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Thomas Mathews (born November 28, 1958) is an American actor best known for his roles as Tommy Jarvis in the Friday the 13th franchise — in particular Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) — and Freddy in The Return of the Living Dead (1985). His other film roles include Dangerously Close (1986), Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988), and Nemesis (1992).

Career[]

Acting and Friday the 13th[]

Mathews began his acting career in the early 1980s as a model and commercial actor, starring in national television commercials for Le Tigre, Sprite and Tostitos. From 1982 to 1984, Mathews guest starred on a string of soap operas, including Falcon Crest, Dynasty and Paper Dolls. In 1984, Mathews portrayed Erik in the romantic comedy film The Woman in Red, although he was uncredited.

His first major role was Freddy in the 1985 cult film The Return of the Living Dead. The following year, Mathews starred in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, being the third actor to portray Tommy Jarvis after Corey Feldman and John Shepherd. In 1987, he starred as Francis Kelly in the television film The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission. The same year, Mathews starred in the film Down Twisted and guest starred on the sitcom Mr. President. In 1988, he starred as Joey in Return of the Living Dead Part II and Charmin' in Alien from L.A.. In 1989, Mathews guest starred on an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse.

In 1990, he portrayed Tim Murphy in the television film Rock Hudson, Sonny Hilderbrand in the television pilot Sporting Chance, and David in the film Midnight Cabaret. The following year, Mathews starred in the films Bloodmatch and Born to Ride and the television short The Letters from Moab. In 1992, he starred in the film Nemesis. In 1994, he portrayed Bill in Kickboxer 4 and Dan Donahue in In the Living Years. The following year, Mathews starred in Heatseeker. The same year, he guest starred on an episode of ER. In 1996, Mathews starred in the television films If Looks Could Kill and Raven Hawk.

He reprised the role of Tommy Jarvis twice in 2017, providing his voice and likeness to the video game Friday the 13th: The Game and making a cameo appearance in the unofficial fan film Never Hike Alone[1] and its 2020 prequel, Never Hike in the Snow. He repeated the role of Tommy Jarvis in 2022 in another unofficial fan film Vengeance Part 2: Bloodlines[2] and he is to star in the sequel Never Hike Alone 2, set to be released in October 2023. Mathews now owns a construction company, Hammer and Trowel. Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne hired his company to remodel their home during the filming of their MTV reality show The Osbournes.[3]

Personal life[]

On May 10, 2014, Mathews married Karla Jensen in Los Cabos Municipality, Mexico.[4]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1984 The Woman in Red Erik Uncredited
1985 The Return of the Living Dead Freddy Hanscom
1986 Dangerously Close Brian Rigletti
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives Tommy Jarvis
1987 Down Twisted Damalas
The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission Francis Kelly Television film
1988 Return of the Living Dead Part II Joey Hazel
Alien from L.A. Charmin'
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood Tommy Jarvis Archive footage
1990 Midnight Cabaret David
Rock Hudson Tim Murphy Television film
Sporting Chance Sonny Hilderbrand Television pilot
1991 The Letters from Moab Tom Television short
Bloodmatch Brick Bardo
Born to Ride Willis
1992 Nemesis Marion
1994 Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor Bill
In the Living Years Dan Donahue
1995 Heatseeker Bradford
1996 If Looks Could Kill Walter Television film
Raven Hawk Stiles
1997 Blast Bill Uncredited
Mean Guns Crow
The Peacemaker Major Rich Numbers
Crazy Six Andrew Direct-to-video film
1998 Waiting for Woody Bike Messenger Short film
Sorcerers The Duke
2000 Fail Safe Billy Flynn Television film
2001 The Vampire Hunters Club Henry Pratt Short film
2009 A Letter to Dad Dan
2013 Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th Himself Documentary
2017 Never Hike Alone Tommy Jarvis Fan film
2019 Killer Therapy John Langston
2020 Never Hike in the Snow Tommy Jarvis Fan film
2022 Vengeance Part 2: Bloodlines
2023 Never Hike Alone 2
TBA Go Away Chuck [5][6]

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1982 Falcon Crest Pool Guy #2 / Paramedic #2 2 episodes
1983 Dynasty Brian (Male Secretary)
1984 Paper Dolls Lewis Crosby 5 episodes
1987 Mr. President Secret Service Agent Episode: "Private Moments"
1989 CBS Summer Playhouse Cal Episode: "The Heat"
1995 ER Michael Mazovick Episode: "And Baby Makes Two"

Video game[]

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Friday the 13th: The Game Tommy Jarvis Voice and likeness

References[]

  1. Squires, John (October 14, 2017). "Iconic Franchise Actor Returns in Must-Watch, 50-Minute 'Friday' Fan Film 'Never Hike Alone'". Bloody Disgusting.
  2. Brooks, Jason (October 6, 2022). "Friday the 13th Vengeance 2: Bloodlines". Real Fiction Studios, Newton to Newton Productions. Retrieved on November 27, 2022.
  3. "Friday the 13th films".
  4. "George Clooney & Fiancee Amal Alamuddin Vacation In Cabo". TravelPulse (May 9, 2014). Retrieved on February 2, 2017.
  5. Hamman, Cody (February 8, 2022). "Go Away trailer: Thom Mathews, Tuesday Knight, Felissa Rose star in home invasion slasher". JoBlo.com. Retrieved on December 29, 2022.
  6. Gingold, Matthew (December 18, 2022). "Thom Mathews, Felissa Rose et al. in Home-Invasion Horror "Go Away"; Trailer & Poster". Rue Morgue. Retrieved on December 29, 2022.

External links[]

Wikipedia
Wikipedia
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