Tom Waits

Tom Waits (also credited as Thomas Alan Waits and known in Chinese as 汤姆·威兹) is an American screen artist and musician born on December 7, 1949, in Pomona, California. Celebrated for his unmistakable gravel-toned delivery and story-driven sensibility, Waits built a singular creative identity that naturally carried into acting—often portraying outsiders, drifters, and sharply observed working-class characters.

After coming up on Southern California’s folk circuit and moving to Los Angeles in the early 1970s, Waits first gained attention through jazz-leaning records and songwriting work. His artistic world—nightlife, hard luck, and dark humor—also drew filmmakers, leading to soundtrack contributions and appearances connected to directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, before his career widened in both music and film.

In the 1980s, following his marriage to Kathleen Brennan and a shift toward more experimental, genre-blurring work, Waits became a distinctive presence on screen. His standout acting credits include Down by Law (Zack), The Outsiders (Buck Merrill), Rumble Fish (Benny), Short Cuts (Earl Piggot), and Coffee and Cigarettes (as himself in “Somewhere in California”).

Later roles—such as Rex Blau in Licorice Pizza—underscore his enduring appeal: a performer whose voice, timing, and authenticity make even brief scenes memorable, while his cult reputation and accolades continue to shape his legacy.