Jay Thomas

Jay Thomas (born Jon 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 on Top 40 station 99X, and later on Rhythmic CHR station WKTU, and in Los Angeles beginning in 1986 on KPWR "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 on Mork & Mindy (1979–1981), the recurring role of Eddie LeBec, a Boston Bruins goalie on the downside of his career, on Cheers (1987–1989), the lead character of newspaper columnist Jack Stein on Love & 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 on Murphy Brown. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 1990 and 1991 for portraying Gold.

For the college football coach, see Jay Thomas (American football).
Jay Thomas
Thomas at the 1992 Emmy Awards
Born
Jon Thomas Terrell

(1948-07-12)July 12, 1948
Kermit, Texas, U.S.
DiedAugust 24, 2017(2017-08-24) (aged 69)
Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • radio talk show host
Years active1979–2017
Spouse(s)
Sally Michelson
(
m. 1987)
Children3, including J. T. Harding

In 1997, he starred in the television film Killing Mr. Griffin, based on the eponymous novel. In film, he co-starred in Mr. Holland's Opus as a high school coach with a flair for theatrics, and portrayed the Easter Bunny in The Santa Clause 2 and The Santa Clause 3. Thomas also hosted the reality TV special Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? in 1999.

He was also an annual guest on The Late Show with David Letterman during the Christmas season, where he told a story about how he met Clayton Moore, who portrayed the title character on The Lone Ranger.[2] Beginning in 2005, he hosted The Jay Thomas Show on SiriusXM Satellite Radio channel 94 comedy greats Monday thru Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings on Howard 101.[3]

Early life and education

Thomas was born in Kermit, Texas, to Katharine (née Guzzino) and Timothy Harry Terrell.[4] He was raised in his Italian American mother's Catholic religion; his father was Protestant.[5] Thomas was raised in New Orleans,[6] where he attended and graduated from Jesuit High School.[7] He went on to attend and graduate from Jacksonville University.[8] Thomas was the quarterback on his high school football team and also quarterbacked in college, a skill he would later use on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Letterman appearances

Thomas made annual Christmas appearances on David Letterman's CBS late night show, beginning in December, 1998. Letterman and one of his other guests that evening, then-New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde, took turns throwing footballs trying to knock a large meatball off the top of a Christmas tree at 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 on his first throw.[9]

Beginning on a subsequent visit to Letterman's show, Thomas told a story about when he was a young disc jockey (c.1972) at WAYS 610 AM in Charlotte, North Carolina.[10] Thomas had been making a promotional appearance at a local Dodge dealership which had also booked a personal appearance by Clayton Moore, dressed in his Lone Ranger costume.[9]

According to the story, after the broadcast ended and the crowd left, Thomas and his colleague Mike Martin, both clad in the hip fashion of the day (including their hair which Martin wore long while Thomas himself sported what he called a "White Man's Afro"), go off and secretly "get herbed-up" (smoke marijuana) behind a dumpster. When they return to pack up their equipment, they discover that Moore is still there, as the car that was supposed to drive him to his hotel never arrived; Thomas then offers Moore a ride in his own car, an old Volvo, which Moore accepts.

While stuck in traffic, with Moore sitting quietly in the back seat, an impatient, middle-aged man backs his full-sized Buick into the front end of Thomas' compact Volvo breaking one of his headlights, and then drives off. An angry Thomas chases the Buick through heavy traffic, forgetting all about Moore still sitting quietly in his back seat; Thomas finally catches up to the man, blocks his way with the Volvo and confronts him about the broken headlight. The indignant driver denies all; when Thomas threatens to call police, the man exclaims " Who do you think they'll believe? Me, or you two hippie freaks?" At that moment, Moore, still in costume as the Lone Ranger, steps out of the Volvo and says to the man, "They'll believe me, citizen!" The man, incredulous, exclaims "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 Show Quarterback Challenge". For his final appearance in 2014, Thomas was again successful in knocking the meatball off the top of the tree. Thomas missed the 2013 Late Show Christmas episode due to throat surgery; John McEnroe took 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 and death

Thomas fathered J. T. Harding in an out-of-wedlock relationship, and the child was adopted by another family in Michigan. Thomas and his son spoke about their reunion on the Dr. 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]

