Publicity Listings Actor Jay Thomas has died at 69. and one book, 100 Things X-Men Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, from Triumph Books. Jay Thomas, a comic and character actor whose credits include roles on Cheers and Murphy Brown, has died after a battle with cancer, according to his publicist Tom Estey. However, he never strayed to far from the airwaves as he launched the daily Jay Thomas Show on Sirius XM in 2005 and even served as a frequent substitute for Howard Stern. However, Jay would try out his stand-up comic routines on the rest of the staff. But odds are if you know Jay Thomas, who passed away today at the age of 69, you know him from his recurring role on Cheers as Carla Tortelli's hockey-playing husband Eddie LeBec. 'Cheers' actor Jay Thomas dead at 69 | Page Six Thomas, certainly, but Levine? 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The post, titled "The kiss of death for Eddie LeBec" reports that Jay Thomas made some negative comments about the show and about Perlman on his radio show: A caller asked him what his experience working on "Cheers" was like, Levine explained in the post, and Thomas "said something to the effect of 'It's brutal. A native of Kermit, Texas, who was raised in New Orleans, Thomas got his start in radio as a high school football announcer for the Rutherford High Rams in Panama City, Fla. Actor Jay Thomas, best known for his roles in the classic sitcoms "Murphy Brown" and "Cheers," has died at age 69. . So, the decision was made to write him out of the show, to the dismay of the fans as folks seemed to like the on-screen chemistry of Thomas and Perlman. See ', "Well," Levine wrote, "guess who happened to be listening. A representative for the actor said Thomas had been battling cancer. 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 Episode Guide: How Many Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Will There Be on Disney+? Well, it may have stemmed from a radio spot by Thomas where he was asked to talk about his role on the show. According to the book (via Page Six), a listener called in to Thomas' show and asked what it was like being part of Cheers, to which Thomas responded, "It's brutal. He briefly played professional football in the old World Football League. Discover jay thomas rhea perlman 's popular videos | TikTok and more from FamousFix.com. He features legends about entertainment and sports at his website, Legends Revealed and other pop culture features at Pop Culture References. 1,917, This story has been shared 1,836 times. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Actor Jay Thomas, best known for his roles in the classic sitcoms "Murphy Brown" and "Cheers," has died, according to his publicist. Heck, note that in the quote above, Thomas even says he was specifically told Perlman was not the reason. His claim to fame was to serve as the dresser for, He lost his recurring role as Carla's husband on, View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, Actors and Celebrities Who Died of Cancer, Sally Michelson 'Cheers' actor Jay Thomas is dead at 69 - ABC News The tale of Thomas awkward exit from Cheershas become a bit of sitcom lore, a piece of TV history thats recounted time and time again. And the Jay Thomas talk show airs daily on SiriusXM. Thomas moved to New York for a job at the FM station 99X and then did stand-up comedy at the Improv and acted in off-Broadway plays. When Thomas joined Cheers, he was already known for his starring role as Remo on Mork&Mindy and for appearing on other shows including Family Ties and The Love Boat. quotes, And, according to the co-creator of the series, Thomas could have appeared on even more episodes of the popular show if he hadn't insulted Perlman during a radio show. About that Lone Ranger story: Thomas was a radio host with big hair in Charlotte in the early 70s, and he and his producer offered to give Moore wearing his crime-fighter costume and mask for an appearance at a car dealership a ride to the airport. Best Picture Nominee Triangle of Sadness Is Now Streaming on Hulu, When Does 'Black Girl Missing' Premiere on Lifetime? quotes, 4,038, This story has been shared 3,913 times. However, Jay Thomas, who played ice hockey player Eddie Lebec on the show, was killed off not too long after marrying one of the main characters in the show to Carla. His most recent credits include appearances on Bones, NCIS: New Orleans, and Ray Donovan.. Thomas also had a turn on "Cheers" as Rhea Perlman's TV-husband Eddie LeBec, a Boston Bruins hockey player who was killed by a Zamboni. Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Disable on Observer.com. As a comedian and a person, Thomas was always unfiltered, hilarious and unafraid to cross the line, which explains how he got himself written off of Cheers. I have to kiss Rhea Perlman.. Jay Thomas Dead: 'Murphy Brown,' 'Cheers' Actor Was 69 - The Hollywood We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. In an oral history of Cheers published by GQ in 2012, Thomas, Perlman, and writer Ken Levine spoke about Thomas being written out of the show. How Playwright Sam Hunter Processed His Own Trauma, Netflix's 'Money Shot' Documentary Trailer Shines A Harsh Light On Pornhub, The "Most Trafficked Website In The World", 'The Skinny Shot' on Hulu Is An Ozempic "Documentary" That Plays More Like A Commercial, Where Is Estonia Located? 'Cheers': Here's Why Jay Thomas Left the Show - Outsider Actor Jay Thomas, Jesuit High School graduate, dies at 69 ), Then we needed (a) some comic spin for the story, and (b) something to discredit Eddie so the audience would ultimately be glad he was out of Carlas life. Feel free (heck, I implore you!) He was also a radio DJ and continued to host a radio show while he was on Cheers. Jay Thomas Jay Thomas Dead At 69: Fans Remember 'Cheers' Actor And His Late Night Maybe we should have. But there was a point where they [thought] maybe we would live together, and I didn't like the idea of Carla being with somebody because that would make you feel like [you're] not part of the people in the bar. American Actor Jay Thomas was born Jon Thomas Terrell on 12th July, 1948 in Kermit, Texas and passed away on 24th Aug 2017 Santa Barbara, California aged 69. What We Know, How to Watch Donald Trump's 2023 CPAC Speech: Live Stream Information, What Time Is Chris Rock's Netflix Special On Tonight? "I knew they were deciding [about] whether to add me or Bebe [Neuwirth] to the cast full-time, and I thought he was calling with good news. In the late '80s, actor Jay Thomas appeared on several episodes of Cheers as the love interestand eventual husband ofCarla Tortelli, who was played by Rhea Perlman. to write in with your suggestions for future installments! Jay Thomas Rhea Perlman and Jay Thomas in Cheers (1982) Close 36 of 47 Jay Thomas36 of 47 Rhea Perlmanand Jay Thomasin Cheers (1982) PeopleRhea Perlman, Jay Thomas TitlesCheers Photo by NBC/NBC via Getty Images - NBC Universal, Inc. Jay runs afoul of Rhea Perlman! Thomas was 69. He won two Emmy awards for portraying Jerry Gold on"Murphy Brown". Thomas. In the same oral history, Levine claimed that Perlman was upset about Thomas' radio show comment. Kelsey Grammer, who played Frasier Crane, was also not a lock to remain on the show long-term. He guest starred in an episode of "Hung" on HBO. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. 2023 Cable News Network. In 2013, John McEnroe filled in for Thomas, who was recovering from surgery. Updated On the big screen he was featured in "Mr. Holland's Opus", "A Smile Like Yours", and "Santa Claus" 2 and 3. Famous last words and two seconds later Jay Thomas was a "dead Cheers actor" walking. It resulted in him getting his own show in Seattle years later. Thomas. His apprenticeship duties involved building sets at this summer stock theatre. He crossed the family." Cheers: Heres Why Jay Thomas Left the Show. He was a regular guest on "The Late Show with David Letterman.". videos, Most recently, he appeared in the Showtime series Ray Donovan. Her zodiac sign is Aries. Thomas also starred on his own sitcom, playing an egotistical sportswriter opposite Susan Dey and then Annie Potts on CBSLove and War, a 1992-95 series created by Murphy Browns Diane English. 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Even before Coach's departure, the show had introduced a wrench into the main romantic relationship between bar owner Sam Malone and uptight waitress Diane Chambers. The actor, who went on to have a recurring role onMurphy Brown,added, "Look, I made jokes about kissing Murphy Brown [too]. Cheers was an iconic show of the time, but it certainly had a lot going on behind the scenes. TIL actor Jay Thomas got his character, Eddie LeBec, killed off of the TV show "Cheers" when he talked about how horrible it was to kiss his character's wife, Rhea Perlman, on his radio show. When asked about kissing Carla on Cheers, Thomas noted he received combat pay for doing so. Jay Thomas, 'Murphy Brown' and 'Cheers' Actor, Dies at 69 - NBC News And he goes, "Look, we're not going to have you back on the show. 