Jump to content

Marlo Thomas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marlo Thomas
Thomas inThat Girl(1966)
Born
Margaret Julia Thomas

(1937-11-21)November 21, 1937(age 86)
Detroit,Michigan,U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
  • activist
  • philanthropist
Years active1960–present
Spouse
​
(m.1980)​
Parents
Relatives

Margaret Julia Thomas(born November 21, 1937)[1]is an American actress, producer, author, and social activist. She is best known for starring on the sitcomThat Girl(1966–1971) and herchildren's franchiseFree to Be... You and Me.She has received threePrimetime Emmy Awards,aDaytime Emmy Award,aGolden Globe Award,and aPeabody Awardfor her work in television and has been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.

She has also received aGrammy Awardfor herchildren's albumMarlo Thomas and Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long.In 2014, she was awarded thePresidential Medal of Freedom.[2]

Thomas serves as National Outreach Director forSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital,which was founded by her fatherDanny Thomasin 1962. She created the Thanks & Giving campaign in 2004 to support the hospital.

Early life[edit]

Thomas was born inDetroitand raised inBeverly Hills, California,the eldest child of Rose Marie Cassaniti and comedianDanny Thomas.[3]She has a sister, Terre, and a brother, producerTony Thomas.Her father was a Roman CatholicLebanese Americanand her mother wasSicilian American.[4][5]HergodmotherwasLoretta Young.[6]The name "Marlo" came from her childhood mispronunciation of the name Margo, as Thomas was called by her family.[7]

Thomas attendedMarymount High Schooland graduated from theUniversity of Southern Californiawith a teaching degree: "I wanted a piece of paper that said I was qualified to do something in the world". She was a member of the sororityKappa Alpha Theta.[7][8]

Career[edit]

Early career[edit]

Thomas appeared in many television programs includingBonanza,McHale's Navy,Ben Casey,Arrest and Trial,The Joey Bishop Show,The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,My Favorite Martian,77 Sunset Strip,andThe Donna Reed Show.Her big break came in 1965 when she was cast byMike Nicholsin the London production of Neil Simon'sBarefoot in the Park,co-starringDaniel Massey,Kurt Kasznar,andMildred Natwick.(In 1986, she was once again cast by Nichols on Broadway inAndrew Bergman'sSocial Security,co-starringRon SilverandOlympia Dukakis.)

Thomas and her father, Danny, were cast as Laurie and Ed Dubro in a 1961 episode, "Honor Bright", of CBS'Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre.

That Girl[edit]

Thomas (center) with co-starTed Bessell(left) and guest starMary Frann(right), in a 1968 photo fromThat Girl

Thomas starred in anABCpilot calledTwo's Companyin 1965. Although it did not sell, it caught the attention of a network programming executive. He met with Thomas, and expressed interest in casting her in her own series. With their encouragement, Thomas came up with her own idea for a show about a young woman who leaves home, moves to New York City, and struggles to become an actress. The network was initially hesitant, fearing audiences would find a series centering on a single female uninteresting or unrealistic.

The concept eventually evolved into the sitcom entitledThat Girl,in which Thomas played Ann Marie, a beautiful, up-and-coming actress with a writer boyfriend, played byTed Bessell.The series told the daily struggles of Ann holding different temporary jobs while pursuing her dream of a career onBroadway.That Girlwas one of the first television shows to focus on a working, single woman who did not live with her parents, and it paved the way for many shows to come. Thomas was only the fourth woman to produce her own series, followingGertrude Berg,Lucille Ball,andBetty White.That Girlaired from 1966 to 1971, producing 136 episodes, and was a solid performer in theNielsen ratings.

In 1971, Thomas chose to end the series after five years. Both ABC and the show's sponsor,Clairol,wanted the series finale to be a wedding between the two central characters, but Thomas rebuffed them, saying that she felt it was the wrong message to send to her female audience, because it would give the impression that the only happy ending ismarriage.That Girlhas since become popular insyndication.

Clairol was our sponsor and they wanted to end the show with a wedding. I said, "I just can't do that to these women and girls who followed Ann Marie's adventure. I can't now say that the only happy ending is a wedding, because I don't believe it." There was a big ruckus about it, but I wouldn't do it. The last show, Ann Marie took Donald to a women's lib meeting, which made nobody happy but me. I loved it.[9]

Later career[edit]

AfterThat Girl,eager to expand her horizons, Thomas attended theActors Studio,[10]where she studied withLee Strasberguntil his death in 1982, and subsequently with his discipleSandra Seacat.When she won her Best Dramatic Actress Emmy in 1986 for the television filmNobody’s Child,she thanked both individuals.