Jay Thomas died of throat cancer on August 24, 2017, in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of 69.[14]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1979–1981Mork & MindyRemo DaVinci20 episodes[1]
1981The Love BoatPaul HarrisEpisode: "First Voyage, Last Voyage"
1984Master of the GameLevyTelevision miniseries
1984C.H.U.D.Cop in diner
1985Spenser: For HireTony BrozEpisode: "Discord in a Minor"
1985The GigRick Valentine
1986Legal EaglesWaiter
1987Family TiesJerry DiNelloEpisode: "Super Mom"
1987A Year in the LifeScott SpenserEpisode: "What Do People Do All Day?"
1987–1989CheersEddie LeBec9 episodes[1]
1988Monkey BusinessTedesco
1988The Adventures of RagtimeLester Waylin
1988Walt Disney's Wonderful World of ColorDelivery ManEpisode: "Justin Case"
1989Almost GrownUnknownEpisode: "Take It Slow"
1989The Golden GirlsSy FerberEpisode: "High Anxiety"
1989Freddy's NightmaresStan BrooksEpisode: "Dream Come True"
1989–1998Murphy BrownJerry Gold9 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]
1990Miracle LandingEd MeyerTelevision movie
1990Open HouseEvan Gimbel2 episodes
1990Where's Rodney?Lou BarnesTelevision movie
1990Little VegasBobby
1990–1991Married PeopleRussell Meyers18 episodes
1992Straight TalkZim Zimmerman
1992Batman: The Animated SeriesGuard 1Episode: "The Forgotten"
1992–1995Love & WarJack Stein67 episodes[1]
1995CybillJayEpisode: "Zing!"
1995Bless This HouseTedEpisode: "If It Ain't Broken, Break It"
1997Mr. Holland's OpusCoach Bill Meister[1]
1996A Strange AffairEric McKeever
1996Dirty LaundryJoey Greene
1996–1997InkJack Stein3 episodes
1997Killing Mr. GriffinJohn GriffinTelevision movie
1997A Smile Like YoursSteve Harris
1997Aaahh!!! Real MonstersDisembodied VoiceEpisode: "Spy vs. Monster"
1997WorkingMr. PeyserEpisode: "Lost Weekend"
1998My Date with the President's DaughterCharles FletcherTelevision movie
1998The Simple LifeJoel CampbellEpisode: "Sara's Ex"
1998The Adventures of RagtimeLester Waylin
1998Monkey BusinessTedesco
1998Last ChanceArtie
1998–1999HerculesAres6 episodes
1999Stranger in My HouseRay Young
1999Fantasy IslandCarl HarbinEpisode: "The Real Thing"
1999Dead Man's GunEmil KosarEpisode: "The Good Chef"
1999The Wild ThornberrysBull SealEpisode: "Tamper Proof Seal"
1999The Big TeaseTony BoleroUncredited
2000An American DaughterTimber TuckerTelevision movie
2001Surfacing: AKA A Letter from My FatherTom
2001–2002The Education of Max BickfordJerry Zibowski2 episodes
2002EdGary SiringoEpisode: "Small Town Guys"
2002Monday Night MayhemPete RozelleTelevision movie
2002DragonflyHal
2002Law & Order: Special Victims UnitJoe ShermanEpisode: "Vulnerable"
2002The Santa Clause 2Easter Bunny[1]
2003Run of the HouseBob MelmanEpisode: "Twas the Night Before Homecoming"
2004Teacher's PetBarry AngerVoice
2004Joan of ArcadiaObnoxious Investor at SpaEpisode: "Recreation"
2006The Santa Clause 3: The Escape ClauseEaster Bunny[1]
2007, 2010American Dad!Brett Morris2 episodes
2008Boston LegalIan HobermanEpisode: "Happy Trails"
2009The Pool BoysMarty
2009Labor PainsGarth
2010Cold CaseLance KatrolaEpisode: "One Fall"
2010Sex Tax: Based on a True StoryCharles Taylor
2010Mysteries at the MuseumNarrator4 episodes
2011SnatchedRoger Byamm
2011HorrorweenTwo Headed Monster
2011Retired at 35Mr. JenkinsEpisode: "Workin' Man"
2011HungSandee's fatherEpisode: "The Whole Beefalo"
2012Shake It UpDan GoldEpisode: "Copy Kat It Up"
2013Life TrackerAttorney General
2013UnderdogsMike Mayhew
2013The Trials of Cate McCallLoncraine
2013–2017Ray DonovanMarty GrossmanEpisode: "Road Trip"[1]
Episode: "Mister Lucky" (his final role)
2015NCIS: New OrleansMarc MaslowEpisode: "Confluence"
2015BonesLenny JayEpisode: "The Promise in the Palace"
gollark: One of these words is PROBABLY right.
gollark: And?
gollark: Waaaait, what if the bidder name actually matters? I wouldn't put it past Him.
gollark: I *will* buy that obelisk.
gollark: OH BEES WHAT THE BEE IS GOING ON WITH THIS AUCTION æ.

References
  1. Elber, Lynn (August 24, 2017). "Jay Thomas, 'Murphy Brown' and 'Cheers' actor, radio host, dies at 69". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  2. "It's Wouldn't Be the Holidays Without Jay Thomas' Lone Ranger Story". Animalnewyork.com. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  3. "Talk and Entertainment - Program Schedule - SiriusXM Radio". Siriusxm.com. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  4. "Jay Thomas profile". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  5. "Thomas hopes `Love' will pave road". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 1992-09-28. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  6. "Famous People from New Orleans". Experience New Orleans. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  7. "The Whole "Veronica Mars" Gang Is Coming Back for a New Web Series". BuzzFeed. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  8. Press, Associated. "Actor, DJ and Jacksonville University alumnus Jay Thomas dies at 69". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  9. "Jay Thomas takes one more shot at David Letterman's Christmas-tree meatball". NOLA.com. 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  10. Laurent Bodson (31 December 2009). "Jay Thomas on Letterman.2009.12.23 - The 'Lone Ranger' Story" – via YouTube.
  11. Late Show (airdate December 19, 2014).
  12. "Emmy Award-Winning Actor Discovers He Has a Son". US Magazine. Archived from the original on August 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-28.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  13. Genzlinger, Neil (August 24, 2017). "Jay Thomas, Actor on 'Murphy Brown' and 'Cheers,' Is Dead at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  14. "Comic actor Jay Thomas is dead at 69". New York Daily News. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
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