Everyman Jay Thomas has passed away.
August 24, 2017 3:57 PM Subscribe
A genuine nice guy. The actor known for his roles in “Mork & Mindy” and “Cheers,” has died after a battle with cancer. He was 69.
Thomas had a successful career working in television, with one of his most notable roles being Eddie Lebec, Carla’s husband, on “Cheers.” Over the years, he’s appeared in shows like “Married People,” “Love and War,” Hercules” and most recently “Ray Donovan.” The actor also won two Emmy awards for his guest-starring role as Jerry Gold on “Murphy Brown.”
Thomas had been battling cancer. Jay’s wife Sally and his sons, Sam, Jake, and J.T., were by his side when he died.
Thomas made his annual Christmastime appearance with David Letterman for the first time in December 1998. Letterman and one of his other guests that evening, then-New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde, took turns tossing footballs at the Christmas tree across the stage, atop which sat a large meatball. As the two tried to knock off the meatball and failed repeatedly, Thomas came out and decided to join in the festivities and knocked the meatball off of the tree.
When Letterman talked with Thomas later on, he told a story about when he was a young disc jockey at WAYS 610AM in Charlotte, North Carolina. Thomas had been making a promotional appearance at a local car dealership. This dealership had also booked Clayton Moore to make an appearance, dressed in his Lone Ranger costume.
As the story goes, after the appearance Thomas, who at the time sported what he referred to as a "white man's Afro", and his friend, who was wearing high heeled shoes, tight pants, and a tie dyed shirt, went off to get "herbed up" behind a dumpster, after the broadcast ended. When they returned to pack up their equipment, they discovered that Moore was still there, as the car that was supposed to drive him to the Red Roof Inn never arrived. Thomas offered Moore a ride in his old Volvo and he accepted.
As they were sitting in traffic, an impatient middle-aged man driving a Buick, backed into the front end of Thomas' car, broke a headlight and drove away.
Thomas gave chase to the Buick through heavy traffic, finally caught up to the man and confronted him about the damage. The indignant driver denied breaking the headlight and Thomas threatened to call the police. The man said nobody would believe their story because Thomas and his friend looked like "two hippy freaks". At that moment, Thomas said that Moore, who was still in costume as the Lone Ranger, got out of the car and said to the man, "They'll believe me, citizen!"
Thomas had a successful career working in television, with one of his most notable roles being Eddie Lebec, Carla’s husband, on “Cheers.” Over the years, he’s appeared in shows like “Married People,” “Love and War,” Hercules” and most recently “Ray Donovan.” The actor also won two Emmy awards for his guest-starring role as Jerry Gold on “Murphy Brown.”
Thomas had been battling cancer. Jay’s wife Sally and his sons, Sam, Jake, and J.T., were by his side when he died.
Thomas made his annual Christmastime appearance with David Letterman for the first time in December 1998. Letterman and one of his other guests that evening, then-New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde, took turns tossing footballs at the Christmas tree across the stage, atop which sat a large meatball. As the two tried to knock off the meatball and failed repeatedly, Thomas came out and decided to join in the festivities and knocked the meatball off of the tree.
When Letterman talked with Thomas later on, he told a story about when he was a young disc jockey at WAYS 610AM in Charlotte, North Carolina. Thomas had been making a promotional appearance at a local car dealership. This dealership had also booked Clayton Moore to make an appearance, dressed in his Lone Ranger costume.
As the story goes, after the appearance Thomas, who at the time sported what he referred to as a "white man's Afro", and his friend, who was wearing high heeled shoes, tight pants, and a tie dyed shirt, went off to get "herbed up" behind a dumpster, after the broadcast ended. When they returned to pack up their equipment, they discovered that Moore was still there, as the car that was supposed to drive him to the Red Roof Inn never arrived. Thomas offered Moore a ride in his old Volvo and he accepted.
As they were sitting in traffic, an impatient middle-aged man driving a Buick, backed into the front end of Thomas' car, broke a headlight and drove away.