Thomas at the 41st Primetime Emmy Awards, September 17, 1989

In 1972, she released a children's book,Free to Be... You and Me,which was inspired by her young niece Dionne Gordon. She went on to create multiple recordings and television specials of and related to that title:Free to Be... You and Me(1972, 1974) andFree to Be... A Family(1987), withChristopher Cerf.Also in 1972, she served as a California delegate to theDemocratic National Convention[3]in Miami Beach, Florida. She helped theGeorge McGovernpresidential campaign in October 1972 atStar-Spangled Women for McGovern–Shriver,reciting a parody ofErich Segal'sLove Storyfor 19,000 people atMadison Square Garden.[11]

In 1973, Thomas joinedGloria Steinem,Patricia Carbine,andLetty Cottin Pogrebinas the founders of theMs. Foundation for Women,the first women's fund in the US. The organization was created to deliver funding and other resources to organizations that were presenting liberal women's voices in communities nationwide.

In 1976, Thomas made a guest appearance on theNBCsituation comedyThe Practiceas a stubborn patient of her father Danny Thomas' character Dr. Jules Bedford, and the chemistry of father and daughter acting together made for touching hospital-room scenes.

She has made guest appearances on several television series, includingLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit(as Judge Mary Conway Clark, a mentor of ADACasey Novak),Ballers,The New Normal,Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later.She also narrated the seriesHappily Never AfteronInvestigation Discovery.From 1996 to 2002, Thomas playedRachel Green's mother, Sandra Green, on the TV showFriends.

Thomas appeared in films such asJenny(1970),Thieves(1977),In The Spirit(1990),The Real Blonde(1997),Starstruck(1998),Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo(1999),Playing Mona Lisa(2000),LOL(2012) withDemi MooreandMiley Cyrus,andCardboard Boxer(2014). She also starred in television films, includingIt Happened One Christmas(1977; also produced) (a remake ofIt's a Wonderful Life),[12]The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck(1984; also produced),Consenting Adult(1985),Nobody's Child(1986; Best Dramatic Actress Emmy),Held Hostage: The Sis and Jerry Levin Story(1991; also produced),Reunion(1994; also produced),Deceit(2004; also produced), andUltimate Betrayal(1994).

Thomas'Broadway theatrecredits includeThieves(1974),Social Security(1986), andThe Shadow Box(1994), and in 2011, she starred as Doreen inElaine May's comedyGeorge Is DeadinRelatively Speakingduring a set of three one-act plays (The New York Timescalled Thomas' performance "sublime" ).[13]The other two plays were written byWoody AllenandEthan Coen.

Off-Broadway,Thomas has appeared inThe Guys,The Exonerated(in which she also appeared in Chicago and Boston, co-starring withBrian Dennehy),The Vagina MonologuesandLove, Loss, and What I Wore.Also off-Broadway, she appeared oppositeGreg Mullaveyin the 2015 New York debut ofJoe DiPietro's playClever Little Liesat theWestside Theatre.[14]Regional theatre productions include:Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?at the Hartford Stage;Woman In Mindat the Berkshire Theatre Festival;Paper Doll,with F. Murray Abraham at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre; andThe Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigoldsat the Cleveland Playhouse. In 1993, she toured in the national company ofSix Degrees of Separation.In the spring of 2008, she starred in Arthur Laurents' last play,New Year's EvewithKeith Carradine,at the George Street Playhouse.

Thomas has published seven best-selling books (three of them #1 best-sellers):Free to Be... You and Me;Free to Be... A Family;The Right Words at the Right Time;The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn;Marlo Thomas and Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long(the CD version of which won the 2006Grammy Awardfor Best Spoken Word Album for Children); her 2009 memoir,Growing Up Laughing;andIt Ain't Over...Till It's Over: Reinventing Your Life and Realizing Your Dreams Anytime, At Any Age.

Thomas serves as the National Outreach Director forSt. Jude Children's Research HospitalinMemphis, Tennessee,which was founded by her father, Danny Thomas. She donated all royalties from her 2004 book and CDMarlo Thomas and Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long(also produced withChristopher Cerf) and her twoRight Words at the Right Timebooks to the hospital.

