Tommy Bayiokos

Tommy Bayiokos is an actor, model, drummer and percussionist whose long list of credits include being a band member for his late friend, Grammy-nominated songstress Laura Branigan. He was born Athanasios Bayiokos to Panagiotis and Eleftheria Bayiokos on May 22, 1965 in Brooklyn, NY. His father owned the popular Sugar Bowl restaurant across the street from Brooklyn College for decades, and his mother was a former "Miss Greek Independence" beauty queen (passed 1/1/76). He graduated with a Bachelor Of Science degree in 1987 from Brooklyn College-City University of New York, where he was a member of the Brooklyn College Conservatory Jazz Ensemble and stage actor in BC's Walt Whitman Theatre. He also trained for eight years at the famed Drummers Collective School of Music in Manhattan and at the New York Acting School for Film & Television. His many music credits include playing drums for the prestigious Miss America pageant from 1998 to 2001 and performing as a percussionist with Branigan's band from 2000 to 2004 headlining in venues such as Meyeroff Symphony Hall. Other performers he's played with include legendary crooner Frankie Avalon, jazz pianist Lee Musiker and rocker Richie Ramone. Bayiokos' acting career blossomed after appearing as an Elvis Presley tribute artist in 1999 on New York City-based WPIX-TV's Morning News. He went on to appear on PIX Morning News another dozen times through 2006 including an episode as weather forecaster. Other credits include roles in the TV shows "American Odyssey," "Deadbeat," "The Next Best Thing," "Blue Bloods," "Zero Hour," "Love Monkey" and "CSI:Miami." Bayiokos has also held parts in films including "Blood Ties," "Five Minarets in New York," "Black Nativity," "The Taking of Pelham 123," "The Amazing Floydini," and "Heart & Soul." He has been a recurring cast member since 2014 of the Off-Broadway show "Murdered By The Mob" and has also been cast in commercials highlighted in a national promo as college football coach. His modeling credits include portraying a Secret Service agent in the world issue of "French Vogue," a musical play actor on a Las Vegas billboard for U.S. Sprint and being the face of Sweden-based Exuviance Men's Skin Care. Bayiokos is also an accomplished Black Belt martial artist. He was inducted into the "Martial Art Hall of Honors" in 2009 and awarded "Ambassador of Goodwill" in 2011 and 2014. His talents have caught the attention of the New York Times in 1998 with a front page photo and was later written up by other major media outlets, including the New York Post, Gossip Column "Page Six," People Magazine, The Guardian and the popular blog Gothamist. Show less «