Character Overview

A weather-beaten, alcoholic, chain-smoking roughneck who is up to his eyeballs in debt and dealing with frequently aggravating family issues. He knows the business inside and out and knows how to handle a sticky situation.

Biography

Tommy Norris is a crisis executive (basically a fixer) at a fictional oil company M-Tex Oil. In the opening scenes of the series, he is kidnapped by a Mexican cartel and forced to deal with a situation where an oil tanker has collided with one of the cartel's private planes. Norris is a weather-beaten, alcoholic, chain-smoking roughneck who is up to his eyeballs in debt and dealing with frequently aggravating family issues.

Personality

Tommy is shown to be a ruthless leader, who is not afraid to get his hands dirty. Notwithstanding this, he has a soft spot for his family and has been shown to do anything he can to keep them safe. He's pragmatic, direct, and has no patience for bureaucracy or political correctness.

Memorable Quotes

Key Relationships

• Angela Norris (ex-wife)
• Ainsley Norris (daughter)
• Cooper Norris (son)
• Monty Miller (boss)
• Dale Bradley (roommate)

Character Analysis

Tommy Norris represents a crucial element in Taylor Sheridan's exploration of the modern American oil industry. Through Billy Bob Thornton's nuanced performance, the character embodies the complexities and contradictions inherent in this high-stakes world.

The character's role as crisis manager & vp of operations at m-tex oil provides insight into the various layers of the oil business, from the personal relationships that drive decision-making to the broader economic and environmental implications of the industry.

Behind the Scenes

• Billy Bob Thornton is the Oscar-winning writer of "Sling Blade"
• The character is based on real landmen working in the Permian Basin
• Tommy's negotiation tactics are based on actual oil industry practices

Season 1 Appearances

Tommy Norris appears as a main character throughout the series, playing a vital role in the unfolding drama of the Texas oil industry.