Thomas Mathews (born November 28, 1958) is an American actor best known for his role as Tommy Jarvis in 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).

Career

Acting and Friday the 13th 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 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 and starred in the sequel Never Hike Alone 2, released in October 2023.

Personal life On May 10, 2014, Mathews married Karla Jensen in Los Cabos Municipality, Mexico.

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.

Filmography +Film 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 2017 Never Hike Alone Tommy Jarvis Fan film 2019 Killer Therapy John Langston 2020 Never Hike in the SnowTommy JarvisFan film 2022 Vengeance Part 2: BloodlinesTommy JarvisFan film2023Final SummerSheriff Palmer Never Hike Alone 2Tommy JarvisFan film Go Away Chuck

+Television Year Title Role Notes 1982–1984 Falcon Crest Pool Guy #2 / Paramedic #2 2 episodes 1983 Dynasty Brian 2 episodesThe Yellow RoseDannyEpisode: "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

+Video Games Year Title Role Notes 2017 Friday the 13th: The Game Tommy Jarvis Voice and likeness

References

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