Dr. Thomas Apostle is an American physician and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine best known as the husband of acclaimed television actress Sharon Lawrence.
He built a career spanning more than three decades at some of California’s most respected medical institutions, specializing in Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Psychiatry.
Who is Tom Apostle?
Dr. Thomas Apostle, widely known as Tom Apostle, is a distinguished American medical professional based in Los Angeles, California.
His dual specialization in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation alongside Psychiatry places him in a rare category of practitioners equipped to treat both the physical and psychological dimensions of patient care.
He currently serves as an attending physician at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Spine Center and the Pain Center in Los Angeles.
His work there focuses on spinal disorders, physical therapy, and rehabilitation, drawing patients who require integrated, long-term care.
Tom is also an active member of the North American Spine Society and the Spine Intervention Society. These memberships reflect his commitment to staying current with the latest advances in spine medicine and pain management.
Beyond medicine, Tom is perhaps most widely recognized in entertainment circles as the husband of Sharon Lawrence, who starred as Sylvia Costas on the long-running ABC drama NYPD Blue.
The couple married in 2002 and have built a family together in Los Angeles over more than two decades.
Early Life of Tom Apostle
Tom Apostle grew up in California, born in 1962 to James Apostle and Gerri Apostle. His father, James, owned the Balbirnie Apostle Mortuary located in Muskegon, Michigan, giving the family roots on both coasts.
From a young age, Tom showed a sense of community responsibility. As a child, he sold newspapers for the Old Newsies, a charitable effort that raised funds for less fortunate children.
That early tradition stayed with the Apostle family through the years.
His upbringing in a business-oriented household, combined with an early drive to serve others, laid the foundation for a career dedicated to patient care.
Tom Apostle Age / Birthday
Tom Apostle was born in 1962, which makes him 64 years old as of 2026. His exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed, so a precise birthday remains unknown.
His long career timeline, including his 1980 high school graduation and his medical degree in 1990, is consistent with a birth year of 1962.
By any measure, he brings more than three decades of lived professional experience to his current role.
Tom Apostle Ethnicity and Nationality
Tom Apostle is American by nationality, born and raised in the United States. His ethnic background is White, as confirmed across multiple biographical sources covering his life and career.
His family name, Apostle, carries roots in the broader tradition of American immigrant communities, though his immediate family history is rooted in the Midwest and California.
Apostle practices his faith as a Christian.
Tom Apostle Height and Weight
Tom Apostle stands 5 feet 8 inches tall, which is approximately 173 centimeters or 1.73 meters. His weight is reported at around 73 kilograms, equivalent to roughly 160 pounds.
He has brown eyes and grey hair, giving him the distinguished appearance often associated with experienced physicians. His overall build is average and appropriate for his height and age.
He maintains a professional physical presence that suits his long career in clinical practice.
Tom Apostle Education
Tom completed his high school education in 1980 at Mona Shores High School in Muskegon, Michigan. From there, he pursued his undergraduate studies and went on to earn his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Michigan State University.
Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine is one of the most respected programs of its kind in the United States.
Graduating in 1990, Tom emerged with both the clinical foundations and the osteopathic philosophy that would define his approach to patient care.
He later completed two separate residencies: one in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at USC Medical Center, and another in Psychiatry at UCLA.
This dual residency training is uncommon and reflects a rigorous commitment to multi-disciplinary medicine.
Tom Apostle Career
Tom Apostle’s medical career spans well over three decades of continuous clinical practice.
He launched that career immediately after completing his medical degree and has worked his way up through some of the most respected institutions in American healthcare.
His work at the intersection of physical rehabilitation and psychiatry has made him a sought-after specialist for complex cases involving chronic pain and spinal conditions.
Early Career and Residency (1990–1995)
After earning his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Michigan State University in 1990, Tom began his clinical training at Framingham Union Hospital in 1991.
That early posting gave him hands-on experience in a hospital setting before he transitioned into specialized residency programs.
He then completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at USC Medical Center in Los Angeles. This was followed by a separate residency in Psychiatry at UCLA, one of the country’s leading academic medical institutions.
Together, these two residencies gave Tom a rare combination of skills that very few physicians develop.
By the mid-1990s, Tom had completed his formal training and was ready to enter the workforce as a fully qualified specialist. His dual-track expertise became a defining feature of his professional identity.
