More recently, he appeared as tabloid journalist Marty Grossman on "Ray Donovan. Thomas began his career in entertainment as a radio DJ before trying his hand at stand-up comedy and acting. Instead, Thomas is sent off to perform in an ice show, making just two appearances in Season 7 after seven episodes in Season 6. In a statement to the NY Daily News, Thomas' rep, Don Buchwald, said, "Jay was one of . Cocktail waitress Carla Tortelli, played by Rhea Perlman, meets ice hockey player. Jay Thomas was never seen on Cheers again. Actor Jay Thomas, who cut his teeth in the entertainment business as a legendary DJ for Charlotte radio station Big WAYS in the 1970s, has died at 69. . SinceCheers was primarily set at a bar, we only saw Carlas home life when it pulled up a stool. 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. How to Stream Garcelle Beauvais' New Lifetime Movie Online, Stream It Or Skip It: 'Gulmohar' on Hulu, a Hindi Family-Ties Drama Marking the Return of Sharmila Tagore, Steven Spielberg Broke Down in Tears Seeing Paul Dano and Michelle Williams as His Parents in 'The Fabelmans', Is Brendan Frasers The Whale Based on a True Story? Don Buchwald, his longtime agent and friend, said Thomas died at his. Appearing as an annual Christmas guest alongside Letterman has been fun, hesaid in 2014. He was 69. During the panel discussion for the 200th episode of Cheers that aired in Season 9, Thomas heckled the cast and crew (presumably as a joke) over being written off the show. As it turns out, it appears Thomas' own big mouth got himself kicked off of the show. Jay Thomas, the good-natured . ", The Sirius radio host also had roles in films including "Mr. Holland's Opus," "The Santa Clause 2" and "The Santa Clause 3." Questions and whispers remained about why she ultimately left the show, but she was not alone in questions. Always had a smile and a kind word for me, a lowly board op at KIQQ. 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. All Rights Reserved. 3.2M views. Fans of the program still flock to various streaming services to rewatch their favorite episodes from the show. Discovery Company. He also found time to put in three years of small college football as a QB. Thomas also portrayed Carla's (played by Rhea Perlman) hockey player . Thomas TV career started in the early 80s, and he quickly amassed a number of credits. One of his biggest roles was as loudmouth TV host Jerry Gold . "I'm doingCheers, having the greatest time of my life, and one day I get a phone call from Jimmy [Burrows]," Thomas said. LeBec is a hockey player for. Jay Thomas portrayed Eddie LeBec in nine episodes between 1987 and 1989, his biggest role since his memorable two-year run as deli owner Remo DaVinci on Mork and Mindy, and just before he'd. Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Disable on Observer.com. It may have been even better than the original. 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. Levine continues, "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 Carla's life. But odds are if you know Jay Thomas, who passed away today at the age of 69, you know him from his recurring role onCheers as Carla Tortellis hockey-playing husband Eddie LeBec. What about Long and Ted Danson? 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Watch popular content from the following creators: goodtimeediting (@goodtimeediting), Sumovie (@sumovie363), AlienWarr (@alienwarr), Norm! (1982) after making a comment during a radio show in which he made fun of Rhea Perlman's looks. In our world, you don't wind up sleeping with the fishes; you die a violent yet comedic death.". In fact, plenty of younger viewers have found the series through streaming services (all 11 seasons are currently available to watch on Hulu). He will be dearly missed by so many, Estey said in a statement to CNN. 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. 2,429, This story has been shared 2,179 times. These became such a distraction that management changed his duties to mowing the lawn on the grounds. Born Rhea Jo Perlman on 31st March, 1948 in Brooklyn, New York, she is famous for Cheers. 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 appeared as a leading guest star in dozens of sitcoms, cop shows, and MOW's opposite Judith Light, John Tuturro, and Christine Lahti. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. He was on the cast of Mork and Mindy for a time (20 episodes in total between 1979 and 1981). Levine also notes that this episode ended up earning them an Emmy nod, making the whole situation a win for everyone involved except Thomas, of course. Thomas played "Eddie LeBec," Carla's boyfriend and later husband on the show. . Jay Thomas and Rhea Perlman were in Cheers (1982) together.. About. Thomas was 69. and more from FamousFix.com, See I loved Jay, Letterman told CNN in a statement. Why did the show write him, and even have him die? Thomas first picked off the meatball in 1998 when then-New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde tried the stunt but failed. He had a few small roles during the early 1980s, popping up on big shows like Family Ties and The Golden Girls, and in 1987 (in the middle of Season 5) he joined Cheers as Boston Bruins goalie Eddie LeBec. His apprenticeship duties involved building sets at this summer stock theatre. Eventually, she became pregnant with twins, and the pair got married. Jay broadcast from California, New York, and New Orleans. 