Tom Achilles is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actor. His eclectic style blends elements of surrealism, stream of consciousness, and wordplay to satirize the absurdities of modern life. This approach is showcased in his debut comedy album, Guillotine, available for streaming on all platforms. Tom’s sense of humor is also highlighted in Zeitgeist Meetup, a book of gag cartoons he co-authored with New Yorker cartoonist Pat Achilles. You can hear more from him on Tom & Will Start A Podcast, where he and fellow comedian Will Purpura discuss outlandish startup ideas.
Achilles has also been involved in many projects across film and video. His short film Gone recently won “Best Experimental Short” at the AltFF Alternative Film Festival. In 2023, his digital comedy sketch “America’s Got Tom” was profiled by Vulture in their “Best Comedy Shorts” segment. Additionally, his comedy show Ye Ol’ Triple Crown was highlighted in a video from VICE about surviving on a $0 budget for a full week in NYC.
Tom’s writing and voice acting can also be seen in a variety of publications. Most recently, he wrote and voiced a character for the new Troma Entertainment video game Poultrygeist. Additionally, his humor pieces have been featured in McSweeney’s, Points in Case, and The Weekly Humorist.
Achilles has performed original work at popular NYC establishments such as Joe’s Pub, Littlefield, Union Hall, and The Slipper Room. He’s also been an official selection of Solocom, The Very Normal Festival, 5th Borough Comedy Festival, and Philly Fringe’s Cannonball Festival.
Originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Tom attended American University in Washington, DC, where he earned a degree in Communications. He is a Scorpio.