In 2010, Thomas createdMarloThomas,a website for women aged 35+, associated withAOLand theHuffington Post.

Honors[edit]

Thomas is the recipient of fourEmmy Awards,aGolden Globe Award,aGrammy Award,a Jefferson Award, and thePeabody Award.

In 1979, theSupersisterstrading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Thomas' name and picture.[15]

In 1996, she was awarded theWomen in FilmLucy Awardin recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.[16]

On November 20, 2014, the Marlo Thomas Center for Global Education and Collaboration was opened as part of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[17]Hillary Clintonpresided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

On November 24, 2014, PresidentBarack Obamaawarded Thomas thePresidential Medal of Freedom,the nation's highest civilian honor, at a White House ceremony.[2]

Personal life[edit]

Thomas was in a long relationship with playwrightHerb Gardner.[3]

In 1977, Thomas was a guest onDonahue,[18]the televisiontalk show,when she and hostPhil Donahuefell in "love at first sight".[19]They were married on May 21, 1980, and Donahue moved with some of his sons and his daughter from Chicago to New York City to live with Thomas and to produce his talk show there.[20]Thomas is the stepmother to Donahue's four sons and daughter from his first marriage. Concerning her relationship with her stepchildren, Thomas toldAARP Magazinein May 2011: "from the very first day, I decided that I was not going to try to be a 'mother' to Phil's children in the traditional sense—they already had a mom—but, instead, to be their friend. I'm proud to say that the friendships I established with them are as strong today as they were 30 years ago—even stronger."[5]

Filmography[edit]

Films[edit]

Year Film Role Notes
1970 Jenny Jenny Nominated –Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress
1977 Thieves Sally Cramer
1990 In the Spirit Reva Prosky
1993 Falling Down KTLA Reporter
1997 The Real Blonde Blair
1998 Starstruck Linda Phaeffle
1999 Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo Margaret Uncredited cameo
2000 Playing Mona Lisa Shelia Goldstein
2012 LOL Gran
2017 The Female Brain Lynne
2018 Ocean's 8 Rene

Television[edit]

Year Film Role Notes
1960 The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Frank's Girlfriend Episode: "The Hunger Strike"
1960 77 Sunset Strip Amina Episode: "The Fanatics"
1961 Zane Grey Theatre Laurie Dubro Episode: "Honor Bright"[21]
1961 Thriller Susan Baker Episode: "The Ordeal of Dr. Cordell"
1961–1962 The Joey Bishop Show Stella 10 episodes
1962 Insight Jeanne Brown Episode: "The Sophomore"
1964 Arrest and Trial Angela Tucci Episode: "Tigers Are for Jungles"
1964 Bonanza Tai Lee Episode: "A Pink Cloud Comes from Old Cathay"
1964 My Favorite Martian Paula Clayfield Episode: "Miss Jekyll and Hyde"
1964 Wendy and Me Carol Episode: "Wendy's Anniversary for --?"
1964 McHale's Navy Cynthia Prentice Episode: "The Missing Link"
1965 What's My Line? Herself Panelist
1965 The Donna Reed Show Louise Bissell Episode: "Guests, Guests, Who Needs Guests?"
1965 Two's Company Caroline Sommers Unsold pilot
1965 Ben Casey Claire Schaeffer Episode: "Three Li'l Lambs"
1966–1971 That Girl Ann Marie 136 episodes
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress on Television(1967)
TV Land Award for Favorite Fashion Plate – Female(2004)
Nominated –Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series(1967-1971)
Nominated –TV Land Award for Hippest Fashion Plate – Female(2003)
1967 Cricket on the Hearth Bertha Voice, television film
1973 The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie Ann Marie Voice, episode: "That Girl in Wonderland"
1973 Acts of Love and Other Comedies Various Television film
1976 The Practice Judy Sinclair Episode: "Judy Sinclair"
1977 It Happened One Christmas Mary Bailey Hatch Television film; also producer
1980 The Body Human: The Facts for Girls Host TV documentary
1984 The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck Kathryn Beck Television film; also producer
1985 Consenting Adult Tess Lynd Television film
Nominated –Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
1986 Nobody's Child Marie Balter Television film
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated –Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
1991 Held Hostage: The Sis and Jerry Levin Story Lucille 'Sis' Levin Television film; also producer
1994 Ultimate Betrayal Adult Sharon Rodgers Television film
1994 Reunion Jessie Yates Television film; also producer
1996 Roseanne Tina Beige Episode: "Satan, Darling"
1996, 2002 Friends Sandra Green 3 episodes
Nominated –Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series(1996)
1999 Frasier Sophie Voice, 3 episodes
2000 Ally McBeal Lynnie Bishop 2 episodes
2002 Two Against Time Julie Portman Television film
2004 Deceit Ellen McCarthy Television film; also producer
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Judge Mary Clark 4 episodes
2007 Ugly Betty Sandra Winthrop Episode: "Something Wicked This Way Comes"
2012 The New Normal Nancy Niles Episode: "Baby Proofing"
2015 Ballers Jason's Mother Episode: "Ends"
2017 Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later Vivian TV miniseries
2020 The Rocketeer Sitti / Mrs. Abboud Voice, 2 episodes
2022 A Magical Christmas Village Vivian Todd Television film (Hallmark Channel)

