Tom is known for appearing on AMC’s The Walking Dead as Paul “Jesus” Rovia, and BBC’s Waterloo Road as Brett Aspinall. He portrayed Malcolm Bright on the American television series Prodigal Son from 2019 to 2021. Payne also currently has a recurring role in Law & Order: Organized Crime.

He first appeared in Waterloo Road for the BBC, playing sixth former Brett Aspinall. Despite being 24 at the time, Payne portrayed a 17-year-old character. He remained in the series until the end of the following season in March 2008. It was revealed afterwards that he would not be returning for the new season. Between season 1 and 2 he filmed Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and Skins and was named one of Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow 2007.

After leaving Waterloo Road Payne played George Best in Best: His Mother’s Son, a BBC2 film about the legendary footballer. In the same year he appeared in Marple: They Do It With Mirrors and Wuthering Heights for ITV.

On 8 March 2010, it was announced that Tom had joined the cast of Luck a new pilot for HBO directed by Michael Mann, written by David Milch, starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte. He played the role of a Cajun jockey.

In 2012, he was cast in the title role of The Physician (based on the book of the same name) alongside Stellan Skarsgård and Ben Kingsley.

His career defining role came when he was cast with a recurring role in Season 6 of The Walking Dead, as Paul “Jesus” Rovia, and promoted to series regular for season 7.  He played the character until midway through season 9.

In 2019, Payne was cast in the lead role as a serial killer’s son in the Fox police procedural series Prodigal Son