Thomas gave chase to the Buick through heavy traffic, finally caught up to the man and confronted him about the damage. The indignant driver denied breaking the headlight and Thomas threatened to call the police. The man said nobody would believe their story because Thomas and his friend looked like "two hippy freaks". At that moment, Thomas said that Moore, who was still in costume as the Lone Ranger, got out of the car and said to the man, "They'll believe me, citizen!"
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posted by Silverstone at 4:21 PM on August 24, 2017
posted by Silverstone at 4:21 PM on August 24, 2017
Here's the Lone Ranger story from 2014. You have to hear Jay tell it. It's all in the delivery.
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posted by Servo5678 at 4:25 PM on August 24, 2017 [8 favorites]
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posted by Servo5678 at 4:25 PM on August 24, 2017 [8 favorites]
I didn't recognize the name Jay Thomas at all, but I thought surely I would recognize the actor if he'd been a regular on Cheers, so I clicked through. And yeah, I totally remember the guy from not only Cheers (he was Carla's second husband) but many another show.
posted by orange swan at 4:28 PM on August 24, 2017
posted by orange swan at 4:28 PM on August 24, 2017
One of those character actors who was in everything. Such a good actor.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 4:30 PM on August 24, 2017
posted by GhostintheMachine at 4:30 PM on August 24, 2017
(Well, at least he wasn't run over by a Zamboni.)
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posted by Atom Eyes at 4:32 PM on August 24, 2017 [14 favorites]
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posted by Atom Eyes at 4:32 PM on August 24, 2017 [14 favorites]
What a loss! I loved him on Cheers and Murphy Brown.
69 is way too young. It ain't original, but fuck cancer.
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posted by Frayed Knot at 4:33 PM on August 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
69 is way too young. It ain't original, but fuck cancer.
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posted by Frayed Knot at 4:33 PM on August 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Is it just me or is 2017 starting to look a lot like 2016....
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posted by Malingering Hector at 5:04 PM on August 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by Malingering Hector at 5:04 PM on August 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
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IIRC, he was the unfortunate host of that dud "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire."
posted by Melismata at 5:07 PM on August 24, 2017
IIRC, he was the unfortunate host of that dud "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire."
posted by Melismata at 5:07 PM on August 24, 2017
I always loved him no matter what role he played - but wasn't he also known for being a real jerk? Something about him getting fired from cheers for saying he needed a raise to keep kissing Rhea Perlman? And he was known for being an ass on his radio show? Doesn't change how I feel about his acting because he was a great sitcom actor. Wonderful comic timing.
posted by double bubble at 5:12 PM on August 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by double bubble at 5:12 PM on August 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
Before most of his TV career, Thomas' radio DJ gigs led him to the L.A. market and somewhat-high-rated mornings at "Power 106" where, for 15 minutes, he was considered a rival with Howard Stern for "king of the shock jocks". I always liked him better, partly because he was less shocking and more entertaining. Can you say "multi-talented", boys and girls? I heard he was less of a jerk than his public reputation, but he partly promoted the 'jerk' image in the name of radio-shock-jockery.
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:17 PM on August 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:17 PM on August 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Is it just me or is 2017 starting to look a lot like 2016....
In that people who were alive at the beginning of it were no longer alive at the end of it? That's going to happen next year as well. The good news is people who were conceived at the start of the year will be born by the end of it.
posted by dannyboybell at 5:22 PM on August 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
In that people who were alive at the beginning of it were no longer alive at the end of it? That's going to happen next year as well. The good news is people who were conceived at the start of the year will be born by the end of it.
posted by dannyboybell at 5:22 PM on August 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
He starred in a sitcom for a while, Love & War, with Annie Potts. One episode he had to get a mammogram - serious lols. That episode is how I knew what to expect the first time and I literally think about it at every year when I go for the annual boob crush.
posted by double bubble at 5:24 PM on August 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by double bubble at 5:24 PM on August 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
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I think he was on WPLJ or another NY radio station in the late 70's. I remember the first time I saw him on Cheers, I could not believe it was the same person. He was a comedian. He was a shock jock. He definitely pissed people off in the name of ratings. I had never heard he was an ass irl. Regardless, RIP Jay, thanks for the laughs.
posted by AugustWest at 5:45 PM on August 24, 2017
I think he was on WPLJ or another NY radio station in the late 70's. I remember the first time I saw him on Cheers, I could not believe it was the same person. He was a comedian. He was a shock jock. He definitely pissed people off in the name of ratings. I had never heard he was an ass irl. Regardless, RIP Jay, thanks for the laughs.
posted by AugustWest at 5:45 PM on August 24, 2017
He's one of my very favorite character actors.
