Tom Waits

Acting · Born 1949-12-07 in Pomona, California, USA

Biography

Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He worked primarily in jazz during the 1970s, but his music since the 1980s has reflected greater influence from blues, rock, vaudeville, and experimental genres. Waits was born and raised in a middle-class family in Whittier, California. Inspired by the work of Bob Dylan and the Beat Generation, he began singing on the San Diego folk music circuit as a young boy. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1972, where he worked as a songwriter before signing a recording contract with Asylum Records. His first albums were the jazz-oriented Closing Time (1973) and The Heart of Saturday Night…

Filmography

• The Outsiders as Buck Merrill
• Rumble Fish as Benny
• Licorice Pizza as Rex Blau
• Down by Law as Zack
• Short Cuts as Earl Piggot
• Wristcutters: A Love Story as Kneller
• The Fisher King as Disabled Vet (uncredited)
• Mystery Train as Radio DJ (voice)
• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs as Prospector (segment "All Gold Canyon")
• Bram Stoker's Dracula as R.M. Renfield

TV

• The Simpsons as Lloyd (voice)
• The Daily Show as Self
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Musical Guest
• Ultra City Smiths as The Narrator (voice)
• Austin City Limits as Self
• Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest
• The Mike Douglas Show as Self
• Fishing with John as Self
• Rockpalast