Actor Tom Sizemore dies in sleep weeks after brain aneurysm

Actor Tom Sizemore has died in his sleep in hospital weeks after suffering a brain aneurysm, his manager has said.

Charles Lago said: "I am very saddened by the loss of not only a client but a great friend and mentor of almost 15 years.

"Tom was one of the most sincere, kind and generous human beings I have had the pleasure of knowing.

"His courage and determination through adversity was always an inspiration to me.

"The past couple of years were great for him and he was getting his life back to a great place.

"He loved his sons and his family.

"I will miss my friend Tom Sizemore greatly."

Sizemore, 61, suffered a brain aneurysm as a result of a stroke in the early hours of 18 February, collapsing at home in Los Angeles before being taken to hospital by ambulance.

Since then he had been in critical condition, in a coma and in intensive care.

'Messages of support and love'

He never regained consciousness, Mr Lago said, adding that he had died in his sleep with his brother Paul and twin boys Jayden and Jagger, 17, at his side.

Mr Lago said: "The Sizemore family has been comforted by the hundreds of messages of support and love shown to their son, brother and father.

"They are asking for privacy during this difficult time and I am asking for those wishes to please be respected."

There will be a private cremation service for the family with a larger "celebration of life event" planned in a few weeks, Mr Lago said.

Writing on social media, Licence to Kill and The Goonies actor Robert Davi paid tribute to Sizemore, saying he was "saddened to hear" of the news.

Posting on Twitter, he wrote: "His family has my prayers - Tom and I were friends I knew of his suffering & his struggle with addiction - he was a terrific talent - Many families suffer from the heartbreak and tragedy of this disease and we do not do enough!!"

A 'spoiled movie star' and an 'arrogant fool'

Sizemore became a star in the films Natural Born Killers and Heat, before going on to blockbusters such as Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down.

But he struggled with addiction during his acting career, having been arrested a number of times for driving under the influence and drug possession.

He was also arrested more than once for domestic violence, including against his girlfriend Heidi Fleiss, for which he was convicted.

Sizemore was also the subject of two workplace sexual harassment lawsuits related to the 2002 CBS show Robbery Homicide Division.

He wrote in a 2013 memoir that success had turned him into a "spoiled movie star", an "arrogant fool" and "a hope-to-die addict".

He also wrote: "I've led an interesting life, but I can't tell you what I'd give to be the guy you didn't know anything about."

-sky news