Thomas Ian Griffith was born in Hartford, Connecticut. His father was a college professor, his mother was a dance teacher. Griffith trained as an opera singer in New York City with Metropolitan Opera star Delia Rigal. He attended Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts (majoring in English literature and music.) While still in school, he was cast in the Broadway show "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". He continued to work on Broadway and in regional theater until moving to Los Angeles to star in his first feature film, The Karate Kid, Part III. Griffith also works as a screenwriter, with four produced feature films to his credit. He is married to actress Mary Page Keller and they have two sons.


Appeared in music video for Reba McEntire called, "What Do You Say", and later that same year starred with her in the movie Secret of Giving (1999) (TV). [1999] Has studied Tae Kwon Do since childhood; he's also a black belt in Kenpo Karate.