In a world where uncertainty looms, Tom Ohmer stands as a testament to the power of faith and perseverance. We explore his incredible life story—from serving in the Army to his transformative journey of faith, which eventually led him to a successful acting career. As Tom discusses the highs and lows of pursuing his dream, he offers valuable advice for anyone hesitant to chase their calling. Get ready for an episode full of hope, with insights into Tom’s newfound niche in faith-based projects.
welcome everyone to the c show to all the dreamers. Dr. Chrysandra Brunson. An we have realized that so afraid to go after the dreams that jesus has called them to because they are afraid to fail and that is just plain wrong because if god has given us a dream and we’re not living it out we are wasting it and we do not want you to die with regret that’s why the calling we love to inspire empower and equip people to after god’s calling on their lives to reach the best kind of eternal legacy possible to have immediate impact on themselves and their families and we love to do this through avenues from custom tools seminars, even global confrences but especially through this radio program bringing on world renowned guests going after their God given dreams so that you can do the same today We are so honored to have with us. Tom, welcome to the show
TOM OHMER :
Yeah, thanks. Thanks for everybody out there.
CHRYSANDRA :
We’re so honored to have you Tom and you are coming to us from L. A. And Tom, tell us some of the leadership roles have held and are current
TOM OHMER :
Yeah, I’ve actually been an actor for over 40 years now. And I grew up in Indiana, small town in Indiana, and joined the Army right out of high school and spent three years in the Army. Then I went to college at Indiana University. and was in a fraternity, had a great time there, and they were filming a movie on campus that summer, and I got a little part as an extra, and that kind of inspired me to be an actor, so I moved out here to L.A., been here ever since.
CHRYSANDRA :
Wow! It was from being an extra, Tom, is how it got started?
CHRYSANDRA :
We love that. Well, we’re going to have to hear all those details, and especially about a current movie that has just come out and how we can all participate. Tom, can you just share from your childhood beginnings, where do you see God just dropping these seeds into your heart to now be a world-renowned actor? What was that journey like when you were a kid?
TOM OHMER :
Yeah, well, I grew up with a family of seven. There’s five kids and my parents. And actually, my mom was born in Bulgaria, and she grew up in Austria. And during World War II, she was interned by the Nazis, her family. And Patton’s Third Army came in and liberated them. She came to the United States through Ellis Island. I met my dad, who was in the Army. They were married 52 years, had five kids, 16 grandkids. So it was that type of family atmosphere. And I grew up Episcopalian, actually. Every Sunday, we’d all pile on the station wagon and go to church. And so I had that background as an Episcopalian. And it wasn’t until later on in life, like after I moved out here to where I kind of fell away from that a little bit and was kind of trying to do my own thing. And then through a series of events, I found a Bible based church, you know, non denominational evangelical church and made a huge difference. And then I got a really I’ve always known about God and I was known about the Lord and, you know, all the stories now, but I never had a personal relationship. until I started attending that type of church. And since then, I’ve found a local church I’m real active with and have a really great relationship with the Lord.
CHRYSANDRA :
That’s incredible, Tom, just your faith journey. And I love the emphasis that you were sharing that a Bible-based church, because It really does make a difference. And they’re they’re not all Bible based. So some good wisdom to put in our pockets.
CHRYSANDRA :
So this journey on becoming an actor, did you know from a kid that you wanted to be an actor or how did that happen?
TOM OHMER :
Yeah, not at all. Growing up, when I was in high school, there was three basic people in high school. There were the jocks, you know, the sport guys. And then there were the stoners, you know, the guys who did drugs. And then there was the grease monkeys, we called them, the guys who worked on cars all the time. That was me. I worked on cars all the time and I was really into that. And my dream was just to own my own gas station with work on cars. And and then when I joined the army, I kind of changed my thought and I decided to go to college. And then I still didn’t even in college. I didn’t really think about acting much until, like I said, I got that little part in that movie that was filming on campus. And and I just thought, wow, this looks pretty cool. I think I’ll give this a shot. And yeah.
CHRYSANDRA :
oh that is so well and Tom what were some of the beginning movies that you were in
TOM OHMER :
Yeah, when I first started out, I mean, it took me a while because when I moved out here, I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t have a job. I found a job working as a waiter. So there’s a lot. I mean, I had so many jobs over the years, you know, waiter, bartender, limo driver, all those things. And it’s real important for an actor to get a job working at night and it’s flexible. So yeah. It keeps your days free to audition. Starting out, I think my first speaking role was on a show called Dynasty with Joan Collins. And unless you’re a certain age, you won’t remember that. But it was really big in the 80s. It was like the hottest show.
