---
name: "Tom Waits"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/tom-waits"
fi1m_id: "tom-waits"
imdb_id: "nm0001823"
tmdb_id: 2887
wikidata_id: "Q184805"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "7 December 1949"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-25T09:44:57.937192+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 Waits

## Identity

Tom Waits

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/tom-waits
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** tom-waits
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001823
- **TMDB ID:** 2887
- **Wikidata ID:** Q184805
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Waits, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184805, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001823/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2887

Actor. Born 7 December 1949 in Pomona, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 7 December 1949, Pomona, California, USA
- **Active:** 1983–present
- **Also known as:** Thomas Alan Waits, 汤姆·威兹
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 10 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Sam Rockwell](https://film.one/person/sam-rockwell.md), [Graham Broadbent](https://film.one/person/graham-broadbent.md), [Martin McDonagh](https://film.one/person/martin-mcdonagh.md), [Peter Czernin](https://film.one/person/peter-czernin.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 80 (2), 1990s 81 (3), 2000s 65 (1), 2010s 76 (2), 2020s 76 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 72 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Drama 5, Crime 4, Romance 3, Adventure 2, Animation 2
- **Screen time:** 21 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $357m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Waits, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184805, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001823/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2887

## Coming up

- *Wild Horse Nine* (2026-11-04) — [page](https://film.one/film/wild-horse-nine.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Licorice Pizza*](https://film.one/film/licorice-pizza.md) (80), [*The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus*](https://film.one/film/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus.md) (65)
- **HBO Max:** [*Down by Law*](https://film.one/film/down-by-law.md) (83)

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

## Fi1m on Tom Waits

> Tom Waits can make a comic part uncomfortable with the irritation in his voice. We rate him most when that rasp belongs to a recognisable, difficult person, as it does in Robert Altman's *Short Cuts* (1993).

Tom Waits makes Earl Piggot sound annoyed even when there is something to laugh at. In Robert Altman's *Short Cuts* (1993), his rasp gives the comedy an unpleasant edge, and we laughed uneasily because the irritability never quite lets up. That discomfort is useful in a crowded ensemble where distinct acting rhythms help people hold our attention. We rate him most when there is a difficult person to consider beyond the unusual voice.

His early prominence came with Zack in Jim Jarmusch's *Down by Law* (1986) and his work for Francis Ford Coppola through the 1980s. Acting has remained secondary to his music and stage work, with supporting character parts more usual than leads. He is frequently cast as an outsider or an eccentric, drawing on the voice and manner familiar from his music. The danger is that a director might regard casting him as sufficient character development.

Coppola's *Bram Stoker's Dracula* (1992) gives him the insect-eating R.M. Renfield, a fairly direct invitation to be peculiar. The role made use of his improvisational inventiveness. We find the film a richly enjoyable Gothic romance, though its acting is uneven and its pace sometimes drags. Gary Oldman's conviction is what keeps the costumes and effects from taking over, so Waits is better approached as part of the ensemble than as the reason to watch.

Altman gets more out of him in *Short Cuts*. Lily Tomlin's Doreen Piggot speaks bluntly but allows the fatigue beneath the humour to register; Waits keeps Earl's comic moments uncomfortable. Those different rhythms help Altman's people remain distinct, even when the writing becomes too quick to judge them. Waits's abrasive delivery belongs here because the film leaves room for humour that does not make its characters easier to like.

The later appearances include the quietly intense prospector in the Coen brothers' *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs* (2018) and Rex Blau in Paul Thomas Anderson's *Licorice Pizza* (2021). These continue a career of selective character work. Start with *Short Cuts*, where there is more to attend to than the pleasure of recognising him.

## Biography

Tom Waits is an American actor and musician. He appeared as R.M. Renfield in Francis Ford Coppola's *Bram Stoker's Dracula* (1992) and as Earl Piggot in Robert Altman's *Short Cuts* (1993).

Born Thomas Alan Waits on 7 December 1949 in Pomona, California, he began performing as a singer-songwriter in the late 1960s and 1970s. His film acting credits include *The Outsiders* (1983), *Down by Law* (1986), *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus* (2009), *Seven Psychopaths* (2012) and *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs* (2018). He has worked with directors including Coppola, Jim Jarmusch and the Coen brothers.

