Jay Thomas
Jay Thomas | |
---|---|
![]() Thomas at the 1992Emmy Awards | |
Born | Jon Thomas Terrell July 12, 1948 Kermit, Texas,U.S. |
Died | August 24, 2017 | (aged 69)
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1979–2017 |
Spouse |
Sally Michelson (m.1987) |
Children | 3, includingJ. T. Harding |
Jay Thomas(bornJon Thomas Terrell;[1]July 12, 1948 – August 24, 2017) was an American actor, comedian, and radio personality. He was heard in New York from 1976–1979 ontop-40station99X,and later onrhythmic CHRstation92KTU,and in Los Angeles beginning in 1986 onKPWR"Power 106", where he hosted the station's top-rated morning show until 1993. His notable television work included his co-starring role as Remo DaVinci onMork & Mindy(1979–1981), the recurring role of Eddie LeBec, aBoston Bruinsgoalieon the downside of his career, onCheers(1987–1989), the lead character of newspaper columnist Jack Stein onLove & War(1992–1995), and a repeat guest role as Jerry Gold, a talk-show host who becomes both an antagonist and love interest of the title character onMurphy Brown.He won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Seriesin 1990 and 1991 for portraying Gold.
In 1997, he starred in the television filmKilling Mr. Griffin,based onthe eponymous novel.In films, he co-starred inMr. Holland's Opus(1995) as a high-school coach with a flair for theatrics, and portrayed theEaster BunnyinThe Santa Clause 2(2002) andThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause(2006).
He was also an annual guest on theLate Show with David Lettermanduring the Christmas season, where he told a story about how he metClayton Moore,who portrayed the title character onThe Lone Ranger.[2]Beginning in 2005, he hostedThe Jay Thomas ShowonSiriusXM Satellite Radiochannel 94 comedy greats Monday through Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings on Howard 101.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Thomas was born inKermit, Texas,to Katharine (néeGuzzino) and Timothy Harry Terrell.[4]He was raised in hisItalian-Americanmother'sCatholicreligion; his father wasProtestant.[5]Thomas was raised inNew Orleans,[6]where he attended and graduated fromJesuit High School.[7]He went on to attend and graduate fromJacksonville University.[8]Thomas was the quarterback on his high-school football team and also quarterbacked in college, a skill he later used onThe Late Show with David Letterman.
Letterman appearances
[edit]Thomas made annual Christmas appearances onDavid Letterman'sCBSlate night show, beginning in December 1998. Letterman and one of his other guests that evening, then-New York JetsquarterbackVinny Testaverde,took turns throwing footballs trying to knock a largemeatballoff the top of aChristmas treeat the other end of the stage. As the two took turns futilely attempting to knock off the meatball, Thomas came back out to join in the festivities, and promptly knocked the meatball from the tree.[9]
Beginning on a subsequent visit to Letterman's show, Thomas told a story about when he was a youngdisc jockey(around 1972) atWAYS610 AMinCharlotte, North Carolina.[10]Thomas had been making a promotional appearance at a localDodgedealership, which had also booked a personal appearance by actorClayton Moore,best known asthe Lone Rangeron television and in films; Moore appeared at the event dressed in his Lone Ranger costume.[9]
According to Thomas, he and his colleague Mike Martin, both clad in the hip fashion of the day (including tight jeans, tie-dyed shirts and their hair, which Martin wore long while Thomas himself sported what he called a "White Man's Afro" ), had secretly gotten "herbed up" (smoked marijuana) several times throughout the day behind a dumpster. After the broadcast had ended and the crowd had left, while packing up their equipment, Thomas and Martin discovered that Moore was still there, as the car that was supposed to drive him back to his hotel never arrived; Thomas then offered Moore a ride in his own car, an old, decrepitVolvo,which Moore accepted.
