Thomas Mathews (born November 28, 1958) is an American actor best known for his role as Tommy Jarvis in the Friday the 13th franchise—in particular Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)—and Freddy Hanscom 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).
Thom 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 (1982; 1984), Dynasty (1983) and Paper Dolls (1984). In 1984, Mathews portrayed Erik in the romantic comedy film The Woman in Red although he was uncredited.
Mathews' first major role was Freddy Hanscom 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 Hazel 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, Mathews 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 the ER second season episode "And Baby Makes Two". In 1996, Mathews starred in the television films If Looks Could Kill and Raven Hawk.
Mathews 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 starred in the sequel Never Hike Alone 2, released in October 2023.
On May 10, 2014, Mathews married Karla Jensen in Los Cabos Municipality, Mexico.[3]
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.[4]
| 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 | |
| 1988 | Return of the Living Dead Part II | Joey Hazel | |
| Alien from L.A. | Charmin' | ||
| 1990 | Midnight Cabaret | David | |
| 1991 | Born to Ride | Willis | |
| Bloodmatch | Brick Bardo | ||
| 1992 | Nemesis | Marion | |
| 1994 | Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor | Bill | |
| In the Living Years | Dan Donahue | ||
| 1995 | Heatseeker | Bradford | |
| 1997 | Blast | Bill | Uncredited |
| Mean Guns | Crow | ||
| The Peacemaker | Major Rich Numbers | ||
| Crazy Six | Andrew | ||
| 1998 | Waiting for Woody | Bike Messenger | Short film |
| Sorcerers | The Duke | ||
| 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 film[5] |
| 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 | Tommy Jarvis | Fan film |
| 2023 | Final Summer | Sheriff Palmer | |
| Never Hike Alone 2 | Tommy Jarvis | Fan film | |
| Go Away | Chuck | [6][7] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982–1984 | Falcon Crest | Pool Guy #2 / Paramedic #2 | 2 episodes |
| 1983 | Dynasty | Brian | 2 episodes |
| The Yellow Rose | Danny | Episode: "Only the Proud" | |
| 1984 | Paper Dolls | Lewis Crosby | 5 episodes |
| 1987 | The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission | Francis Kelly | Television film |
| Mr. President | Secret Service Agent | Episode: "Private Moments" | |
| 1989 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Cal | Episode: "The Heat" |
| 1990 | Rock Hudson | Tim Murphy | Television film |
| Sporting Chance | Sonny Hilderbrand | Television pilot | |
| 1991 | The Letters from Moab | Tom | Television short |
| 1995 | ER | Michael Mazovick | Episode: "And Baby Makes Two" |
| 1996 | Raven Hawk | Stiles | Television film |
| If Looks Could Kill | Walter | Television film | |
| 2000 | Fail Safe | Billy Flynn | Television film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Friday the 13th: The Game | Tommy Jarvis | Voice and likeness |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