References[edit]

  1. ^"Marlo Thomas - Biography".Biography.FYI/A&E Television Networks.May 4, 2020.
  2. ^abPickler, Nedra."Obama awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to 18".The Salt Lake Tribune.Associated Press.RetrievedNovember 20,2021.
  3. ^abcKelly, Katie (March 11, 1973)."Marlo Thomas: 'My Whole Life I've Had My Dukes Up".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 2,2012.
  4. ^Thomas, Marlo."International No Diet Day: When Temptation Calls..."Huffington Post.RetrievedNovember 23,2014.
  5. ^abLynch, Lorrie (May 5, 2011)."Actress Marlo Thomas Says Mom Inspired Her Career".AARP.RetrievedFebruary 7,2024.
  6. ^Smith, Liz(October 6, 2014)."Remembering the REAL Loretta Young!".Chicago Tribune.Tribune Content Agency.RetrievedOctober 24,2017.
  7. ^abStone, Judy (September 4, 1966)."And Now—Make Room for Marlo".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 2,2012.
  8. ^Moore, Annette (April 16, 2013)."Nikiases and Marlo Thomas honored by Town and Gown".USC News.
  9. ^"At 28, Marlo Thomas Was Starring On The TV Show That Would Make Her A Feminist".Bustle.Archived fromthe originalon March 12, 2021.RetrievedApril 27,2021.
  10. ^Michaelson, Judith (November 7, 1992)."Q&A with Marlo Thomas: 'In the Prime of My Craft Now'".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 20,2021.
  11. ^Lambert, Virginia (October 29, 1972)."Stars with a cause".The Record.Hackensack, New Jersey. p. B-13.
  12. ^Maltin, Leonard, ed. (October 1990).TV Movies Video Guide 1991 Edition.Signet Books.ISBN978-0-4511-6748-4.
  13. ^Isherwood, Charles (October 20, 2011)."Each Family, Tortured in Its Own Way: Relatively Speaking".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 24,2017.
  14. ^Haun, Harry (October 1, 2015)."Marlo Thomas Stars in Off-Broadway Marriage ComedyClever Little Lies".The New York Observer.
  15. ^Wulf, Steve (March 21, 2015)."Supersisters: Original Roster".ESPN.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
  16. ^"Past Recipients".Women in Film.Archived fromthe originalon July 24, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 2,2012.
  17. ^"Marlo Thomas Center Opens at St. Jude".WebProNews.November 21, 2014.
  18. ^Thomas, Marlo (September 21, 2012)."Marlo Thomas Meeting Phil on The Donahue Show".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on November 4, 2021.RetrievedDecember 5,2018.I met Phil on the Donahue Show in 1977 - instant chemistry!
  19. ^Telling, Gillian (March 31, 2020)."Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue Open Up About the Secret to Their 40-Year Marriage".People.RetrievedSeptember 15,2020.
  20. ^Thomas, Marlo (July 21, 2014)."Phil And Me — 34 Years Later".Huffington Post.RetrievedOctober 24,2017.
  21. ^Lilly, William (April 5, 2017).Zane Grey Theater S05E17 Honor Bright.William Lilly(Anthology series). Event occurs at 2:52.Archivedfrom the original on November 4, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 25,2021.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toMarlo Thomas.
Wikiquote has quotations related toMarlo Thomas.

California Democrats

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marlo_Thomas&oldid=1235092158"