Peter Thomas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Thomas
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| Born | June 28, 1924 |
| Died | April 30, 2016 (aged 91) Naples, Florida, United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Narrator |
| Known for | Documentary and advertisement voice-over work |
| Spouse(s) | Stella (Barrineau) Thomas (m. 1946–2014, her death) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Dr. John D. Thomas Sibyl (Addenbrooke) Thomas |
Peter Thomas (born June 28, 1924 – died April 30, 2016) was an American announcer and narrator. He was famous for his voice work on TV shows. These included Nova, Forensic Files, and Medical Detectives.
Early life and Military Service
Peter Thomas was born in Pensacola, Florida. His parents were Dr. John D. Thomas and Sibyl Addenbrooke. He had two younger brothers, John and David.
He started his career very young, at just 14 years old. He became an announcer for a local radio show. Because he was so young, the station couldn't pay him money. Instead, the show's sponsor, Piper Aircraft, gave him flying lessons. He learned to fly a Piper Cub plane!
When World War II began, Peter Thomas left school. He joined the United States Army in 1943. He served with the First Infantry Division. He fought in five major battles. These included the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He earned a Battle star for each of these five campaigns. He also received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the French Croix de guerre.
Career Highlights
Peter Thomas won many awards for his work. He said one of his proudest moments was when a documentary he narrated won an Oscar. The film was called One Survivor Remembers.
This documentary, made by HBO, tells the story of Gerda Weissman Klein. She was held in the Nordhausen Concentration Camp as a teenager. Peter Thomas's army unit helped free the prisoners at Nordhausen. Klein and Thomas met while making the film. They also met again at its premiere.
Thomas also narrated an HBO movie about the Battle of Hürtgen Forest. He had fought in this battle with the 1st Infantry Division (United States). He was also the narrator for a show called How the West was Lost. This show aired on The Discovery Channel in 1993.
In 2014, he narrated a two-hour Nova episode. It was called D-Day's Sunken Secrets. This show aired just before the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Peter Thomas had been part of the original D-Day landing on Omaha Beach.
Personal Life
Peter Thomas was married to Stella (Barrineau) Thomas. She passed away in 2014. He lived in Naples, Florida.
He cared deeply about veterans. He served on the board of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation. He also held other similar roles to help veterans.
He worked from his home studio for recording companies across the country. He also continued narrating in New York City studios. He had worked there for most of his career. Before becoming a full-time narrator, he was a New York anchor for CBS News.
Death
Peter Thomas passed away on April 30, 2016. He was 91 years old. He died of natural causes.