While stuck in traffic, with Moore sitting quietly in the back seat, an impatient, middle-aged man backed his full-sizedBuickinto the front end of Thomas's compact Volvo, broke a headlight, and then drove off. An angry Thomas chased the Buick down Morehead Street weaving through heavy traffic and forgetting all about Moore still sitting quietly in his back seat. Thomas finally caught up to the man, blocked his Buick with the Volvo, and confronted him about the broken headlight. The indignant driver denied all; when Thomas threatened to call police, the man exclaimed, "Who do you think they'll believe? Me, or you twohippie freaks?"At that moment, Moore, still in costume as the Lone Ranger, stepped out of the Volvo, approached the man and said" They'll believeme,citizen! "The man, incredulous, exclaimed" I didn't know it was you! "[11]
For every year thereafter except 2013, Thomas appeared to repeat the Lone Ranger story, which Letterman called, "The best talk show story, ever", and once again attempt what Letterman would refer to as the "Late ShowQuarterback Challenge ". For his final appearance in December 2014, Thomas was again successful in knocking the meatball off the top of the tree. Thomas missed the 2013Late ShowChristmas episode due to throat surgery;John McEnroetook his place and told the Lone Ranger story, then tried, unsuccessfully, to knock the meatball off the tree by hitting tennis balls at it.[9]
Personal life
[edit]Thomas fatheredJ. T. Hardingin an out-of-wedlock relationship, and the child was adopted by another family in Michigan. Thomas and his son spoke about their reunion on theDr. Phil Show.Harding was the lead singer of the band JTX and is a country-music songwriter.[12]
Thomas married Sally Michelson in 1987. They had two sons, Samuel and Jacob.[13]
Death
[edit]Jay Thomas died ofthroat canceron August 24, 2017, surrounded by his family[14]inSanta Barbara, California,at the age of 69.[15]
Filmography
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1979–1981 | Mork & Mindy | Remo DaVinci | 20 episodes[1] |
1981 | The Love Boat | Paul Harris | Episode: "First Voyage, Last Voyage" |
1984 | Master of the Game | Levy | Television miniseries |
1984 | C.H.U.D. | Cop in diner | |
1985 | Spenser: For Hire | Tony Broz | Episode: "Discord in a Minor" |
1985 | The Gig | Rick Valentine | |
1986 | Legal Eagles | Waiter | |
1986 | The Park Is Mine | TV Reporter | |
1987 | Family Ties | Jerry DiNello | Episode: "Super Mom" |
1987 | A Year in the Life | Scott Spenser | Episode: "What Do People Do All Day?" |
1987–1989 | Cheers | Eddie LeBec | 9 episodes[1] |
1988 | Monkey Business | Tedesco | |
1988 | The Adventures of Ragtime | Lester Waylin | |
1988 | Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | Delivery Man | Episode: "Justin Case" |
1989 | Almost Grown | Unknown | Episode: "Take It Slow" |
1989 | The Golden Girls | Sy Ferber | Episode: "High Anxiety" |
1989 | Freddy's Nightmares | Stan Brooks | Episode: "Dream Come True" |
1989–1998 | Murphy Brown | Jerry Gold | 9 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series(1990–91) Nominated –Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series(1989)[1] |
1990 | Miracle Landing | Ed Meyer | Television movie |
1990 | Open House | Evan Gimbel | 2 episodes |
1990 | Where's Rodney? | Lou Barnes | Television movie |
1990 | Little Vegas | Bobby | |
1990–1991 | Married People | Russell Meyers | 18 episodes |
1992 | Straight Talk | Zim Zimmerman | |
1992 | Batman: The Animated Series | Guard 1 | Episode: "The Forgotten" |
1992–1995 | Love & War | Jack Stein | 67 episodes[1] |
1995 | Cybill | Jay | Episode: "Zing!" |
1995 | Bless This House | Ted | Episode: "If It Ain't Broken, Break It" |
1995 | Mr. Holland's Opus | Coach Bill Meister | [1] |
1996 | A Strange Affair | Eric McKeever | |
1996 | Dirty Laundry | Joey Greene | |
1996–1997 | Ink | Jack Stein | 3 episodes |
1997 | Killing Mr. Griffin | John Griffin | Television movie |
1997 | A Smile Like Yours | Steve Harris | |
1997 | Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Disembodied Voice | Episode: "Spy vs. Monster" |
1997 | Working | Mr. Peyser | Episode: "Lost Weekend" |
1998 | My Date with the President's Daughter | Charles Fletcher | Television movie |
1998 | The Simple Life | Joel Campbell | Episode: "Sara's Ex" |
1998 | The Adventures of Ragtime | Lester Waylin | |
1998 | Monkey Business | Tedesco | |
1998 | Last Chance | Artie | |
1998–1999 | Hercules | Ares | 6 episodes |
1999 | Stranger in My House | Ray Young | |
1999 | Katie Joplin | Glen Shotz | |
1999 | Fantasy Island | Carl Harbin | Episode: "The Real Thing" |
1999 | Dead Man's Gun | Emil Kosar | Episode: "The Good Chef" |
1999 | The Wild Thornberrys | Bull Seal | Episode: "Tamper Proof Seal" |
