Marlo Thomas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marlo Thomas
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Thomas in 2008
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Margaret Julia Thomas
November 21, 1937 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
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| Years active | 1960–present |
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| Relatives | Tony Thomas (brother) |
Margaret Julia "Marlo" Thomas (born November 21, 1937) is an American actress, producer, author, and activist. She is famous for starring in the TV show That Girl from 1966 to 1971. She also created the popular children's book and album Free to Be... You and Me.
Throughout her career, Marlo has won many awards for her work in television. These include three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Peabody Award. She also won a Grammy Award for her children's album, Marlo Thomas and Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long. In 2014, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest honors a civilian can receive in the United States.
Marlo Thomas is also known for her charity work. She is the National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Her father, the actor Danny Thomas, founded the hospital in 1962.
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Early life and education
Marlo Thomas was born in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up in Beverly Hills, California. She is the oldest child of comedian Danny Thomas and Rose Marie Cassaniti. She has a sister named Terre and a brother named Tony, who is a TV producer. Her father's family was from Lebanon, and her mother's family was from Sicily, Italy.
Her family nickname, "Marlo," came from how she said her real name, "Margo," when she was a little girl. She went to Marymount High School and later graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in teaching.
Career
Early roles
In the early 1960s, Marlo Thomas appeared in many popular TV shows. These included Bonanza, McHale's Navy, and The Donna Reed Show. Her first big break came in 1965. She was chosen to star in the play Barefoot in the Park in London.
That Girl
In 1966, Marlo Thomas began starring in her own TV show, That Girl. She played Ann Marie, a young woman who moves to New York City to become an actress. The show followed her adventures as she looked for acting jobs and lived on her own. Her boyfriend on the show was played by actor Ted Bessell.
That Girl was a groundbreaking show. It was one of the first sitcoms about a single, working woman who did not live with her parents. The show was very popular and aired for five years, from 1966 to 1971. Marlo Thomas was not just the star; she was also one of the producers of the show.
When the show was ending, the TV network wanted Ann Marie to get married in the final episode. But Marlo disagreed. She felt that it would send the wrong message to girls and young women who watched the show. She wanted to show that a woman could have a happy ending without getting married.
Career after That Girl
After That Girl ended, Marlo Thomas continued to act and produce. In 1972, she created a children's book called Free to Be... You and Me. The book, along with a TV special and album, taught children that it was okay to be themselves, no matter if they were a boy or a girl.
She also acted in many TV movies and won an Emmy Award in 1986 for her role in the movie Nobody's Child.
From 1996 to 2002, she had a recurring role on the popular sitcom Friends. She played Sandra Green, the mother of the character Rachel Green. Many people saw Rachel's character as a modern version of Ann Marie from That Girl, since both were young women trying to make it on their own in New York City.
Marlo has also appeared in many movies, including LOL with Miley Cyrus and Ocean's 8. She has also performed in many plays on Broadway and in theaters across the country.
Books and charity work
Marlo Thomas has written several best-selling books for adults and children. She donates all the money she earns from some of her books to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
She works to raise money and awareness for St. Jude's, continuing the work her father started. In 2004, she created the hospital's "Thanks & Giving" campaign, which runs during the holiday season and has raised millions of dollars to help children with serious illnesses.
Honors and awards
Marlo Thomas has received many honors for her work in entertainment and for her charity efforts.
- Four Emmy Awards for her television work.
- A Golden Globe Award for That Girl.
- A Grammy Award for her children's album.
- The Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Barack Obama in 2014.
In 2014, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital opened the Marlo Thomas Center for Global Education and Collaboration in her honor.
Personal life
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In 1977, Marlo Thomas was a guest on the talk show Donahue. There, she met the host, Phil Donahue. They fell in love and got married on May 21, 1980.
Marlo became the stepmother to Phil's five children from his first marriage. She once said that she chose to be their friend instead of trying to be a traditional mother, because they already had a mom. She said she built strong friendships with them that have lasted for decades.
Phil Donahue passed away on August 18, 2024.