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He won his first award as emcee of the Jesuit High School talent show. Cocktail waitress Carla Tortelli, played by Rhea Perlman, meets ice hockey player. 1,091. His departure ended up being a bit more complicated, however, as viewers were a fan of Carla and Eddie as a couple. A few episodes of recurring bliss and then one day on Jays radio show a caller asked him what it was like to be on Cheers? Eddie, by then, was working as a penguin in an ice show so we arrived at a Zamboni machine accident. and more from FamousFix.com, See Jay Thomas was a popular radio personality for years before he began receiving acting opportunities on television. He was 69. As it turns out, though, one notable actor dealt with some off-screen drama that affected her character's arc. For Kelsey to suggest anything other is not to give himself enough credit. It seemed like Thomas was going to become a regular character. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 6161 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. But advertising revenue helps support our journalism. Thomas' best known-roles were on the small screen. In a way thats fitting, as Thomas was also known for his annual telling of a Lone Ranger story onThe Late Show with David Lettermans annual Christmas episodes. The biggest surprise exit from the program came from Shelley Long. After kicking off his TV career with a supporting role in Robin Williams Mork & Mindy,Thomas became the go-to guy for sitcoms needing a pinch hitter (Family Tiesone week,The Golden Girls the next). Emmy-winning actor JAY THOMAS is best known to audiences as doomed hockey star Eddie LeBec on "Cheers" and tabloid talker Jerry Gold on "Murphy Brown," but he's also a show business renaissance man, having worked as a stand-up comic, disc jockey, sportscaster and reality show host. Jay Thomas - imdb.com Reared in New Orleans, he was always active in sports and performing. He became a sports announcer and DJ in college. Below are steps you can take in order to whitelist Observer.com on your browser: Click the AdBlock button on your browser and select Don't run on pages on this domain. Actor, Radio DJ Jay Thomas Dies At 69 - CBS Los Angeles Perlman was onCheersthroughout its 11-season run and won four Emmy awards for her work. 4. Jay Thomas, the good-natured . Jay Thomas was a popular radio personality for years before he began receiving acting opportunities on television. Jay Thomas was born in Kermit, Texas, to Katherine (Guzzino), a tap-dancing South Louisiana belle of Italian descent, and T. Harry Terrell, Sr., an oil man. In the late '80s, actor Jay Thomas appeared on several episodes of Cheers as the love interestand eventual husband ofCarla Tortelli, who was played by Rhea Perlman. He was on the cast of Mork and Mindy for a time (20 episodes in total between 1979 and 1981). Sitcom veteran Jay Thomas, best known for his roles on Cheers and Murphy Brown, passed away on Thursday. In his new book, Directed by James Burrows, Cheers co-creator James Burrows tells his version ofthe story. 1,836, This story has been shared 1,686 times. Read on to find out what Thomas said about Perlman and how his storyline came to a surprising end. trivia, She said, "I want him off the show.". The answer was at the funeral Carla learned that he was a polygamist, and had a second wife (who looked just like Carla).. Eddie is killed off (off-screen) in Season 8's "Death Takes a Holiday on Ice," where we also learn he was married to another woman. Jay Thomas, actor and legendary Charlotte DJ, dies at 69 | Charlotte Thomas and the producer had just gotten stoned, he said. American Actor Jay Thomas was born Jon Thomas Terrell on 12th July, 1948 in Kermit, Texas and passed away on 24th Aug 2017 Santa Barbara, California aged 69. Jay Thomas was axed after he dissed Rhea Perlman publicly. Well, Ken Levine, longtime TV comedy writer, producer and creative consultant on Cheers, backs up Thomas' version of events, noting: Rhea came up to my office and she was furious I'd never seen her like this. He played Rhea Perlman's husband, Eddie LeBec, on "Cheers," and won the best guest actor Emmy in 1990 and 1991 for his portrayal of the character . Don Buchwald, his longtime