TOM OHMER :
yeah so that was my first speaking role and uh and then you know things kind of uh you know progressed from there and and actually uh after about six years of uh doing all the odd jobs and everything i decided to get it uh to join the police department and i actually joined lapd and coincidentally my acting career took off because i started booking all the cop roles you know and it was easy for them because they would hire me as an actor but also as a tech advisor because i knew how to hold a gun and how to handcuff people and that sort of thing and and by the way you don’t hold the gun like this like they do in tv shows please please don’t do that anymore you know so you know i try to help them uh figure out the proper police techniques and so forth but uh Yeah, and then the acting took off and I took an early retirement from the police department and been doing the acting ever since. And it’s been peaks and valleys. It’s been some great years and some really lean years. So it’s been a roller coaster ride.
CHRYSANDRA :
Right. Well, they call L.A. the city of dreams. And we know that following after what God’s called us to, there are lots of highs and lows. And just speaking to that, Tom, how have you been able to persevere through those those valley seasons and just knowing that God has a mountaintop in store, but just to be able to keep on moving forward without turning around?
TOM OHMER :
Yeah, one of my favorite scriptures that’s really helped me through is Philippians 4, 12 and 13, which is, I know what it is to be in need. I know what it is to have plenty. I’ve learned the secret of being content. in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want, I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. So that kind of really has gotten me through the peaks and the valleys.
CHRYSANDRA :
That is huge. Is there, Tom, one scenario that you can think of that you just didn’t know how you were going to get out of it?
TOM OHMER :
Oh, yeah. I mean, there’s been so many times where I’ve questioned whether or not my calling was to be an actor, especially in the lean times or, you know, I auditioned for a really good role and I didn’t get it. And, you know, audition after audition. I’m thinking, Lord, you know, If this is what you put on my heart, if this is what you want me to do, why is it so difficult to make a living at it, you know? And so that was a struggle. You know, I struggled with that for a lot of times, you know, because you don’t know. Sometimes you second guess what your calling is. you know this is my dream this is my dream okay is it my dream or is it your dream lord for me to do and and you know when you finally figure that out i think that’s what uh can really help we like to say god wings along the way tom of you being encouraged to keep taking a next step forward Yeah, I think, you know, just when I feel like I’m the most discouraged, then all of a sudden I book something really cool. And lately, the past few projects I’ve been doing have been faith-based and family-friendly. And I think I finally found my niche with that. You know, I’ve been doing a lot of the faith-based, family-friendly, the kind of movies that I’m really proud of, you know. Yes. that i can have my family see and and you know i can talk about and be really you know really proud and so i think that’s that is finally i got to that point where i can you know do those kinds of projects which i’m really right tom will you mention some of the those films for us yeah sure the latest one it’s out in the theaters right now it’s called sarah’s oil yeah it’s doing really well it’s got like a 98 on rotten tomatoes and cinema score gave it an a plus and uh movie guide has written a really good yeah so it’s it’s doing really well and and the ticket sales keep going up word of mouth goes out so it’s doing really well i’m real real happy with that one That was a lot of fun. And then a couple of years ago, I did a movie called Nefarious, which is a faith-based kind of psychological thriller. And that’s on Amazon Prime, and that’s doing really well still. And I got two movies in the can that we finished. They’re in post-production right now. And both of them are family-friendly, faith-based films. So I’m really enjoying them. do we know the names of t I just finished fact. I j week from shooting in New and that’s a modern day w Christmas. And then the ot that I produced and act called Adam’s fire and tha that should be released ne
CHRYSANDRA :
Tom, we’re just so we’re so honored to have you on and for you to continually just say yes. in the lines and lows of God’s calling. We do need to take a short break, but we have Tom Omar on with us, and we cannot wait for all the wisdom he has to start. He mentioned briefly Sarah’s Oil, which we are going to hear more details on that is released in theaters right now, and we can be part of it. Stay tuned. Hi guys, this is Chrysandra Brunson, host of To All The Dreamers. I am so happy to introduce personal training, nutritional guidance, and behavioral change coaching. Healthy, happy, and heavenly for your wellness, spirit, soul, and body. Contact Mimi Kroger at healthyhappyandheavenly.com.
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CHRYSANDRA :
We are back. Thank you for listening to all the Dreamers radio show. I’m your host, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson. It’s such an honor to be here with the one and only Tom Omar. Tom, we’re so honored to have you and you really are a world renowned actor and just sharing and beginning of our show that. It wasn’t something that you grew up dreaming about of becoming an actor, but that you continually just said yes to the next step from serving our country, which we just really appreciate you and honor you for your service. And then continuing into college and then stumbled into being an extra in a movie. And the Lord would lay this out. Tom, looking back on all of that, was there, like, what was the thread that you feel like Holy Spirit was whispering to you, especially just serving? You’ve served our country in various forms.
