Tom was born and raised in West Seneca, South Buffalo and Clarence, New York. He won full scholarships to Beloit College in Wisconsin and The Juilliard School (under Alan Schneider) at Lincoln Center. Later he trained with Edith Skinner, Cicely Berry, Kristen Linklater, Michael Shurtleff and Stella Adler. Tom went on to play over fifty classical and contemporary roles at theaters around the world. In addition to full seasons at Baltimore Center Stage, The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, The Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts, and The Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. He has also performed at UBU Repertory, Theater for the New City, and The Riverside Shakespeare Company in New York, The Hangar Theater in Ithaca, and Yale.

Television appearances include; the mini-series A WOMAN NAMED JACKIE (also co-writer, Emmy best mini-series), and NORTH AND SOUTH PART III (also co-writer, starring Peter O'Toole). Episodic work includes; ALL MY CHILDREN, LOIS AND CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, ARLI$$, and STAR TREK: VOYAGER (with Joel Grey). Film credits include; TURBULENCE, ETHAN FROME, LEAP OF FAITH, TIN CUP, PLAY IT TO THE BONE, DARK BLUE, EL PADRINO, EASY (Toronto and Sundance Film Festivals) and HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE (with Harrison Ford).

Tom was one of the producers of, and acted in COBB (with Tommy Lee Jones), which had a Benefit performance in Buffalo at Shea's Performing Arts Center where the mayor presented him with the key to the city. He produced and directed WORKING SHAKESPEARE: RSC MEETS USA, (a broadcast series), featuring Jeremy Irons, Emily Watson, Lindsay Duncan, Toby Stephens and other members of the Royal Shakespeare Company with US actors: Helen Hunt, Samuel L. Jackson, Claire Danes, Blythe Danner, Robert Sean Leonard, Cherry Jones, Victor Garber, Diane Venora, and others. Tom directed Jimmy Buffett's worldwide concert tour for seven years.

Tom also enjoys a career as a voice, speech and acting coach and has taught; Liam Neeson, Rene Russo, Bob Hoskins, Lolita Davidovich, Robert Wagner, Tony Goldwyn, Brendan Gleeson, Alicia Witt , Lukas Haas, and many others. Tom has been coaching and directing actors for Theater, Film and Television for over twenty five years. Tom was also the Founder and Artistic Director of Malibu Actors Studio, a professional training program for young actors. He created this studio to ensure students maintain a connection to their authentic voice, while increasing their creativity, confidence, and self-expression. Tom regularly lectures at Harvard University.

His Executive Producing projects include: Telefilms for CBS; BORROWED HEARTS (the number one rated program for the week), starring Roma Downey, Eric McCormack, and Hector Elizondo, MONDAY AFTER THE MIRACLE with Ms. Downey, Billy Campbell, and Moira Kelly, THE TEST OF LOVE (the network's top rated Wednesday film for 1999) also with Ms. Downey, SECOND HONEYMOON with Ms. Downey, Tim Matheson, and Michael Nouri, THE SONS OF MISTLETOE with Ms. Downey and Doris Roberts, and THE SURVIVORS CLUB with Ms. Downey, Jacqueline Bisset and James Remar.

Other feature films as Producer/Actor; NO VACANCY with Christina Ricci, Timothy Olyphant, Robert Wagner, Lolita Davidovich, and Patricia Velasquez (premiered at The Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and subsequently; The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, The Festival do Rio de Janiero (held over), Raindance (London), and The Moscow Film Festival; (First Place Best Debut Film), and for Showtime; NORIEGA: GOD'S FAVORITE, with Bob Hoskins, directed by Roger Spottiswoode.

Tom's projects in development include numerous texts with producing partner writer/director Ron Shelton. Tom is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Actors Equity Association, Producers Guild of America, the American Dialect Society, the Linguistic Society of America, the Voice and Speech Trainers Association, The Creative Coalition, and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Tom lived on New York City's Upper West Side and TriBeCa for sixteen years, he moved to Santa Monica twelve years ago. Currently, he resides in both locales. Tom is an avid surfer, cyclist, marksman, Beatlemaniac, Led Zeppelinite, rock & roll drummer and dog lover. He is left-handed.