1999 | The Big Tease | Tony Bolero | Uncredited |
2000 | Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? | Himself | Host, TV special |
2000 | An American Daughter | Timber Tucker | Television movie |
2001 | Surfacing: AKA A Letter from My Father | Tom | |
2001–2002 | The Education of Max Bickford | Jerry Zibowski | 2 episodes |
2002 | Ed | Gary Siringo | Episode: "Small Town Guys" |
2002 | Monday Night Mayhem | Pete Rozelle | Television movie |
2002 | Dragonfly | Hal | |
2002 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Joe Sherman | Episode: "Vulnerable" |
2002 | The Santa Clause 2 | Easter Bunny | Cameo[1] |
2003 | Run of the House | Bob Melman | Episode: "Twas the Night Before Homecoming" |
2004 | Teacher's Pet | Barry Anger | Voice |
2004 | Joan of Arcadia | Obnoxious Investor at Spa | Episode: "Recreation" |
2006 | The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause | Easter Bunny | [1] |
2007, 2010 | American Dad! | Brett Morris | 2 episodes |
2008 | Boston Legal | Ian Hoberman | Episode: "Happy Trails" |
2009 | The Pool Boys | Marty | |
2009 | Labor Pains | Garth | |
2010 | Cold Case | Lance Katrola | Episode: "One Fall" |
2010 | Sex Tax: Based on a True Story | Charles Taylor | |
2010 | Mysteries at the Museum | Narrator | 12 episodes |
2011 | Snatched | Roger Byamm | |
2011 | Horrorween | Two Headed Monster | |
2011 | Retired at 35 | Mr. Jenkins | Episode: "Workin' Man" |
2011 | Hung | Sandee's father | Episode: "The Whole Beefalo" |
2012 | Shake It Up | Dan Gold | Episode: "Copy Kat It Up" |
2013 | The Haunting of… | Himself | Episode: "Jay Thomas" |
2013 | Life Tracker | Attorney General | |
2013 | Underdogs | Mike Mayhew | |
2013 | The Trials of Cate McCall | Loncraine | |
2013–2017 | Ray Donovan | Marty Grossman | 5 episodes (his final role) |
2015 | NCIS: New Orleans | Marc Maslow | Episode: "Confluence" |
2015 | Bones | Lenny Jay | Episode: "The Promise in the Palace" |
References
[edit]- ^abcdefghElber, Lynn (August 24, 2017)."Jay Thomas, 'Murphy Brown' and 'Cheers' actor, radio host, dies at 69".Chicago Tribune.Associated Press.RetrievedAugust 26,2017.
- ^"It's Wouldn't Be the Holidays Without Jay Thomas' Lone Ranger Story".Animalnewyork.com.December 24, 2009.RetrievedJune 20,2014.
- ^"Talk and Entertainment - Program Schedule".Sirius XM.Archived fromthe originalon August 25, 2017.RetrievedAugust 24,2017.
- ^"Jay Thomas profile".Filmreference.com.RetrievedSeptember 20,2014.
- ^"Thomas hopes 'Love' will pave road".Tampa Bay Times.September 28, 1992.RetrievedJune 20,2014.[dead link]
- ^"Famous People from New Orleans".Experience New Orleans.RetrievedJune 20,2014.
- ^Massa, Dominic (August 24, 2017)."Actor Jay Thomas, Jesuit High School graduate, dies at 69".The New Orleans Advocate.RetrievedSeptember 5,2021.
- ^"Actor, DJ and Jacksonville University alumnus Jay Thomas dies at 69".The Florida Times-Union.Jacksonville. Associated Press. August 24, 2017.RetrievedJune 20,2023.
- ^abc"Jay Thomas takes one more shot at David Letterman's Christmas-tree meatball".The Times-Picayune.New Orleans. December 18, 2014.RetrievedMarch 8,2015.
- ^Bodson, Laurent (December 31, 2009)."Jay Thomas on Letterman.2009.12.23 - The 'Lone Ranger' Story".Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2021 – viaYouTube.
- ^Late Show(airdate December 19, 2014).
- ^"Emmy Award-Winning Actor Discovers He Has a Son".Us Weekly.Archived from the original on August 15, 2008.RetrievedNovember 28,2008.
{{cite news}}
:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^Genzlinger, Neil (August 24, 2017)."Jay Thomas, Actor on 'Murphy Brown' and 'Cheers,' Is Dead at 69".The New York Times.RetrievedAugust 26,2017.
- ^Blistein, Jon (August 24, 2017)."'Cheers,' 'Murphy Brown' Character Actor Jay Thomas Dead at 69 ".Rolling Stone.RetrievedFebruary 10,2022.
- ^Niemietz, Brian (August 24, 2017)."Comic actor Jay Thomas is dead at 69".New York Daily News.RetrievedJune 20,2023.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Jay ThomasatIMDb
- Official siteat theWayback Machine(archived September 30, 2019)
- TV.com entryArchivedJune 29, 2011, at theWayback Machine
- Ten Questions with Jay Thomas
- 1948 births
- 2017 deaths
- American male television actors
- American male film actors
- Primetime Emmy Award winners
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Male actors from New Orleans
- Male actors from Texas
- Jacksonville University alumni
- Jacksonville Dolphins football players
- American talk radio hosts
- Radio personalities from New York City
- Radio personalities from Los Angeles
- Radio personalities from New Orleans
- American people of Italian descent
- People from Kermit, Texas
- Deaths from throat cancer in California
- Catholics from Texas