Tom Arnold is ready to rethink romance after spending 10 years without sex and nearly a decade without a date. The 67-year-old actor and comedian admitted that his past views about women his age had not exactly helped his search for companionship, as reported [1] by Page Six.
Arnold, the former husband of Roseanne Barr, spoke exclusively to Page Six about his love life while attending Cure Addiction Now’s 3rd Annual Fundraising Evening.
Asked whether he seriously wants to fall in love again, Arnold answered, “Yeah,” before describing the appeal of a mutual relationship. “It would be good to love somebody and be loved.”
His nationwide “My Crazy X-Wife” comedy tour has apparently challenged some of his bluntest assumptions. Arnold said he has met several attractive women during the tour who changed the way he thinks about dating within his own generation.
The comedian acknowledged that when people previously encouraged him to date someone his own age, his reaction was hardly flattering. He said he would respond, “Dude, have you seen people my age? We are freaking disgusting.”
His perspective has since shifted after meeting women through his shows. “But here’s the thing. I have learned there’s a lot of funny, smart, sexy, 60-something women,” Arnold said.
Arnold discussed his romantic situation while dealing with a broken back. He has been married and divorced four times and shares two children, Jax, 13, and Quinn, 10, with his most recent former wife, Ashley Groussman.
He was married to Barr, now 74, from 1990 until 1994. Arnold worked as a writer and producer on “Roseanne” during their marriage, but Barr fired him in 1994, the same year their divorce took place.
Their relationship became deeply strained, and Barr alleged in court papers that Arnold had physically and emotionally abused her. “Throughout our marriage, [Arnold] has been physically and emotionally abusive toward me,” she wrote.
Barr also wrote, “I now realize that I am a classic battered and abused wife who has tolerated the conduct . . . only because [Arnold] has successfully lowered my self-esteem and reduced me into the realm of battered wife syndrome.”
Arnold has also spoken openly about addiction and his path through sobriety. He said audience members sometimes approach him after comedy performances to discuss being clean and sober or their efforts to stop using substances.
Although Arnold no longer considers himself sober because he used prescription medication while recovering from surgeries, he said he retains a support network. “I have a sponsor, I have my guys, gangs, and they know what the deal was,” he explained.
Arnold said he began drinking at age 12 and started using drugs after finishing high school. In 2008, while he was “19 years clean and sober,” he crashed his motorcycle and broke his back.
At that time, Arnold was sponsoring people addicted to opioids and heroin, although he said those had not been his preferred substances. He recalled that an ambulance crew gave him fentanyl after the crash, prompting him to think, “Oh, that’s [what] I’ve been looking for.”
A year later, Arnold realized he was still taking pain medication as he prepared to receive recognition for 20 years of sobriety. “So I had [to] start over. That’s what you do,” he said.
Looking forward, Arnold hopes to meet a woman whom he would feel proud to introduce to his children. He acknowledged making “bad choices” that disappointed them, but said he believes another relationship could still happen.
Arnold joked that many women are not searching for a man who once had substantial money and now has two young children. Still, he said the affection he receives from his children and friends means he is not desperate to find a partner.
“I love my kids so much,” Arnold said. “That’s a lot of love there. And my buddies. But I’ll be okay. You know, I’ve had four marriages.”
Cure Addiction Now founder Nancy Davis greeted Arnold at the fundraising event. The organization funds research and clinical work focused on substance use disorder, while seeking new treatments, reduced stigma, and solutions for affected individuals and families.