• Name: Tom Berenger
  • Date of Birth: May 31, 1949
  • Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Mini-bio: Listed as a "Promising New Actor of 1977" in vol. 29 of John Willis' Screen World.


He has two children with first wife, Barbara Wilson: Allison (b.1977) and Patrick (b.1979). He has 3 daughters...( read more) with Lisa: Chelsea (b.1986), Chloe (b.1988) and Shiloh Rory (b.1993). He also has a daughter with Patricia named Scout (b.1998).


Earned the highest rating (3 stars) from "The Bare Facts" -- a printed guide to on-screen nudity -- for eligible scenes in In Praise of Older Women (1978) and At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991).".


Family lived in Chicago when the first controlled atomic reaction was produced, along with Harrison Ford Michael Mann, and Chase Hoyt.


Father of Chelsea Berenger and Chloe Berenger.


Considers Flesh & Blood (1979) (TV) as one of his best films.


Graduated from the University of Missouri, where he majored in journalism.


He was offered his role in Nightmare & Dreamscapes and had 24 hours to decide if he wanted. He agreed without even getting a chance to read the script. He read it for the first time on the flight to Australia for the filming.


His father was a traveling salesman.


Is a a major world history buff.


Lived in Puerto Rico for several months in his 20s.


Lives in Beaufort, South Carolina when not working on films.


Studied acting in New York at the Herbert Berghof Studios.


He claims that he had a few very bad years, from 1979 to 1981. The roles stopped coming, and he says, "I was just scraping by financially, and emotionally I was getting really defeated. I got to the point where I could hardly go on auditions anymore."
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tomberengerBerenger was born Thomas Michael Moore to an Irish Catholic family in Chicago, Illinois. He studied journalism at the University of Missouri, but decided to seek an acting career following his graduation. He worked first in regional theatre and moved to New York City in the 1970s. He worked in soap operas and had a starring role on One Life to Live.

Berenger's feature film debut was the lead in Rush It (1976), an independent film now mostly forgotten except for its cast members who went on to greater renown. In 1977, Berenger had a small but noticeable role as a murderer in Looking for Mr. Goodbar. In 1978, he had a starring role in In Praise of Older Women for Avco-Internation Pictures. In 1979, he had the role of Butch Cassidy in Butch and Sundance: The Early Days, a role he got in part because of his resemblance to Paul Newman[citation needed], who played the character in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) These early roles highlight Berenger's ability to play both villains and heroes.


Berenger's film career peaked in the 1980s with notable films like The Big Chill (1983), Someone to Watch Over Me (1987), and Major League (1989). In 1986, he received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of the sociopathic Sgt. Barnes in Platoon. In the mid-1990s he was most recognizable in his role from the movie Sniper, and its later sequels.

It has been recorded that Berenger himself has said that his favorite movie he had starred in was the 1993 hit Gettysburg, where he played the role of General James Longstreet. He has said he has seen Gettysburg more than any other of the movies with his starring role.

In more recent years, Berenger has continued to have an active acting career in film and television, although often at a supporting level. He also began a career as a producer in the 1990s. In a 2002 interview Berenger was quoted as saying, "Since the 1970s I've seen myself as a poet. Sometimes I express that poetry through acting, sometimes through cooking, and sometimes just having a good chat, you know, one of them chats you have when you're stoned and the hour is getting late. I don't know what's gonna come my way, but I think Berenger's gonna be big these next couple years."

Berenger starred in the mini-series version of Stephen King's Nightmares & Dreamscapes, as a celebrated author who realizes the warped painting he recently purchased, is alive with illustrations of impending doom for him in "The Road Virus Heads North".
Awards




OscaremmyBronze Wranglergolden globe
Oscar
Nominated
Emmy
Nominated
Bronze Wrangler
Won
Golden Globe
Won
For Complete Nominations and Wins please click here

VITAL STATS

Tom Berenger Information:
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Birth Name: Thomas Michael Moore

