Heather Thomas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Heather Thomas
Thomas in May 2008
Born	(1957-09-08) September 8, 1957 (age 67)
Occupation	Actress, author, political activist
Years active	1978–1998, 2013−present
Known for	The Fall Guy
Spouse(s)	Allan Rosenthal ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 1986)​ Skip Brittenham ​ ​ (m. 1992; died 2025)​
Children	2

Heather Thomas (born September 8, 1957) is an American actress, author, and activist. She is most famous for playing Jody Banks in the popular TV show The Fall Guy with actor Lee Majors.

In 1998, Thomas decided to take a long break from acting. She wanted to focus on her family and start a new career in writing. She has since returned to acting for a few special roles and has also become active in supporting important causes.

Acting Career

Early Start in Television

Heather Thomas began her acting journey at the young age of 14. She was a host on an NBC show called Talking with a Giant, where she got to interview famous people. A few years later, in 1978, she started getting small parts in other TV shows.

Becoming a Star on The Fall Guy

In 1981, Thomas landed her biggest role as Jody Banks in the action series The Fall Guy. The show, which also starred Lee Majors, was a huge hit and ran until 1986. Her role on the show made her a well-known star. During the 1980s, she also appeared in movies like Zapped! (1982) and was a popular poster model.

A New Path in Writing

After her time on The Fall Guy, Thomas explored her talent for writing. She wrote a movie script called School ... and sold it to Touchstone Pictures. Later, she wrote her first novel, Trophies, which was published in 2008.

Returning to the Screen

After a long break, Thomas appeared in the 2014 movie G...: All Night Long. In 2024, she made a special appearance with her former co-star Lee Majors in the movie The Fall Guy, which was based on their original TV series.

Personal Life and Activism

Family Life

Heather Thomas was married to Allan Rosenthal from 1985 to 1986. In 1986, she was in a serious car accident but recovered from her injuries.

In 1992, she married entertainment lawyer Skip Brittenham. They had a daughter, who was born in 2000. Brittenham passed away in July 2025. Thomas chose to step away from her acting career to have more privacy and focus on raising her family.

Helping Important Causes

Thomas is also known for her work as an activist. An activist is someone who works to bring about positive change in society. Along with her husband, she hosted regular events at their home to raise money for different causes. These gatherings became well-known and were nicknamed the "L.A. Cafe".

She has also supported environmental groups, including the Amazon Conservation Team, which works to protect the Amazon rainforest.

Filmography