TOM OHMER :
Yeah, I just I think, you know, you know, there’s the certain gifts that the Holy Spirit gives you. And I think serving is has been one of mine. And and that was from an early age, seeing my dad. My dad was in the army and and and my parents are both, you know, very giving, loving people. And so I kind of saw that growing up. And then, you know, serving in the Army and then also wanting to serve on the police department, too. That was that felt like a calling for me. In fact, on the side of our police cars, it said to serve and protect. You know, that’s always been kind of like a gene, so to speak, you know, that I have. And and then also like I like mentoring, too. I actually there’s a organization called the Navy SEAL Foundation, and I mentor Navy SEALs who are getting out of the service and they want to be an actor. So I’ve been mentoring a couple of those guys. And one guy in particular is doing really, really well. He’s he’s booking all kinds of stuff and a really good actor. His name’s Chris Alvarez. and he’s been on the terminal list and the terminal list dark wolf he was he just got back from uh um hungary shooting out there for a month and so he’s doing really well so you know i kind of like giving back that way also and then also growing up in indiana uh what i go back about once a year because i still have a lot of family back there And I always go to my high school. They have a really big theater and TV department. So I always go back and talk to the classes about Hollywood and about, you know, being an actor out there and kind of… give them a little perspective, because I think a lot of times, especially the younger kids kind of have a skewed perception. You know, they think that, you know, hey, I did this play and I did this locally and now I’m going to go to Hollywood and, you know, and and, you know, And, you know, that may happen, but, you know, it’s not usually the case. I mean, the statistics are really overwhelming on the, you know, Screen Actors Guild has a 98% unemployment rate, you know, so there’s not.
CHRYSANDRA :
I didn’t know that.
TOM OHMER :
yeah on any given day there’s less than two percent of the screen actors guild members working and of that two percent less than half of them make a living at it you know they have to have some other supplemental income so you know the odds are really against you uh making a living at it but um if you keep plugging away and uh you know you never know
CHRYSANDRA :
Right, right. Well, we’re so grateful that you have been able to continue to say yes and have given back in such a profound way, Tom. It’s just priceless. Can you just share, you know, what things were surprising? You shared a couple of things just recently, but going into Hollywood and knowing that you are, you were there to be a light and you are there to be a light. What has that looked like? And maybe one of the, one of the most surreal circumstances that you have found yourself in. So you were meant to penetrate culture for such a time as this.
TOM OHMER :
Yeah, I thought I had such a misconception of what Hollywood was like. I thought it was like the business world where, let’s say you work for a computer company and you’re in computer sales and you go to work and you’re making good sales and then you get promoted because you did such good sales. Now you’re the sales manager and you do a really good job as sales manager. So now you’re the regional manager and you do great with that and you work really hard. Now you’re the district manager. You know, I thought… I thought that’s what it was like in Hollywood. You do one show, you did really good. Oh, you did great on that show. Let’s have you on this show. Let’s have you on this show. In reality, you work and it can be a really good, a really good job. It can be a really good movie. It can be an Academy Award winning movie. But when that movie’s over, you’re unemployed again. There’s no guarantees at all. In fact, I heard this years ago, and I love this. My favorite saying is, the only thing definite about Hollywood is the uncertainty. And it’s just it’s so true because, you know, even A-list actors, after they do a great movie or whatever, you know, they may have a couple of bombs. And now they’re, you know, I mean, I can think of several actors that you normally see all the time. You haven’t seen them in a while because the last couple of movies have been bombs and they’re out of work, you know. Yeah. It’s very fickle and it’s very, I think networking has been probably the best thing I’ve done is getting in with different groups, like-minded people. I’m in one group called VME, which is Veterans in Media and Entertainment. And it’s a group of about 6,000 of us that live out here in LA. We’re either actors, directors, writers, producers, grips, gaffers. As long as you’re in the entertainment industry, and you’re a veteran, you can be in the organization. So there’s a lot of networking going on there. And then past projects, like this one I just did in New Mexico, the director I worked with on Nefarious. So, you know, there’s, you make connections and, you know, you say, oh, what are you working on next? Oh, I got this, I got that. So I found that networking is a huge, huge benefit to finding more work.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. Well, we’re grateful, Tom, that you have had the ability to embrace the uncertainty. And I think that that kind of culture is what Jesus wants for all of us to embrace, knowing that nothing really is certain but him himself. Right, right. Have you been able to feel peaceful and steady in the midst of seemingly chaotic circumstances?
