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Enjoying each opportunity: Comedian Tom Arnold to perform at Lobo Theater, take part in Albuquerque Comic Con
Over the course of nearly 40 years in the entertainment industry, Tom Arnold has done it all.
He鈥檚 written, acted and produced a number of projects.
The comedian will arrive in Albuquerque this week for a few events. The first is to perform a stand-up comedy show on Friday, Jan. 19, at the Historic Lobo Theater.
Arnold will then spend time as a guest at Albuquerque Comic Con, which runs from Friday, Jan. 19, through Sunday, Jan. 21, at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
鈥淚鈥檝e been to Albuquerque a bunch of times,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey do a lot of film productions down there. That鈥檚 where 鈥楤reaking Bad鈥� was filmed. I relate to that show because my sister was spotlighted in the project, 鈥楺ueen of Meth.鈥� She was the biggest drug dealer in America. That all hits home for me.鈥�
Arnold has appeared on the 鈥淛immy Kimmel Show,鈥� 鈥淗oward Stern,鈥� 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� and was a co-host on 鈥淭he Best Damn Sports Show Period.鈥�
In addition to his numerous television appearances, he has been in over 150 films. He is best known for his roles on 鈥淩oseanne,鈥� 鈥淎ustin Powers,鈥� 鈥淪oul Plane鈥� and 鈥淭rue Lies.鈥� He also hosted his own show on Vice called 鈥淗unt For The Trump Tapes.鈥�
He will be appearing in Arnold Schwarzenegger鈥檚 new Netflix series 鈥淔UBAR鈥� and was in CBS鈥檚 reboot of 鈥淭rue Lies,鈥� as well as appearing in 鈥淭he Rookie: Feds.鈥�
He is a single dad with a 10-year-old and 7-year-old and four ex-wives.
鈥淢e and my kids live in a pretty small house,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 try to balance my personal life along with my work life. It鈥檚 difficult being a single dad. I鈥檝e also got to keep myself in shape. It鈥檚 been very cold here in the San Fernando Valley, and I didn鈥檛 let that stop me. I got out and ran about 9:30 p.m. and it was chilly.鈥�
Arnold is looking forward to being part of both events in Albuquerque.
鈥淧eople are coming out to see you,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat means a lot to this small-town boy with big dreams. I wanted to get out of my hometown and I did it. I鈥檝e been lucky enough to be in some really great projects and be a part of people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
With the majority of his life spent in the spotlight, Arnold doesn鈥檛 hold anything back during his comedy sets.
鈥淚 share a lot about my personal experiences,鈥� he says. 鈥淢any other things, you can Google if you want to know more about me. I do a lot of stand-up comedy out here in California, but I find that it鈥檚 best to take the comedy show out on the road to get more people to see it.鈥�
Arnold is always grateful to work.
Growing up in Iowa, he wanted to get on TV as a stand-up comedian at least one time.
鈥淢y dad laughed at me,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he only time we heard him laugh was when he would watch Bob Hope specials. I remember seeing the happiness he brought to my dad, and I wanted to do what he did.鈥�
Arnold then enrolled at the University of Iowa, where he began to check off milestones.
鈥淚鈥檓 lucky that I鈥檝e achieved all my goals,鈥� he says. 鈥淩oseanne started asking me to write for her during the series. Then I became a regular on the series. I found that writing for movies and TV were new opportunities for me. If I get my head around it, I can have fun with it.鈥�
