Tom Franco: Age, Wife, Family, Art Career and Movies

Introduction

Tom Franco has a famous family. But his career looks quite different.

While his brothers James and Dave built their names in Hollywood, Tom chose painting, sculpture and community art. He also acts, though visual art remains his main profession.

Born on April 14, 1980, in California, he is an American artist, actor and founder of Firehouse Art Collective. His work brings people together through shared studios, exhibitions and creative projects.

So, who is the man behind the artwork? Here is his story.

Tom Franco Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full Name	Thomas Andrew Franco
Known As	Tom Franco
Date of Birth	April 14, 1980
Age	46 years old (2026)
Birthplace	Palo Alto, California, USA
Nationality	American
Profession	Artist, Actor, Sculptor, Producer
Father	Douglas Eugene Franco
Mother	Betsy Franco
Brothers	James Franco and Dave Franco
Education	University of California, Santa Cruz
Qualification	BA in Fine Art–Sculpture
Graduation Year	2002
Height	6 feet 1 inch (IMDb listing)
First Wife	Julia Lazar Franco (died 2014)
Current Wife	Iris Torres
Known For	Firehouse Art Collective and The Disaster Artist
Organization	Firehouse Art Collective

Who Is Tom Franco?

Tom Franco is an American artist and occasional actor. He is best known for creating the Firehouse Art Collective, a California-based organization supporting artists through shared workspaces.

His work has a personal style.

He uses old objects, recycled materials and handmade forms to create paintings and sculptures. Many pieces feature unusual characters, bold shapes and playful ideas.

Acting is another part of his career. He appeared in The Disaster Artist in 2017 and has taken roles in several independent productions.

Still, art comes first.

His professional life has largely focused on making artwork and helping other people find space to create their own.

Early Life and Family Background

Thomas Andrew Franco was born on April 14, 1980, in Palo Alto, California.

He grew up in an artistic household.

His mother, Betsy Franco, is an author known for books aimed at children and young readers. His father, Douglas Eugene Franco, worked in business and enjoyed drawing.

Both parents studied art at Stanford University.

Creativity was common at home.

Tom and his brothers spent time drawing, making projects and trying new artistic activities. He particularly enjoyed comic-book characters and clay sculptures.

His father encouraged drawing classes, while his mother introduced different creative activities.

Those early experiences stayed with him.

Instead of treating art as a childhood hobby, he began to see it as a possible career.

Education and College Years

Art became a serious interest during school.

He studied in Palo Alto and attended a summer arts program at CalArts before university.

He later joined the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he studied fine art.

His subjects included sculpture, printmaking and metalwork.

In 2002, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art–Sculpture.

But he kept learning.

After college, he spent around six months studying meditation in New York. He also worked with children before returning to California.

He then attended classes at California College of the Arts, focusing on clay and metal sculpture.

These years helped him develop his own artistic approach.

He also began working closely with other artists, an idea that later became central to Firehouse Art Collective.

How Tom Franco Started His Art Career

His professional art career grew from experimentation.

He liked working with materials that other people might throw away. Broken objects, old surfaces and discarded items could become something new.

His work often looks playful.

But the ideas have personal meaning.

He mixes sculpture and painting with found materials, creating strange figures and imagined characters.

He also prefers working with others.

According to his official artist statement, roughly 80% of the materials in his artwork are found objects.

This approach gives his pieces their unusual appearance.

His work has appeared in galleries across the United States, including projects associated with Jennifer Norback Fine Art and the Verne Collection.

Firehouse Art Collective: His Biggest Project

In 2004, Tom helped establish Firehouse Art Collective.

The idea was simple.

Artists needed places to work, share ideas and show their creations without facing the full cost of running independent studios.

The first location opened in South Berkeley.

What began as a small group grew into a larger arts community.

Firehouse offers different types of creative spaces, including studios, exhibition areas and places for community events.

Artists can work individually or join shared projects.

Tom later took responsibility for directing the organization.

His official artist profile gives 2008 as the year he became sole director, while the organization’s history gives 2010.

The collective continued operating through 2026, with locations listed in the East Bay area and Reno, Nevada.

For Tom, this work remains a major part of his career.

Tom Franco Movies and Acting Career

Although sculpture is his main profession, he has also worked in films.

His earliest listed acting credit dates back to childhood.

He appeared as Frog Boy in the 1990 horror comedy Basket Case 2.

Years later, he returned to screen acting through short films and other productions.

Tom Franco Filmography

Year	Movie or Project	Role
1990	Basket Case 2	Frog Boy
2005	A Peace of History	Ray Watts (1975)
2007	The Devil Wears a Toupee	Bernie
2011	Rise of the Planet of the Apes	Mounted Officer (Uncredited)
2012	Spring Breakers	Archie’s Thug #1 (Uncredited)
2017	Metamorphosis: Junior Year	Mr. Z
2017	The Disaster Artist	Karl
2020	Action Nat and the Cat	Mr. Franco
2021	Miracle Valley	Cult Member
2025	Fractured	Guard Andrew

His IMDb credits also list the short film That Damn Cat and the project Inés in post-production.

His Role in The Disaster Artist

The Disaster Artist became one of his best-known film appearances.

Released in 2017, the film follows the unusual story behind the making of The Room.

James Franco directed the movie and played Tommy Wiseau.

Dave Franco portrayed Greg Sestero.

Tom appeared as Karl.

The production gave the three brothers a chance to work together on the same film.

He has also worked behind the camera, with directing and producing credits.

Tom Franco Wife and Married Life

His personal life includes two marriages.

His first wife was Julia Lazar Franco, an artist who worked closely with him on creative projects.

The two shared an interest in art and community work.

Julia helped develop Firehouse Art Collective and supported its early growth.

They married on July 28, 2014.

Sadly, their marriage was short.

Julia died on August 25, 2014, following serious health complications.

Her death was a major loss in Tom’s personal and professional life.

Who Is Tom Franco’s Current Wife?

Tom later married Iris Torres, a film producer.

Public records confirm that Iris is his current wife.

The couple also work together professionally.

Firehouse Art Collective identifies Iris Torres Franco and Tom as leaders of Firehouse Films, a branch handling film, television and documentary projects.

Their partnership connects visual art with filmmaking.

Does Tom Franco Have Children?

Yes. He and Iris Torres have a son.

Public biographical accounts report that their child was born in 2023.

The couple generally keep their family life separate from the public attention surrounding the Franco brothers.

Tom Franco Brothers: James and Dave Franco

Tom belongs to a well-known entertainment family.

His older brother, James Franco, was born in 1978. He became known for films including Spider-Man, 127 Hours and The Disaster Artist.

His younger brother, Dave Franco, was born in 1985.

Dave has appeared in productions such as 21 Jump Street, Now You See Me and Neighbors. He has also directed films.

Tom chose a different professional route.

He built his career around sculpture, painting and shared arts spaces.

Even so, the brothers have worked together through exhibitions and film projects.

Their connection goes beyond Hollywood.

All three grew up surrounded by drawing and other creative activities, which influenced their later careers in different ways.

Artistic Style and Creative Ideas

His artwork has an unusual look.

He often combines discarded materials, bright colors and handmade figures.

Some pieces look like imaginary creatures. Others bring together paintings, objects and sculpted forms.

He is interested in folk art, California Funk and collaborative artwork.

His creative process also involves storytelling.

A sculpted character might later appear in drawings, written stories or other artistic projects.

He regularly works with fellow artists rather than creating every piece alone.

For him, sharing ideas is part of making art.

Tom Franco Net Worth

His exact net worth is not publicly verified.

Some entertainment websites publish estimates, but these figures are not supported by reliable financial disclosures.

His professional activities include artwork, gallery exhibitions, film projects and management of arts spaces.

However, public information does not establish his personal earnings or total wealth.

Any exact net-worth figure should be treated with caution.

What Is Tom Franco Doing in 2026?

He remains involved in visual art and community projects.

His 2026 artist profile describes his main profession as sculpture and painting.

He continues working with found objects, ceramics and collaborative art.

Firehouse Art Collective also remains active.

Its website lists studio spaces and creative programs serving artists in California and Nevada.

Another part of his work involves Firehouse Films.

The organization describes this branch as a space for film, television and documentary productions.

These activities show where his professional attention remains focused.

His career is still rooted in making art and supporting the people who create it.

Interesting Facts About Tom Franco

• He is the middle of the three Franco brothers.
• Both his parents studied art at Stanford University.
• He graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2002.
• His first listed film appearance came in 1990.
• He helped establish Firehouse Art Collective in 2004.
• He uses many recycled and found materials.
• He worked with his brothers on The Disaster Artist.
• He has also taught students and supported community art projects.

Final Thought

Tom Franco built his own career.

He grew up in a family connected to entertainment, yet chose to spend much of his life creating sculptures and helping other artists find places to work.

His film appearances attract attention. His art tells the bigger story.

From a childhood interest in clay to running Firehouse Art Collective, he has kept following the creative work he enjoys.

And that remains his main focus in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Tom Franco?

Tom Franco is an American artist, sculptor and actor. He is known for Firehouse Art Collective and his appearance in The Disaster Artist.

2. How old is Tom Franco?

He is 46 years old as of November 2026. He was born on April 14, 1980.

3. Is Tom Franco related to James Franco?

Yes. James Franco is his older brother, while Dave Franco is his younger brother.

4. Who is Tom Franco’s wife?

His current wife is Iris Torres, a film producer. His first wife, Julia Lazar Franco, died in 2014.

5. What does Tom Franco do for a living?

He primarily works as a painter and sculptor. He also manages creative projects through Firehouse Art Collective and has film credits.

6. Does Tom Franco have children?

Yes. Public biographical accounts report that he and Iris Torres have one son.

7. Which movies has Tom Franco appeared in?

His credits include Basket Case 2, The Disaster Artist, Miracle Valley and Fractured, along with other smaller roles.

8. Where did Tom Franco study?

He studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz, graduating in 2002. He later took classes at California College of the Arts.