  • He picked "Berenger" as his professional name. after a school friend, because there was already a "Tom Moore" in the Actor`s Equity Association.
Eye color:
  • Blue
Height:
  • 5' 11" (1.80 m)
Notable feature(s):
Education:
  • Graduated from the University of Missouri, where he majored in jounalism.
  • Studied acting in New York at the Herbert Berghof Studios.
Family:

Siblings:
Berenger has One Sister

Relationships:
Patricia Alvaran (23 January 1998 - present) 1 child
Lisa Berenger (29 July 1986 - 1997) (divorced) 3 children
Barbara Wilson (1976 - February 1984) (divorced) 2 children
Resides in:
  • Vancouver
  • Beaufort, South Carolina
Religious affiliations:
  • Roman Catholic
Political affiliation:
  • Democrat
Personal interests/hobbies:
Charities/Causes:
  • Tom donated his help and money to build a YMCA in Beaufort, South Carolina, nearby to where he lives.

Trivia
  • Tom was born on May 31, 1949 (a reporter incorrectly noted in an interview, and Tom never bothered to correct the public.
  • It's not widely known, that the Vatican requested a private viewing of Tom's film One Man's Hero. They were so impressed with the film, they reportedly financed the cost of the Los Angeles premiere when studio MGM held back.
  • He was offered his role in Nightmare & Dreamscapes and had 24 hours to decide if he wanted. He agreed without even getting a chance to read the script. He read it for the first time on the flight to Australia for the filming.
  • He has said he doesn`t consider himself a part of Hollywood, and for years has distanced himself from what he says is that dog and pony show others call Hollywood.
Quotes
  • I don`t care about being a star. I can do a supporting role: I don`t have to be a lead.
  • I guess if I weren`t an actor, I`d be a history professor.

  • I have family obligations and all that stuff. I get my kids six weeks in the summer, which is a real intense period of time. I`m with them every minute of the day.
  • I like playing the flawed characters, people who aren`t perfect.
  • Sometimes I think I`m real predictable to myself and other times...you always wonder, Is this really what I wanted to do? Did I make a mistake? Should I be doing something else?
  • I don't think a director should have any kids. I don't even think it's good for your physical health. Even guys in their 30s look exhausted because directors never get enough sleep. What I do is stressful enough.
  • In this industry, the new owners prefer to kill anything they weren't responsible for.

  • While I was doing these plays in the beginning, I wasn't getting paid. I thought of it more as a hobby. Then I realized how seriously a lot of these people took what they were doing.

  • I feel more comfortable doing films with groups of guys. It's a lot easier for me. There's a difference with women: you can't take them to dinner every night and go crazy.

  • "I mean I`ve turned down magazine covers because, for one thing, I don`t know if I want people sending them to me for autographs or whatever, and I don`t like the idea of seeing myself on magazine racks. Another thing is I do like my privacy and I get very little of that as it is. I like to do what I want when I want, and I want to be able to walk down the street without an entourage or protection. It`s bad enough for me already."
  • Even my agents say, `We don`t know what this business is anymore.` These days, you can do a TV series for five years and all of a sudden be on top of the business. Features don`t even run in theaters very long anymore before going right to television. And every other movie is one of those action things. I mean, Lost in Space?--a bunch of good actors running around shooting at special effects on a soundstage? I took my kids to see that and almost felt like I was on an acid trip. Most of what gets made now, you laugh your way through, go home and forget you`ve seen it.

On Rough Riders
  • Rough Riders took 13 weeks to shoot, plus a week of training. The same guy trained trained the cast in Platoon. Except, instead of radios, we used bugles to signal.

1975
  • "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. In college I had a double major--drama and film editing. I worked with 16 millimeter film upon graduating, and from Kansas City I went on to Dallas. All of this time I suppose I had an unrealized commitment to acting. But then, I guess I ran away from acting. I was afraid of the business--I still am."
2002
  • "Since the `70s I`ve seen myself as a poet. Sometimes I express that poetry through acting, sometimes through cooking, and sometimes just having a good chat, you know, one of them chats you have when you`re stoned and the hour is getting late."


