Jay Thomas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jay Thomas
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Thomas at the 1992 Emmy Awards
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| Born |
Jon Thomas Terrell
July 12, 1948 Kermit, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | August 24, 2017 (aged 69) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1979–2017 |
| Spouse(s) |
Sally Michelson
(m. 1987) |
| Children | 3, including J. T. Harding |
Jay Thomas (born Jon Thomas Terrell; July 12, 1948 – August 24, 2017) was an American actor, comedian, and radio host. He was famous for his roles in many TV shows and movies.
Jay Thomas was well-known for playing Remo DaVinci on Mork & Mindy. He also had a popular role as Eddie LeBec on Cheers. Later, he starred as Jack Stein in the TV series Love & War.
He won two Emmy Awards for his role as Jerry Gold on Murphy Brown. In movies, he played a coach in Mr. Holland's Opus. He also appeared as the Easter Bunny in The Santa Clause 2 and The Santa Clause 3.
Besides acting, Jay Thomas was a successful radio personality. He hosted popular morning shows in New York and Los Angeles. He also had his own show, The Jay Thomas Show, on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
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Early Life and Education
Jay Thomas was born in Kermit, Texas. His parents were Katharine and Timothy Harry Terrell. He grew up in New Orleans, where he attended Jesuit High School.
After high school, he went to Jacksonville University. Jay Thomas was a quarterback on his football teams in both high school and college. He even showed off his football skills later on a TV show.
Fun Appearances on David Letterman
Jay Thomas was a special guest on David Letterman's late-night show every Christmas. This tradition started in December 1998. During these visits, he would tell a funny story about meeting Clayton Moore. Moore was the actor who played The Lone Ranger.
A fun part of his appearances was the "meatball challenge." David Letterman and another guest would try to throw footballs. Their goal was to knock a large meatball off the top of a Christmas tree on stage. Jay Thomas was often very good at this challenge. He usually managed to knock the meatball down.
He missed the Christmas show in 2013 because of throat surgery. But he returned for his final appearance in December 2014. He successfully knocked the meatball off the tree one last time.
Family Life
Jay Thomas married Sally Michelson in 1987. They had two sons named Samuel and Jacob.
Jay Thomas also had another son, J. T. Harding, who was adopted by another family. J. T. Harding grew up to be a country-music songwriter. Jay Thomas and his son later reconnected and shared their story.
Later Years and Passing
Jay Thomas continued acting and hosting his radio show for many years. He passed away on August 24, 2017. He was 69 years old. He died from throat cancer in Santa Barbara, California, surrounded by his family.
Images for kids
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Jay Thomas at the 1992 Emmy Awards