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

## On Fi1m (11)

### Performed in (10) — the average rests on these

- *Ray Gunn* (2026), Fi1m 64, as Eyera (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/ray-gunn.md)
- *Wildwood* (2026), Fi1m 85, as Maxim (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/wildwood.md)
- *Licorice Pizza* (2021), Fi1m 80, as Rex Blau — [page](https://film.one/film/licorice-pizza.md)
- *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs* (2018), Fi1m 79, as Prospector (segment "All Gold Canyon") — [page](https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-buster-scruggs.md)
- *Seven Psychopaths* (2012), Fi1m 72, as Zachariah Rigby — [page](https://film.one/film/seven-psychopaths.md)
- *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus* (2009), Fi1m 65, as Devil — [page](https://film.one/film/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus.md)
- *Short Cuts* (1993), Fi1m 84, as Earl Piggot — [page](https://film.one/film/short-cuts.md)
- *Bram Stoker's Dracula* (1992), Fi1m 79, as R.M. Renfield — [page](https://film.one/film/bram-stokers-dracula.md)
- *Down by Law* (1986), Fi1m 83, as Zack — [page](https://film.one/film/down-by-law.md)
- *Rumble Fish* (1983), Fi1m 77, as Benny — [page](https://film.one/film/rumble-fish.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *The Fisher King* (1991), Fi1m 80, as Disabled Vet (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fisher-king.md)

## Complete filmography (65)

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

- *Wild Horse Nine* (2026), Actor — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/wild-horse-nine.md)
- *Wildwood* (2026), as Maxim (voice) — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/wildwood.md)
- *Ray Gunn* (2026), as Eyera (voice) — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/ray-gunn.md)
- *Father Mother Sister Brother* (2025), as Father
- *Roofman* (2025), Thanks — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/roofman.md)
- *Human Nature in Eleven Parts* (2025), as Narrator "Laughing Heart" (archive footage)
- *Star.Wav* (2024), as The Caller
- *Licorice Pizza* (2021), as Rex Blau — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/licorice-pizza.md)
- *Ultra City Smiths* (2021), series, as The Narrator (voice)
- *Motherless Brooklyn* (2019), as News Stand Owner (uncredited)
- *The Dead Don't Die* (2019), as Hermit Bob
- *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs* (2018), as Prospector (segment "All Gold Canyon") — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-buster-scruggs.md)
- *The Old Man & the Gun* (2018), as Waller
- *The Moon’s Milk* (2018), as Captain Millipede (voice)
- *The Laughing Heart* (2013), as Narrator
- *Seven Psychopaths* (2012), as Zachariah Rigby — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/seven-psychopaths.md)
- *A Brief History of John Baldessari* (2012), as Narrator
- *Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen* (2012), as (archive footage)
- *Twixt* (2011), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Monster of Nix* (2011), as Virgil (Voice)
- *Miral* (2010), as Songs
- *The Book of Eli* (2010), as Engineer
- *The Fallen* (2010), Music
- *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus* (2009), as Devil — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus.md)
- *Wristcutters: A Love Story* (2007), as Kneller
- *To Live and to Die in Samarkand* (2007), Sound
- *Domino* (2005), as Wanderer
- *Coffee and Cigarettes* (2004), as Tom (segment "Somewhere in California")
- *Stille Nacht V: Dog Door* (2001), Lyricist
- *Mystery Men* (1999), as Doc Heller
- *Bunny* (1998), Music, Music Producer, Songs
- *Guy Maddin: Waiting for Twilight* (1997), as Narrator (voice)
- *Coffee and Cigarettes III* (1997), as Tom
- *Short Cuts* (1993), as Earl Piggot — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/short-cuts.md)
- *Bram Stoker's Dracula* (1992), as R.M. Renfield — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/bram-stokers-dracula.md)
- *Night on Earth* (1991), Original Music Composer, Songs
- *At Play in the Fields of the Lord* (1991), as Wolf
- *The Fisher King* (1991), as Disabled Vet (uncredited) — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fisher-king.md)
- *Until the End of the World* (1991), as Singer in Bar
- *Queens Logic* (1991), as Monte
- *The Two Jakes* (1990), as Plainclothes Policeman (uncredited)
- *The Black Rider* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *John Lurie: A Lounge Lizard Alone* (1990), as Zack (Archive footage)
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Lloyd (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale* (1989), as Silva
- *La fine della notte* (1989), as Songs
- *Mystery Train* (1989), as Radio DJ (voice)
- *Cold Feet* (1989), as Kenny
- *Őrült és angyal* (1989), Music
- *Tom Waits: Big Time* (1988), Writer, Original Music Composer, Lighting Design
- *Candy Mountain* (1988), as Al Silk
- *Greasy Lake* (1988), as Narrator
- *Ironweed* (1987), as Rudy
- *Down by Law* (1986), as Zack, Songs — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/down-by-law.md)
- *The Cotton Club* (1984), as Irving Stark
- *Streetwise* (1984), Music
- *The Stone Boy* (1984), as Petrified man at carnival (uncredited)
- *Rita Ritter* (1984), Original Music Composer
- *La première journée de Nicolas* (1984), Music
- *Rumble Fish* (1983), as Benny — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/rumble-fish.md)
- *The Outsiders* (1983), as Buck Merrill
- *One from the Heart* (1982), as Trumpet player (uncredited) · Original Music Composer, Songs
- *Wolfen* (1981), as Drunken Bar Owner (uncredited)
- *Tom Waits for No One* (1979), Music
- *Paradise Alley* (1978), as Mumbles