agent and friend, said Thomas died at his. He and Letterman also took turns throwing a football, trying to dislodge a meatball from the top of a Christmas tree. Discovery Company. In addition, Levine wrote about the incident on his amazing blog here, explaining how he came up with the episode where they killed off Eddie. In addition, the actress denies the story, saying: That's not true. But he didn't consider himself lucky, and in fact, complained about Rhea while he was working on the show. He was on the cast of Mork and Mindy for a time (20 episodes in total between 1979 and 1981). As it turns out, it appears Thomas' own big mouth got himself kicked off of the show. At his funeral, it was revealed that Eddie secretly had another wife. Carla got pregnant with Eddies kid in Season Six, leading to the two getting hitched in the two-parter Little Carla, Happy at Last.. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Jay Thomas attends "Hateship Loveship" film premiere at the Cinema Society in New York, April 8, 2014. Thomas played the obnoxious TV talk-show host Jerry Gold (and Candice Bergens on-again, off-again boyfriend) on CBSMurphy Brown from 1989-98 winning a pair of Emmys after his stint as Rhea Perlmans husband Eddie LeBec, a French-Canadian goalie with the Boston Bruins, on NBCsCheers. news Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Sitcom veteran Jay Thomas, best known for his roles on Cheers and Murphy Brown, passed away on Thursday. He won the best actor for and was a co-writer of best comedy at the LA iTV Fest for "Talker". 2,179, This story has been shared 1,917 times. READ THIS NEXT:Kissing Brad Pitt Was "Disgusting," This Co-Star Said. photos, He was 69. Questions and whispers remained about why she ultimately left the show, but she was not alone in questions. He said something to the effect of Its brutal. Originally intended for just a short story arc, Diane's new boyfriend, Kelsey Grammer's Frasier Crane, ended up sticking with the show for the rest of its run (plus 11 more seasons in his own spinoff series). Thats exactly what it looked like was going to happen with Jay Thomas' character, Eddie LeBec, who joined the show in Season 5 as the boyfriend to Rhea Perlman's character, the perpetually pregnant waitress Carla. Folks came and went on the sitcom, its how things go for the most part. My heart goes out to his family.. He attended Gulf Coast College, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, Central Piedmont College, and Jacksonville University, graduating with an AA, BS, and MA. And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed author Brian Cronin tackles whether the character played by Jay Thomas on Cheers was killed off because the actor insulted Rhea Perlman. And my joke what that I got combat's pay to kiss her." Characters Killed Off Because Of The Actor's Bad Behavior - Looper.com "Rhea came up to my office and she was furiousI'd never seen her like this. In a statement, Thomas' friend and agent. . Plus, nobody could throw a football like Jay. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Instead, Thomas is sent off to perform in an ice show, making just two appearances in Season 7 after seven episodes in Season 6. I mean, he got angry once, pretty late in the game about something that I wish he had told me about long before, because I made every effort to change it. Thomas has been telling the story for years, but hes not exactly the best source, as people always tend to come up with reasons for why they didnt get a particular job. And it has nothing to do with Rhea. 'Cheers,' 'Murphy Brown' Character Actor Jay Thomas Dead at 69 Cheers Actor Jay Thomas Dead at 69 - TVLine (1982) after making a comment during a radio show in which he made fun of Rhea Perlman's looks. Jay Thomas, the good-natured comic actor who starred on the sitcoms Murphy Brown and Cheers, died Thursday. "Since he was no longer on the show, Eddie also had to go. READ THIS NEXT:The Most Hated TV Couples of All Time. He starred in his own TV shows "Married People" with Beth Armstrong and "Love and War" with Susan Dey and later Annie Potts. Jay Thomas was one of the funniest and kindest men I have had the honor to call both client and friend for 25 years plus. Fans of the program still flock to various streaming services to rewatch their favorite episodes from the show. Jay now hosts a daily talk show on Sirius "Stars" channel and is selling high end real estate in Santa Barbara.