelly Arjen, Lulu Jovovich, Tom Arnold, Mark Pellegrino, Luke Edwards and Charlene Amoia speaking at the 2023 San Diego Comic Con Internationa — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/2023_San_Diego_Comic-Con_International_by_Gage_Skidmore%2C_307.jpg/1280px-2023_San_Diego_Comic-Con_International_by_Gage_Skidmore%2C_307.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tom Arnold speaking at the 2023 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Underdeveloped", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please att](https://film.one/media/person/84942/gallery-dbba936cda6a.jpg) Tom Arnold speaking at the 2023 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Underdeveloped", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please att — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/2023_San_Diego_Comic-Con_International_by_Gage_Skidmore%2C_308.jpg/1280px-2023_San_Diego_Comic-Con_International_by_Gage_Skidmore%2C_308.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tom Arnold speaking at the 2023 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Underdeveloped", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please att](https://film.one/media/person/84942/gallery-4032f4f1dc1e.jpg) Tom Arnold speaking at the 2023 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Underdeveloped", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please att — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/2023_San_Diego_Comic-Con_International_by_Gage_Skidmore%2C_309.jpg/1280px-2023_San_Diego_Comic-Con_International_by_Gage_Skidmore%2C_309.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tom Arnold speaking at the 2023 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Underdeveloped", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please att](https://film.one/media/person/84942/gallery-503bda00c561.jpg) Tom Arnold speaking at the 2023 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Underdeveloped", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please att — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/2023_San_Diego_Comic-Con_International_by_Gage_Skidmore%2C_310.jpg/1280px-2023_San_Diego_Comic-Con_International_by_Gage_Skidmore%2C_310.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tom Arnold speaking at the 2023 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Underdeveloped", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please att](https://film.one/media/person/84942/gallery-7fecc324ca5b.jpg) Tom Arnold speaking at the 2023 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Underdeveloped", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please att — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/2023_San_Diego_Comic-Con_International_by_Gage_Skidmore%2C_311.jpg/1280px-2023_San_Diego_Comic-Con_International_by_Gage_Skidmore%2C_311.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- GLAAD Vanguard Award 1993: GLAAD Vanguard Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/tom-arnold