'Saving Private Ryan' Actor Tom Sizemore Dead at 61

FILE - Actor Tom Sizemore poses in New York, April 18, 2013. Sizemore, the Saving Private Ryan actor whose bright 1990s star burned out under the weight of his own domestic violence and drug convictions, died Friday, March 3, 2023, at age 61. (AP Photo/John Carucci, File)
FILE - Actor Tom Sizemore poses in New York, April 18, 2013. Sizemore, the Saving Private Ryan actor whose bright 1990s star burned out under the weight of his own domestic violence and drug convictions, died Friday, March 3, 2023, at age 61. (AP Photo/John Carucci, File)
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'Saving Private Ryan' Actor Tom Sizemore Dead at 61

FILE - Actor Tom Sizemore poses in New York, April 18, 2013. Sizemore, the Saving Private Ryan actor whose bright 1990s star burned out under the weight of his own domestic violence and drug convictions, died Friday, March 3, 2023, at age 61. (AP Photo/John Carucci, File)
FILE - Actor Tom Sizemore poses in New York, April 18, 2013. Sizemore, the Saving Private Ryan actor whose bright 1990s star burned out under the weight of his own domestic violence and drug convictions, died Friday, March 3, 2023, at age 61. (AP Photo/John Carucci, File)

Tom Sizemore, a talented but troubled actor who made a career of playing tough guys, but struggled to stay on the right side of the law, has died at the age of 61, his manager said Friday.

He suffered a brain aneurysm in February and on Friday was removed from life support, days after doctors concluded no more could be done for him, Charles Lago said.

"It is with great sadness and sorrow I have to announce that actor Thomas Edward Sizemore (‘Tom Sizemore’) aged 61 passed away peacefully in his sleep today at St Joseph’s Hospital Burbank," a statement said.

"His brother Paul and twin boys Jayden and Jagger (17) were at his side."

The actor worked with some of Hollywood's biggest names over a decades-long career, but away from the screen he led a frequently troubled life, struggling with addiction and enduring spells in jail, reported AFP.

Born in Detroit in 1961, Sizemore worked as an actor in New York in the 1980s, and first came to prominence with a role in Oliver Stone’s 1989 film "Born on the Fourth of July."

Throughout the 1990s, he appeared in movies including the star-studded "True Romance," written by Quentin Tarantino, and Stone's violent cult hit "Natural Born Killers."

But it was for his role in Steven Spielberg's 1998 World War II epic "Saving Private Ryan" that he came to wider public attention, playing the second-in-command to Tom Hanks in a small group of soldiers sent to bring home a serviceman whose three brothers had already died.

The movie received a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars and the stars, who also included Matt Damon, were nominated for outstanding cast by the Screen Actors Guild.

A few years later, he was part of an ensemble that included Ewan McGregor and Tom Hardy in Ridley Scott's "Black Hawk Down," about a botched military operation in Somalia.

His acting won frequent plaudits, and his craft was widely admired by fellow professionals.

Personal troubles
But off-screen Sizemore's life kept unravelling.

He blamed prolific drug use, including of crystal methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, for some of his darker episodes.

In 2003 he was convicted of attacking his then-girlfriend and spent eight months in jail.

Drug possession landed him in trouble with the law several times over the following years, at least once resulting in more jail time.

In 2017 he pleaded no contest to more domestic violence charges.

Despite his personal troubles, he continued to work, appearing in TV standards including "Hawaii Five-O" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."

On February 18, he collapsed at his Los Angeles home after suffering a stroke and subsequent aneurysm. He had been in intensive care since.

Lago said he would miss his "great friend."

"Tom was one of the most sincere, kind and generous human beings I have had the pleasure of knowing. His courage and determination through adversity was always an inspiration to me."

The actor's brother, who was with him when he died, said he was "deeply saddened."

"He was larger than life. He has influenced my life more than anyone I know. He was talented, loving, giving and could keep you entertained endlessly with his wit and storytelling ability. I am devastated he is gone and will miss him always.”



BTS Member Suga Discharged from South Korean Military Service

 K-pop boy band BTS member Suga attends Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 in Seoul, South Korea, July 26, 2023. (Reuters)
K-pop boy band BTS member Suga attends Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 in Seoul, South Korea, July 26, 2023. (Reuters)
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BTS Member Suga Discharged from South Korean Military Service

 K-pop boy band BTS member Suga attends Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 in Seoul, South Korea, July 26, 2023. (Reuters)
K-pop boy band BTS member Suga attends Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 in Seoul, South Korea, July 26, 2023. (Reuters)

K-pop group BTS member Suga was discharged from the South Korean military on Saturday, the seventh and final member to complete the country's mandatory national service amid expectations of the band's comeback from a hiatus.

Suga finished his military tenure as a social service agent on Saturday with little fanfare as fans looked forward to his reunion with the rest of the band, a K-pop sensation since it started up in 2013.

"We confirm that Suga effectively completed his alternative service on June 18 by using his remaining leave. His official discharge date is June 21," BTS' label, Big Hit Music, said in a statement.

Unlike with his BTS bandmates, there was no public event planned to mark Suga's release because of overcrowding concerns.

The seven members of the group put their global music careers on hold in 2022 to begin their military service, starting with Jin in December that year. South Korea's mandatory national service can be for terms of up to 18 months.

Shortly after his official discharge, Suga posted a message on fan community platform Weverse, saying he was "sorry for the disappointment and concern caused by what happened last year", and also apologizing to his bandmates.

Last year, Suga was fined 15 million won ($11,500) by a court for drunk driving while on an electric scooter.

The group is expected to hold its largest-ever world tour in 2026, an NH Securities entertainment analyst said in a report.

Entertainment group HYBE, which manages BTS, is closely monitored by securities companies.

Details of a reunion have not been released.