TOM OHMER :
Yeah. Yeah, it all comes back to my faith. And, you know, I’ve had some real rough years. You know, I’ve been divorced, which was really tough. And I think I’ve been single now since 2018, and I’ve never been more at peace than I am right now. And I think the reason for that is that I have such a close relationship with the Lord right now. I find it great church. I’m really involved with my church. I lead a life group on Monday nights. Um, I’m, we have a singles ministry at our, at our church. I’m involved with that. And, and it’s just a really solid Bible teaching, uh, great worship band, great community. And, uh, and I love it. And that’s what’s, that’s, what’s given me the peace. And, and I tell my friends, I’ve never been more at peace than I am right now. So it’s been great. Yeah. Yeah.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, I think, Tom, we all want to come visit you at the church, too. Yeah. And we want to surround these upcoming projects and these movies and to be part of it. We don’t know where time goes. We’re coming up towards the end of our show. But we have a couple of things that we want to hear from you about. That in particular is about this newest movie about Sarah’s oil. And then also, yeah. There’s listeners tuning in right now, and they’re afraid to go after what God has called them to. What would be your words of wisdom of helping them take action today, this very minute? And then we want to hear about Sarah’s oil.
TOM OHMER :
Yeah, I had a pastor once that told me a little story and it’s really had a profound effect on my life. And I’ve told it to other people. It’s real powerful and it’s real quick. I told him I was kind of a new person. A newly minted Christian is starting to get close to the Lord, reading the Bible and that sort. And I said, Pastor, you know, I view my life like this pie and I have a slice for my career. I have a slice for my family. I have a slice for entertainment and I have a slice for God. And I want to know how to make that slice for God bigger. And he said, you’re thinking about it all wrong. He said, think about, you know, slice that pie any way you want, but make God the filling. That way he is in every single slice of your life. And I just thought that was really profound and really kind of cool. So, That’s the way, you know, everything I do, I always put God first. And, you know, I pray about things when I have to make a decision. You know, I pray about it. And it’s amazing, you know, the answers you get. You know, sometimes it’s no. Sometimes it’s yes, but wait, you know. And then other times it’s, okay, let’s go for it, you know. that are tuning in.
CHRYSANDRA :
But able to see this video on just see the zeal of the and that you really are w with God in your calling. And we, I love that analogy. And I’ve never heard that before. And I think we’ll all keep that story in our pocket and that you gave us that wisdom. Tom, will you just share with us about this upcoming movie? Well, this movie that is released in theaters and about Sarah’s oil, what it’s about and why we all need to go see it this weekend.
TOM OHMER :
Yeah, it’s it’s a faith based family friendly. In fact, it’s rated PG. It’s based on a true story about a little girl named Sarah Rector. It’s based in 1912, Oklahoma. True story. Little black girl gets 160 acres given to her by the government. They thought it was worthless dust, ends up being the richest oil strike in Oklahoma history. And she ends up being the wealthiest black girl in history of the United States, ended up making millions and millions of dollars. So it’s her story. And it’s and Zach Levi is the lead in it. He does a fantastic job. Everybody. involved with it were just really really cool people and it’s just one of those movies when you walk out everybody’s smiling and laughing it’s a real feel good and the cool thing it’s a true story and it’s in theaters everywhere it’s like 2400 screens all over the country so
CHRYSANDRA :
That is incredible. And T play?
TOM OHMER :
I play Judge Leahy, I challenge everyone go y for you and your family,
CHRYSANDRA :
And those ratings that you shared earlier, Tom, are just out of this world spectacular. And so thank you for being able to tell us all about this movie. And Tom, how can everyone get in touch with you as well to be able to support this upcoming movement and upcoming movies?
TOM OHMER :
Yeah, I’m on social media. It’s Tom Omer. It’s O-H-M-E-R. So it’s and I think I’m the only Tom Omer that’s an actor out there. So so if you just go to Tom Omer on Facebook or Instagram, I’m on both of those and we can keep in touch and you can follow along the show. the projects. But yeah, it’d be great if everybody got there and supported Sarah’s Oil because we need to let the industry know that these are the types of movies that America wants, you know, and it’s not, it’s, you know, there’s so much garbage that’s out there that Hollywood’s putting out that we need to support these family-friendly, faith-based movies. So that’d be great if everybody went out and saw it and take your family because it’s real, it’s a real fun movie.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. Well, thank you so much, Tom, for being Jesus’s huge dreamer. We challenge everyone, what would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? That answer to that question is what God’s put on your heart to do for this season. Till next time, dreamers, keep dreaming big.
