Tom Arnold is an American actor and comedian with an estimated net worth of $20 million. Arnold first gained prominence as a stand-up comedian, which led to his big break as Arnie Thomas on the hit ABC sitcom Roseanne. He later starred in his own short-lived sitcoms, The Jackie Thomas Show and The Tom Show. Arnold has also appeared in various films, including True Lies, Happy Endings, and Madea’s Witness Protection.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on March 6, 1959, in Ottumwa, Iowa, Tom Arnold was raised as one of seven siblings. His mother left the family when Arnold was young, leaving his father, Jack, to raise the children. Arnold attended Ottumwa High School before enrolling at Indian Hills Community College and then The University of Iowa, where he studied writing and business administration. His early foray into comedy began in the early 1980s with a prop-based act called “Tom Arnold and the Goldfish Review.”
Breakthrough with Roseanne and Television Career
In 1989, Arnold’s big break came when Roseanne Barr hired him as a writer for her sitcom Roseanne. He also appeared on the show as Arnie Thomas, a friend of Dan Conner (played by John Goodman), and became a recurring character from season two to five. His work on the show marked the beginning of his successful career in television.
After Roseanne, Arnold created and starred in several of his own shows. The Jackie Thomas Show (1992), which was co-created with Barr, featured Arnold in the lead role but only lasted 18 episodes. His next venture, The Tom Show, aired in 1997, and ran for 19 episodes. Arnold continued to make appearances on television in shows such as The Simpsons, The Celebrity Apprentice, NCIS: New Orleans, and reality series like My Big Redneck Wedding.
In 2017, Arnold was a contestant on the Australian version of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, where he was the first contestant to be eliminated.
Film Career
Arnold made his film debut in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare in 1991, and followed it up with roles in films like Hero, Undercover Blues, and Backfield in Motion. His most iconic film role came in 1994 when he starred opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in James Cameron’s action-comedy True Lies. This film significantly boosted Arnold’s reputation in Hollywood.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Arnold appeared in a variety of movies, including Nine Months (1995), Big Bully (1996), Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), and Happy Endings (2005). In addition to his acting, Arnold began producing and writing films, such as The Kid & I (2005), which he also starred in. He continued to appear in films throughout the 2010s, with credits in Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection (2012), the action-comedy Hit and Run (2012), and The Curse of Downers Grove (2015).
Personal Life
Arnold’s personal life has garnered significant media attention, particularly his tumultuous marriages. He met Roseanne Barr in 1983, and after battling drug addiction and alcoholism, the pair married in 1990. They famously purchased a house in Eldon, Iowa, where they opened a restaurant called “Roseanne and Tom’s Big Food Diner.” The couple divorced in 1994, and the restaurant closed the following year.
Arnold’s subsequent marriages have also been widely publicized. He married Julie Lynn Champnella in 1995 but divorced in 1999. His third marriage was to Shelby Roos in 2002, which ended in 2008. Arnold’s fourth marriage to Ashley Groussman in 2009 lasted over a decade, and the couple had two children before divorcing in 2020.
Real Estate
Arnold’s real estate ventures have also added to his wealth. In 1998, he purchased a home in the Mulholland Estates area of Beverly Hills from Paula Abdul, selling it in 2006 for $7.4 million. He then bought a property from another American Idol judge, Randy Jackson, for $1.95 million in Tarzana, California. Later, in 2009, Arnold and Groussman purchased a 4,600-square-foot mansion in Beverly Hills for $1.7 million, which featured a saltwater pool, spa, and extensive remodeling. After their divorce, Arnold listed the property for $3.85 million.
Conclusion
Tom Arnold’s multifaceted career in television and film, along with his real estate investments, has contributed to his substantial net worth of $20 million. From his beginnings in Iowa to his breakout role in Roseanne and subsequent Hollywood ventures, Arnold’s life and career have been marked by resilience and reinvention. Despite personal challenges and a series of marriages, Arnold has maintained his presence in the entertainment industry for over three decades.
Read more about Tom Arnold’s career and life on Roseanne TV Show and his movies on IMDb.