Jay Thomas always reminded me of my friend's dad, who is the most charming, stylish, classy guy I have ever known. He's at home now getting hospice care, and it will be symmetrical -- if painful -- should they pass away close together. :7(
Thanks for all the entertainment, sir.
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posted by wenestvedt at 6:04 PM on August 24, 2017
Jay Thomas always reminded me of my friend's dad, who is the most charming, stylish, classy guy I have ever known. He's at home now getting hospice care, and it will be symmetrical -- if painful -- should they pass away close together. :7(
Thanks for all the entertainment, sir.
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posted by wenestvedt at 6:04 PM on August 24, 2017
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posted by Joey Michaels at 6:13 PM on August 24, 2017
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:13 PM on August 24, 2017
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He did seem like a genuinely nice guy. On TV, at least; I never heard him on the radio.
posted by LeLiLo at 6:13 PM on August 24, 2017
He did seem like a genuinely nice guy. On TV, at least; I never heard him on the radio.
posted by LeLiLo at 6:13 PM on August 24, 2017
I always thought he played a great lovable dumb guy, and I think probably have to be pretty sharp to pull that off.
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posted by Saxon Kane at 6:56 PM on August 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by Saxon Kane at 6:56 PM on August 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 8:05 PM on August 24, 2017
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 8:05 PM on August 24, 2017
Is it just me or is 2017 starting to look a lot like 2016....
Baby Boomers are a huge generation and they're getting old. This volume of celebrity deaths is going to keep happening for about 20 years.
posted by Automocar at 8:44 PM on August 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
Baby Boomers are a huge generation and they're getting old. This volume of celebrity deaths is going to keep happening for about 20 years.
posted by Automocar at 8:44 PM on August 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
Thomas had a successful career working in television, with one of his most notable roles being Eddie Lebec, Carla’s husband, on “Cheers.”
Real first name of Eddie Lebec was "Guy."
posted by Chrysostom at 9:53 PM on August 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Real first name of Eddie Lebec was "Guy."
posted by Chrysostom at 9:53 PM on August 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Classic dude, I wouldn't have thought he was almost 70.
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posted by rhizome at 10:24 PM on August 24, 2017
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posted by rhizome at 10:24 PM on August 24, 2017
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posted by mikelieman at 10:52 PM on August 24, 2017
posted by mikelieman at 10:52 PM on August 24, 2017
His satellite radio show got some viral attention last year when he went off on Trump and Trump supporters. He did think Trump becoming President would be "funny" and that he won't bring up the wall again, so that didn't age well. But he also predicted he'll "have one of the most corrupt administrations, ever" ...
posted by dhartung at 1:19 AM on August 25, 2017
posted by dhartung at 1:19 AM on August 25, 2017
I thought he was a jerk -- because I remember him from his L.A. radio days and I hated those guy-guy morning radio shows. Good to know he was 'acting'.
The Clayton Moore story is both hilarious and horrifying -- two high dudes driving through the Charlotte to catch an asshole with the Lone Ranger. White people, man.
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posted by allthinky at 5:38 AM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Clayton Moore story is both hilarious and horrifying -- two high dudes driving through the Charlotte to catch an asshole with the Lone Ranger. White people, man.
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posted by allthinky at 5:38 AM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
A good friend has written his memory of being on Jay Thomas' show the day after Magic Johnson announced he had HIV.
posted by Sophie1 at 6:22 AM on August 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 6:22 AM on August 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by Hanuman1960 at 7:03 AM on August 25, 2017
posted by Hanuman1960 at 7:03 AM on August 25, 2017
AugustWest, he was on WKTU on the morning show.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:30 PM on August 25, 2017
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:30 PM on August 25, 2017
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