## Gallery

- ![Tom Waits](https://film.one/media/person/80505/gallery-078121b25a3c.jpg) Tom Waits — Published by Asylum Records. Photographer uncredited and unknown., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Tom_Waits_%281974%E2%80%9375_Asylum_publicity_photo_-_headshot%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Lily Cole and Tom Waits at the premier for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2009.](https://film.one/media/person/80505/gallery-b862d3568836.jpg) Lily Cole and Tom Waits at the premier for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2009. — Mina Mikhail, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Cole%2C_Waits_TIFF09.jpg/1280px-Cole%2C_Waits_TIFF09.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Full sign of the Louisville Palace, by user Innominate on Flickr [1], using a compatible Creative Commons license. I reduced and cropped the image, and I releas](https://film.one/media/person/80505/gallery-8d81b517850d.jpg) Full sign of the Louisville Palace, by user Innominate on Flickr [1], using a compatible Creative Commons license. I reduced and cropped the image, and I releas — The original uploader was Stevietheman at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/LouisvillePalaceFullSign.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![My original portrait of Tom Waits#3, oil on canvas, 20x25cm.](https://film.one/media/person/80505/gallery-e07e87a78e45.jpg) My original portrait of Tom Waits#3, oil on canvas, 20x25cm. — Andgopink, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Portrait_of_Tom_Waits.jpg/1280px-Portrait_of_Tom_Waits.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tom Waits](https://film.one/media/person/80505/gallery-be46678c2b88.jpg) Tom Waits — Image via TMDB
- ![Tom Waits](https://film.one/media/person/80505/gallery-a4a18b664de0.jpg) Tom Waits — Image via TMDB
- ![My original portrait of Tom Waits, oil on canvas, 20x25cm.](https://film.one/media/person/80505/gallery-f194a1482515.jpg) My original portrait of Tom Waits, oil on canvas, 20x25cm. — Andgopink, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Portrait_of_Tom_Waits_by_Andgopink.jpg/1280px-Portrait_of_Tom_Waits_by_Andgopink.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Painting (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/80505/gallery-9a70eb05616d.jpg) Painting (2012) — Brendan Mruk, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Tom-Waits_portrait.jpg/1280px-Tom-Waits_portrait.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1983: Best Original Song Score (nominated), for *One from the Heart*

### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2011: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (won)
- Shortlist Music Prize 2006: Shortlist Music Prize (nominated), for *Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards*

*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-waits