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Tom Maden
Tom2-0000
Information
Full name

Thomas Maden

Resides

Los Angeles, California

Occupation

Actor, Model

Endurance 3: Hawaii, 5th place
Hometown

Coppell, Texas

Age

15

Team

Brown Team

Partner

Vanetta Smith

Arrived

The Arrival

Left

Balance Ball

Thomas "Tom" Maden is a former contestant of Endurance 3: Hawaii. He competed alongside his partner, Vanetta Smith as the Brown Team.

About[]

Tom was born in Coppell, Texas. His father was an ordained minister.[1]

Endurance[]

Tae kwon do has taught Tom how to smash the competition, but he says he's adaptable, charismatic and can get along with anyone — "especially the ladies." He loves history and old music and movies, and hopes his reading of political books will help him with strategy.

—DiscoveryKids.com bio

At fifteen years old, Tom was one of twenty new teens selected to be a part of the third season of Endurance.

Tom was initially eliminated in the Right to Stay challenge. However, he returned in "Headstrong", along with the other five eliminated players, to play in the second chance mission. Tom opted to use a triangle stance with his feet spread apart, while his opponents all slightly crouched down. Tom outlasted everyone and won the challenge. He selected Vanetta, the girl who endured the longest, to be his teammate as the Brown Team.

Throughout the season they were a fairly weak team, but were not targets due to their friendships with the other teams. Shortly after returning, he and Kareem seemed to have discussed an alliance with each other. In the first Endurance mission, Ring of Fire, they were the first team eliminated. In Bagging on You, they successfully hit their platform once and eliminated the Purple Team, but lost on the final throw when Yellow was the only one to hit the platform. They avoided being one of the first teams sent to the Temple of Fate thanks to their friendship with Yellow.

In Squaring Off, they were targeted along with Yellow and Green since the Orange-Gray-Red-Purple alliance were working together. This changed for a time after Purple let Yellow have a turn and thus Yellow, Green and Brown worked to put triangles on the other teams. At one point though, Vanetta wanted to have Orange have a turn. Tom was hesitant but ultimately went through with it. This resulted in Yellow and Green being eliminated from the challenge just before Brown (Orange ultimately won the mission). Tom said in a confessional that he regretted this decision as it meant his team's two main allies were going to temple (Green ultimately got eliminated).

In Out on a Limb, Tom was the second player to let go of the rope, sending his partner into the water after 11 minutes. The Brown Team was partnered with Orange and Red for Bamboo Jungle. It was a decision that didn't sit well with Tom because he felt betrayed that Yellow had chosen strategy over friendship. He told Yellow that they were backstabbing him though Monroe privately noted that he thought Brown was the weakest team there. The Yellow-Grey-Purple super team easily wins the superteam mission after Vanetta gets stuck in the challenge. Both Tom and Demian blame her for their superteam's lost. This meant that two teams from Orange-Brown-Red super team would be going to temple. Although Yellow wanted to send Orange, they are eventually persuaded by Grey and Purple to send Brown against Red. At the temple, Brown wins two rounds in a row and earns the right to return.

The next day they find out that Red has left their piece to Purple. Tom is disappointed because he thought Kareem would have left him their piece. They lost Pipeline that day. Before playing I'm Pulling for You, Tom and Demian strategize about knocking Grey and Purple from the top spot. Unfortunately, both Brown and Orange lost the mission as Gray won again. Nicole also informed Chris of the secret alliance to the annoyance of Tom, Vanetta and Demian.

The following morning, Vanetta is evacuated from the island to the nearest hospital because she injures her knee. This leaves Tom with two options: he can either take himself — and thus, the Brown team — out of the competition, or he can continue to compete as a one-man team. Tom gallantly chooses to stay in honor of his fallen teammate, and decides that the Brown team will continue on in Endurance: Hawaii, albeit at a great disadvantage. The challenge begins, and initially, Tom keeps up with the rest of the pack, until he hits his first obstacle, which forces him to drop his ball and start again. Tom recovers from his early falter and reaches his chute with a ball balanced, only to be foiled again... just as he is putting the ball into the chute, it bounces out! Purple wins the mission. He tries to talk purple out of sending him to temple since he isn't much of a threat but he is ultimately still sent there with Yellow.

At the Temple of Fate, Tom faces the Yellow Team alone. Yellow wins two rounds in a row, eliminating the Brown Team. He left Brown's Perseverance piece with Yellow, putting them back on the board after previously losing all their pieces to Gray.

Portrayal & Relationships[]

Tom was portrayed as a loyal, friendly competitor, who is also determined to win. He perseveres frequently, especially when Vanetta left the game because of injury.

Quotes[]

  • "My strategy for winning Endurance is to make friends with all the guys and flirt with all the ladies."
  • "I can't believe I said Orange... I should've said Yellow! I mean, we had this in the bag! Now Green ...and Yellow are going and that's our only allies. This is just... wonderful!" (confessional)
  • "Why are you disowning your only friend?"
  • "Could you please take this knife off my back?"
  • "I'm going by myself as a one-man team."

Post Endurance[]

Tom is pursuing an acting career, and has done some modeling. He is currently signed to Kim Dawson Talent.[2]

Tom has had TV guest appearances on 7th Heaven, According to Jim, Parenthood, and Make It or Break It. He's also starred in a short called "A Christmas Story In Dallas", and appeared in the films Reversion, Fall of Hyperion, The Nanny Express, Breaking the Press, Spilt Milk, and the upcoming General Education.

He had a recurring role on the tv show "Scream" (2015)

Filmogra​phy

Trivia[]

  • Only contestant to be a one-man team.

Gallery[]

External Links[]

References[]

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