Tom Sizemore pulls off a powerful scene in what would be his last onstage performance before suffering his fatal brain aneurysm.
For just over a year, the 61-year-old star taught acting classes every Saturday afternoon at Harvelle’s Nightclub in Santa Monica as part of a joint project with his friend, screenwriter and actor Trevor Simms.
The actor was due to return to the location on Feb. 18, when he suddenly suffered a ruptured aneurysm at about 2 a.m. in his apartment. He was in a coma until his family took his life on Friday.
Tom Sizemore can be seen on stage performing a scene from 1961’s The Hustler while giving his final acting class at Harvelle’s Nightclub in Santa Monica on Feb. 11.
Sizemore played character Bert Gordon, played by George C. Scott in the film, opposite fellow actor and owner of Harvelle’s, Cevin Clark (left) as Eddie Felson, made famous by Paul Newman
Sizemore poses after the workshop with new students, producer Scot Tomaszewski (left) and model and actor Lee Catcher
Sizemore’s death has come as a shock to friends and family. He had been seen just a week earlier giving a riveting performance to his dedicated acting students, on video obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.
The clip, created by screenwriter Ryan Munevar, shows Sizemore performing a scene from 1961’s The Hustler as character Bert Gordon – played by George C. Scott in the movie.
Sizemore and Simms opened an acting school in 2021 and have been teaching every Saturday at Harvelle’s Nightclub in Santa Monica ever since.
Fellow actor and owner of Harvelle’s Cevin Clark can be seen opposite him, in the role made famous by Paul Newman.
“Tom was always a sweet-natured kid in class, but when he did his part, he would explode like a lion,” producer and entrepreneur Scot Tomaszewski, who befriended Sizemore after attending one of his classes earlier this year, told me. against DailyMail.com.
‘His voice, his whole demeanor filled that stage in the room. He still had it. He poured everything he had into it. It gave me chills.’
“When I heard he was taken to the hospital I was really shocked because he seemed fine,” added Tomaszewski.
Tomaszewski first met Sizemore by surprise in early February when mutual friend Trevor Simms invited him to one of his acting workshops, where the Natural Born Killers star even expressed interest in his own concept show.
Video obtained by DailyMail.com shows the Natural Born Killers star with boyfriend Trevor Simms, who wears sunglasses and a cowboy hat, asking Sizemore questions about acting as they head to acting class in a limousine on Feb. 4
Tomaszewski, owner of a 2006 presidential Cadillac in which he films his “My Limo Show,” revealed that he met Sizemore by chance after Simms invited him to class and asked if they could pick up the acting instructor in the limousine.
Simms recalled noticing Sizemore’s breathlessness and labored breathing when he got into the limo that day.
“It was just coincidence that we met. My boyfriend invited me to one of his acting classes, so I offered to drive him in style in my limousine, a 2006 presidential Cadillac,” he said.
“He asked if we could also pick up the acting teacher and his bodyguard and I said sure.
“I had no idea it would be Tom Sizemore.”
A second video shared with DailyMail.com shows Sizemore getting into the limousine with labored breathing after being picked up from his home by Tomaszewski and Simms on February 4.
Simms can be seen wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses asking Sizemore about acting on the ride to class.
Recalling his workshop experience, Tomaszewski said he was captivated by Sizemore’s obvious enthusiasm for the craft and his interest in his “My Limo Show,” which featured varied conversations between the limousine driver and his passengers.
He also posed for photos with the new students, including Tomaszewski’s friend, up-and-coming actor and bodybuilder Ike Catcher from Gold’s Gym.
“You could tell Tom really cared about his students. He wanted them all to succeed and become working actors,” Tomaszewski said.
“He even let me and my friend Ike Catcher on stage to perform a scene based on a show I made called ‘My Limo Show.’
“Tom took the time to listen to what we had to say. He was passionate as ever and that passion inspired us all.”
Recalling his classroom experience, Tomaszewski said he was impressed by Sizemore’s obvious passion for his craft and desire for his students to succeed.
Sizemore and screenwriter/actor Trevor Simms were the driving force behind the couple’s acting workshop, which launched in 2021 with just a handful of students and has now grown sixfold. The two are pictured outside Harveyle’s nightclub in Santa Monica in October 2021
Simms directed the actor in two 2017 independent films, Adrenochrone and T-Bird, which are still in production
Screenwriter and actor Trevor Simms was the driving force behind Sizemore’s acting classes that started more than a year ago.
The two met in 2014 and became fast friends with Simms directing the star in two of his independent films, including 2017’s award-winning Adrenochrome and T-Bird, which is still in production.
“We became good friends and together we decided to open an acting school,” Simms said.
‘It started with about five to six students and a few weeks later there were thirty.’
Tom was actually a big softie. He played a hard man in all the movies and had a hardness in him, but he was soft.
Tom had the two things that make a great actor. Imagination. He always carried a book with him. He read all the time and he had so much imagination. And he had a sensitivity to the human spirit. ‘
He consoled. I could always count on him, especially if it had something to do with the industry. He is my husband.’
Sizemore, best known for his work in films such as Saving Private Ryan (pictured), Black Hawk Down, Born on the Fourth of July, Natural Born Killers and Heat, was in a critical condition in a coma following his aneurysm on Feb. 18. He passed away on Friday
Sizemore (left) also appeared in Pearl Harbor, which hit theaters in 2001
The last time Simms saw his friend was when he and Tomaszewski picked him up at his house to take him to his Saturday acting class in Santa Monica.
“As we went up the stairs at his house to get into the limo, he sat down and I remember thinking I had to keep this man alive. I remember thinking he was quite out of breath,” the screenwriter said.
All I can say is that Tom is a genius. He’s one of my best friends. You could see his level of intelligence and brilliance in his acting and especially in his final appearance in my film. His work is nothing short of genius.’
Simms said the acting classes will continue in honor of his best friend and several guest actors will be invited to teach.
