We recently had the chance to connect with Tom Vera and have shared our conversation below.
Tom, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Well, it depends if I’m on a day or night schedule, but my favorite part is always when my daughter runs in for a morning or bedtime cuddle — that really sets the tone for my day. From there, I take care of the day-to-day things like keeping the house in order, doing yard work, or tackling little projects with my hands. If it’s a workday, I’ll head into that rhythm, or if not, I’m picking up the kids and spending time with family. I also make sure to carve out time for auditions and film projects when they come up, and if I’m lucky, squeeze in some travel. So it’s a mix of family, work, and creative pursuits — and I enjoy the balance.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Of course! First and foremost, I’m a husband and a father — my family is everything to me. Each day I try to live by being just a little better than I was yesterday, with the hope of always growing into the man they deserve. I want to teach my kids to dream big — to aim for the edge of the universe so that one day they’ll live among the stars. And the best way I know how to do that is by being an example myself, showing them that dreams can come true and that no one has the right to tell you what you can or can’t accomplish.
I’ve always been drawn to what excites me and sparks my curiosity. That passion first led me into geology, where I fell in love with the earth and the stories it tells about how our world came to be. That same spirit of following my heart eventually brought me to acting, which has become my true pursuit. Right now, I’m focused on building a full-time career as an actor, and I couldn’t do it without the unwavering support of my family.
It’s been an incredible journey so far. I’ve been fortunate to appear in TV shows like CW’s Walker and Paramount+’s 1923, as well as films including A Gettysburg Christmas, If I Could Ride Again, and The Shipment. I’m excited for what’s ahead, and if you’d like to follow along as my career grows, I’d love for you to join me on the ride. And if you’re pursuing you dream, let’s encourage each other along the way.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
That’s a tough question, because there are so many things that can break bonds between people. But if I had to boil it down, I’d say it’s a lack of true connection. We live in a world that’s more connected through technology than ever before, yet in many ways we’re more disconnected. You can see it in restaurants, waiting rooms, even in our own homes — people on their phones, scrolling through a digital world instead of engaging with the people right in front of them. Over time, that weakens our ability to relate to each other and it puts strain on relationships.
What restores those bonds is the opposite — presence. Looking up, being intentional, and choosing to connect in real, human ways. A smile, a conversation, a moment of undivided attention, or even just spreading a little love can go a long way. If we practice that, I believe we can rebuild and strengthen the ties that really matter.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Oh yeah, there was a time I almost walked away. It was around year six of my undergrad, and I had just bombed two midterms back-to-back. I can still remember that sinking feeling in my chest — like I was wasting my time, my money, and maybe even my life. All my friends my age had already graduated, were starting careers, getting ahead, while I was still trying to figure out who I was and where I was headed. I felt stuck. I felt behind. And honestly, I felt like a failure.
One night I opened up to my roommate about it, and what he told me has stayed with me to this day. He said, ‘Man, you’re doing great. You’re getting an education. You’ve got jobs bringing in money. You’ve got friends and family who love you. You’ve got your health. Life is good.’ At first, I brushed it off — but then it sank in. He was right. I was so lost in the weeds, so focused on what I didn’t have or hadn’t achieved yet, that I couldn’t see what I did have.
That conversation gave me a perspective shift that honestly changed my life. It taught me to zoom out — to take the 30,000-foot view. When I did, I realized life wasn’t about racing to a finish line or comparing myself to others. Life is about the journey, about the people who walk it with you, and about being grateful along the way.
That was a turning point for me. I still carry that lesson today — whenever I hit walls or feel like giving up, I remind myself to step back, breathe, and look at the bigger picture. And from that place, I can keep moving forward.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’d like to think so — I try to be authentic. What you see is largely what you get. That said, I have had the unsettling experience of fake Instagram accounts created using photos of me and my family, and that changed things. After that happened I realized I need to protect my family, so I’m more careful about how much of our private life I share online. Even with that boundary, the public-facing version of me is still grounded in who I am — the values, the humor, and the person my fans and colleagues meet in real life.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Man, that question weighs heavy on me — especially now as a husband and a father. Because honestly, I think about it a lot. What story will my family tell when I’m gone?
I hope it’s the story of a man who was far from perfect, who stumbled plenty, but who always got back up and kept trying. A man who wrestled with his own doubts and failures, but never stopped fighting to be better than he was the day before. I hope they’d say I wasn’t afraid to dream big — and even when those dreams felt impossible, I chased them anyway.
But most of all, I hope the story they tell is that I loved fiercely — that my family always knew they came first, and that I never stopped believing in them, in others, and in the beauty of life itself. I want people to remember that I had so much love to give, and that I welcomed everyone with open arms, no matter what walk of life they came from. I tried to show that love in simple ways — by making people feel welcome, and by spreading happiness wherever I could. If I made someone smile, I felt like I had done my job.
If they can say that — that I tried, that I loved, that I welcomed people, and that I brought joy into the world — then I think I’ll have lived a life worth remembering.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://TOMVERA.TV
- Instagram: TomVeraTV
- Facebook: Tom Vera
Image Credits
Claire McAdams