Funny Dub of Sniper


Tom Berenger`s Complete Movie List:

1970`s


Rush it 1976- Richard More
The Sentinel 1977 - Man at end
Looking for Mr. Goodbar 1977 - Gary
In Praise of Older Women 1978 -Andras Vayda
Butch and Sundace : The Early Days 1979 - Butch Cassidy/Robert Leroy Parker

1980`s

The Dogs of War 1981 - Drew
Beyond the Door 1982 - Mathew Jackson
The Big Chill 1983 - Sam Weber
Eddie and the Cruisers 1983 - Frank Ridgeway
Fear City 1984- Matt Rossi
Rustlers Rhapsody 1985 - Rex O`Herlihan
Platoon 1986 - Sgt Bob Barnes
Someone to Watch Over Me 1987 Det Mike Keegan
Shoot to Kill 1988 - Jonathan Knox
Betrayed 1988 - Gary Simmons
Last Rites 1988 - Michael
Major League 1989 - Jack Taylor
Born on the Fourth of July 1989 - Sgt. Hayes



1990`s

Love at Large 1990 - Harry Dobbs
The Field 1990 - The American
Shattered 1991 - Dan Merrick
At the Play in the Fields of the Lord 1991 - Lewis Moon

Sniper 1993 - Sgt Thomas Beckett
Sliver 1993 - Jack Landsford
Gettysburg 1993 - Lt. Gen. James Longstreet.

Major League 1994 - Jack Taylor
Chasers 1994 -Rock Reilly


Last of the Dogmen 1995 - Lewis Gates

The Substitute 1996 - Jonathan Shale
An Occasional Hell 1996 - Dr. Ernest Dewalt

The Gingerbread Man 1998 - Pete Randle
Shadow of Doubt 1998 - Jack Campioni

Murder of Crows 1999 - Clifford Dubose
One Man's Hero 1999 - Sgt. / Lt. / Capt. John Riley
Diplomatic Siege 1999 - Gen. Buck Swain

2000 - 2010

Fear of Flying 2000 - Sikes
Takedown 2000 - McCoy Rollins
Cutaway 2000 - Red Line

Training Day 2001 - Stan Gursky
The Hollywood Sign 2001 - Tom Greener
True Blue 2001 - Rembrandt Macy
Watchtower 2001 - Art Stoner

D-Tox 2000 -Hank
Sniper 2 - 2002 - Thomas Beckett
Sniper 3 - 2004 - Thomas Beckett


The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey 2007 - Jonathan Toomey
Stiletto 2008 - Virgil Vadalos

Silent Venom 2009 - Admiral Bradley Wallace
Charlie Valentine 2009 - Becker
Order of Redemption 2009 - Steven Luisi
Last Will 2009 - Frank Emery
Sinners & Saints 2009 - Captain Trahan

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball 2010 - Walter Weed
Firedog 2010 - Einstein (voice only)
Inception 2010 - Browning














Comments

  • Liloh
    hmm really strange. So far my knowledge he never even gave Autographs till couple of years ago. Infact before he has been very arrogant to fans if asked for a Autograph. I assume he realised he ll never stay up forever. lol
    But still adore him on the Screen.
    posted 123 days ago
  • midwesteditor
    Thomas Becket (Berenger) from SNIPER is the man! great movies!
    posted 479 days ago
  • jaysgrandmother
    I had my picture made with Tom after his first movie..He was a cutie...head full of hair, flashing eyes and a friendly smile.He was a little shy...imagine...that
    posted 990 days ago
  • rosemarytyszka
    Loved you in Major League and also on Third Watch too as Noble.
    posted 999 days ago

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Tom Berenger Trivia

  • For what pro baseball team did Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen & Wesley Snipes try out for in the movie "Major League" ?  Answer »
  • In the Movie Platoon Who Played Sgt Barnes?  Answer »
  • What film has this cast: Tom Berenger , William Defoe, Charlie Sheen, Forest Whittaker, Francesco Quinn, John C Mc Ginley, Kevin Dillion, Johnny Depp ,Tony Todd ?  Answer »
  • What 1989 film links : Charlie Sheen Tom berenger Wesley Snipes   Answer »

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