Practice at Cedars-Sinai (1995–Present)
Tom joined Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and went on to build one of the most sustained careers in spine medicine within that institution.
He currently practices at the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center and the Pain Center, where his specializations in physical therapy, rehabilitation, and psychiatry meet the complex needs of patients dealing with long-term spinal conditions.
Cedars-Sinai is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the United States, and Tom’s place within its spine division places him among a highly selective group of specialists.
His work there covers everything from pain management to functional rehabilitation for patients with serious back and spine conditions.
Over his decades at Cedars-Sinai, Tom has treated a wide range of cases and contributed to the institutional knowledge base of one of America’s leading spine programs.
His longevity at a single institution of this caliber speaks to the quality and consistency of his work.
Professional Memberships and Wider Contributions
Tom holds active membership in both the North American Spine Society and the Spine Intervention Society. These organizations connect spine specialists across the country and set the standard for best practices in the field.
Membership in these societies requires ongoing education, participation in conferences, and adherence to evolving clinical guidelines.
Tom’s involvement reflects a physician who treats his specialty as a lifelong pursuit rather than a static credential.
His combined membership across physical medicine, rehabilitation, and spine-focused organizations shows the breadth of his professional engagement. Few physicians maintain active standing across all three areas simultaneously.
Tom Apostle Wife
Tom Apostle married actress Sharon Lawrence on May 31, 2002, at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Los Angeles, California.
The ceremony at that specific church carries a notable footnote: Sharon’s character Sylvia Costas had married Detective Andy Sipowicz at the same church in an episode of NYPD Blue, the show that made her famous.
Sharon Lawrence is an accomplished American actress born on June 29, 1961, in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is best known for playing Sylvia Costas on the ABC drama NYPD Blue, a role she held from 1993 to 1999.
That performance earned her three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Beyond NYPD Blue, Sharon appeared in Desperate Housewives, Boston Legal, Monk, Drop Dead Diva, and Rizzoli and Isles, among many other television projects.
She started her entertainment career on Broadway in 1987 and studied journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before pivoting to acting full-time.
Tom and Sharon have kept their personal life largely private throughout their marriage. The couple has remained together for more than two decades, a lasting partnership both publicly and at home.
Tom Apostle Children
Tom Apostle and Sharon Lawrence have two children together, a daughter and a son, whom they raised in Los Angeles.
The couple reportedly chose adoption to build their family after Sharon faced challenges with infertility, a decision they have both spoken about with warmth and openness.
Their daughter, Lia, reportedly joined the family in 2005 after the couple adopted her from China. Three years later, in 2008, they welcomed a son, Jack, through domestic adoption in the United States.
Both children grew up in the Apostle-Lawrence household in Los Angeles, raised by a physician father and a successful actress mother.
Tom and Sharon have kept detailed information about their children’s lives away from public attention, consistent with their overall approach to personal privacy.
Tom Apostle Net Worth
Tom Apostle’s estimated net worth is $8 million as of 2026. His primary income comes from his career as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, with over three decades of practice at a top-tier institution like Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Physicians specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, particularly those working within elite hospital systems in Los Angeles, command salaries well above national averages.
Tom’s dual expertise in Psychiatry adds further value to his clinical profile and earning potential.
His wife Sharon Lawrence also contributes to their household through her acting career. Sharon’s estimated net worth is $3 million, built primarily through decades of television work across major network productions.
Overall, Tom’s wealth reflects a long and stable medical career at one of the most respected healthcare institutions in the United States, compounded by the financial contributions of a working actress spouse with a track record spanning more than three decades.
Tom Apostle Social Media
Tom Apostle does not maintain a public presence on social media platforms.
He has kept his personal and professional life away from Instagram, Twitter/X, and other networks, consistent with the privacy-first approach both he and Sharon Lawrence have maintained throughout their marriage.
Sharon Lawrence does engage publicly in her professional capacity through various media appearances, but Tom himself remains off social media as of 2026.
Summary
Tom Apostle is an American Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine whose 35-year career at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center places him among the country’s more experienced spine and rehabilitation specialists.
His marriage to actress Sharon Lawrence since 2002 and their family life in Los Angeles represent a private but enduring partnership between medicine and entertainment.
