Basic Information
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Mills Wood (often credited as Tom Wood) |
| Born | April 19, 1963 |
| Birthplace | Long Beach, California |
| Education | Drama training (noted connection to Carnegie Mellon) |
| Spouse | Jenifer Wood (married circa 1996 — publicly listed as spouse) |
| Parents | Donna Wood (mother); Thomas Mills Wood, Sr. (father) |
| Children | Public listings vary — some list two children by name (Carter, Jackson), others indicate four children |
| Years active (film/TV/stage) | Primarily late 1980s through the 1990s (notable screen credits 1992–1998) |
| Signature roles | Deputy U.S. Marshal Noah Newman in The Fugitive (1993) and U.S. Marshals (1998) |
A small-town kid with a stage-actor’s heartbeat
I like to think of Thomas Mills Wood as the kind of actor who slipped into movies the way a supporting instrument slips into a score — you feel the melody differently because he’s there. Born April 19, 1963, in Long Beach, California, he carries the practical grid of a Sun Belt childhood and the restlessness of a theater kid who wanted bigger rooms and louder lights. Drama training (with ties to universities known for serious acting programs) sharpened him into a dependable character player — the sort casting directors call when they need an honest badge, an exasperated sergeant, a human foil.
Numbers tell part of the story: born in 1963, screen prominence spikes in the early to mid-1990s, with marquee appearances in 1992–1998 — a compact decade where a character actor could make a lasting impression without becoming a tabloid fixture.
Career highlights — roles, the rhythm of the reel, and that unforgettable deputy
If filmographies were playlists, Thomas’s would be a steady loop of crime dramas and ensemble blockbusters — roles that add texture rather than demand the spotlight. His most recognizable credit is as Deputy Noah Newman, first flashing into public view in The Fugitive (1993) and returning in U.S. Marshals (1998). Those two films alone bookend a period in Hollywood when lean, muscular thrillers ruled the box office — and Wood’s performance anchored the law-and-order side of the table.
Other screen stops include appearances in well-known 1990s films — think the taut machinery of Under Siege, the historical sweep of Apollo 13 (in a smaller turn), and character-driven pieces like Ulee’s Gold and Avalon. On stage, he carried the same steady hand: Broadway and off-Broadway credits show an actor comfortable with the intimacy of live performance and the technical precision of camera work. Across formats, his typecasting as law enforcement — deputies, policemen, men in uniform — became a signature, not a limitation; he turned that shorthand into credibility.
| Year | Credit (selected) |
|---|---|
| 1992 | Under Siege (supporting role) |
| 1993 | The Fugitive — Deputy Noah Newman |
| 1995–1997 | Various TV and stage appearances |
| 1998 | U.S. Marshals — reprised Deputy Noah Newman |
The family behind the actor — introductions at a glance
People who watch a face on screen and think “I recognize that guy” rarely know the quiet scaffolding behind it: the family, the spouse, the steady domestic life that lets an actor show up and be believable.
| Family member | Short introduction |
|---|---|
| Jenifer Wood — Spouse | Listed publicly as his wife (married around 1996); described in public notes as creative — a designer and painter in some accounts — the kind of partner who colors the margins of an actor’s life. |
| Donna Wood — Mother | Introduced in profiles as the mother who raised him — a practical presence; public descriptors suggest professional life in finance or business. |
| Thomas Mills Wood, Sr. — Father | Referred to in biographies as his father — often described with working-class detail (accountant/performer in some notes), the sturdy counterpart to a son who chose the stage. |
| Children | Public records are inconsistent: some listings name Carter and Jackson; others list four children without names. The family picture feels private, protective — the kind actors keep close. |
I tell these introductions like a stage cue — lights up on Jenifer, who steadies the homefront; lights up on Donna and Thomas Sr., who supplied the practical script; lights up on the children, whose names flicker in public records yet remain mostly offstage.
Public image, net worth, and the rumor mill
Here’s the blunt truth: Thomas Mills Wood is more of a character-actor legend in the sense that fans remember his scenes, not his balance sheet. There’s no authoritative public net-worth figure to point at — online aggregators offer chatter, but nothing definitive. That quiet is, in a way, part of the appeal: while A-listers become headlines, dependable character actors cultivate craft and privacy — a parallel economy of respect that isn’t measured in tabloids.
As for gossip and scandal: the public chatter around him is primarily celebratory — fan posts, nostalgia threads, interview snippets where he talks shop — rather than scandal-driven. He’s the kind of actor who shows up in the movie, does the job, and lets the picture roll on.
Why the small roles matter — and why I keep returning to his work
I’ll admit it: I keep returning to a two- or three-minute scene he’s in, because those minutes are compressed storytelling — the deputy who asks the right question, the officer who gives a glance that rearranges a scene. That’s cinema’s secret: it’s not always the leading voice that changes the conversation — sometimes it’s the supporting line, the aside, the human punctuation.
If you’re a movie fan who loves the seams, the glue, the crew who holds up the set, Thomas Mills Wood is the kind of actor you notice months later — like a good earworm.
FAQ
When and where was Thomas Mills Wood born?
He was born April 19, 1963, in Long Beach, California.
What is he best known for?
He’s best known for playing Deputy U.S. Marshal Noah Newman in The Fugitive (1993) and reprising that role in U.S. Marshals (1998).
Who is his spouse?
His spouse is listed publicly as Jenifer Wood, with marriage noted around 1996.
How many children does he have?
Public listings differ — some name two children (Carter and Jackson) while other records indicate four children without naming them.
What is his net worth?
There is no reliable, authoritative public net-worth figure available.
Any notable controversies?
No significant controversies or scandals are prominent in public mentions; most coverage is interview-based or fan-focused.