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Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? in which he played Rhea Perlman's . Jay Thomas, an actor and radio personality whose work on the television series "Murphy Brown" won him two Emmy Awards in the early 1990s, died on Thursday at his home in Santa Barbara, Calif.. Why did the show write him, and even have him die? He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 6161 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. "Jay was one of a kind, never at a loss for words and filled with so. [January 2005]. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Sitcom veteran Jay Thomas, best known for his roles on Cheers and Murphy Brown, passed away on Thursday. Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #rheaperlman . 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. He insulted Rhea, which meant he insulted all of us. His zodiac sign is Cancer. Jay runs afoul of Rhea Perlman! The actor, who went on to have a recurring role onMurphy Brown,added, "Look, I made jokes about kissing Murphy Brown [too]. Actor Jay Thomas attends the SIRIUS XM. 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. 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). Jay was one of a kind, never at a loss for words and filled with so much fun and wonderfully whacky thoughts and behavior, wrote Buchwald. Actor Jay Thomas, who won two Emmys for his guest role on Murphy Brown, died Thursday after a battle with cancer, The Daily News reports. quotes, I have to kiss Rhea Perlman. And Other Amazing Comic Book Trivia! A representative for the actor said Thomas had been battling cancer. Thomas appeared on nine episodes altogether. 1,120, This story has been shared 1,091 times. Jay Thomas was axed after he dissed Rhea Perlman publicly. Thomas often played loud, sleazy types: He recurred on ShowtimesRay DonovanasMarty Grossman, the operator of a salacious TMZ-like website. Discover short videos related to jay thomas rhea perlman on TikTok. '", Thomas explained of what he said on the radio show, "[Listeners] would go, 'What's it like to kiss Carla?' While obviously one of the most amazing things that can happen to an actor working in television is to be part of a show that turns out to be a major hit (look at the ways that, say, the cast of Friends went from an assortment of mostly no-names, and "Hey, that's the girl from the Bruce Springsteeen video!" Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. 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. He starred in his own TV shows "Married People" with Beth Armstrong and "Love and War" with Susan Dey and later Annie Potts. His character was not just dropped but killed off - death by . That was it for Eddie LeBec. He is survived by his wife Sally and sons Sam, Jake and J.T. Ive always wanted to be one of those guys on late-night talk shows who everybody wants to see. 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. In this weeks installment, Was Superman a Spy? Sometimes they are true but sometimes it is a matter of wishful thinking and they didn't get the job for other, more traditional reasons (the actor wasn't good enough for the role, there wasn't enough money in the budget to add another regular, etc.). He has written two books about comics for Penguin-Random House Was Superman a Spy? Actor Jay Thomas, best known for his roles in the classic sitcoms "Murphy Brown" and "Cheers," has died, according to his publicist. And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed and Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent? 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. Kelsey Grammer, who played Frasier Crane, was also not a lock to remain on the show long-term. 2,179, This story has been shared 1,917 times. All the leads from Friends in its final season were the same as in its first; the same with Seinfeld. (@norm.of.cheers), Where everybody knows ur name (@welcome.to.cheers) . Thomas is survived by wife, Sally, and his three sons. 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. He was also a radio DJ and continued to host a radio show while he was on Cheers. Survivors include his wife Sally and sons Sam, Max and J.T. . "It's brutal, I have to kiss Rhea Perlman". videos, He was replaced by a young hayseed named Woody Boys, played by Woody Harrelson (amazingly enough, the character was named Woody before Harrelson was cast), who improbably became even more popular than Coach! and one book, 100 Things X-Men Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, from Triumph Books. Now obviously, when you have a cast as large as Cheers, while they were able to add characters more easily than other shows, it was still not an easy thing to do, so there were plenty of reasons why the show would not be willing to add Thomas to the actual cast. Eddie, by then, was working as a penguin in an ice show so we arrived at a Zamboni machine accident. 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. He worked at stations in Panama City; Pensacola, Fla.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Nashville; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Charlotte, N.C., where he earned nicknames like The Mouth of the South, The Scorpion and The Prince of Darkness.. His other wife, it turned out, looked just like Carla. Well, it may have stemmed from a radio spot by Thomas where he was asked to talk about his role on the show. The episode Death Takes a Holiday on Icegot rid of Eddie for good (as Deciders Joe Reid recalled in a recent list). 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 WhenCheers came back for Season Eight, Eddie was nowhere to be seen. Kissing Brad Pitt Was "Disgusting," This Co-Star Said. READ THIS NEXT:The Most Hated TV Couples of All Time. Cheers was an iconic show of the time, but it certainly had a lot going on behind the scenes. His departure ended up being a bit more complicated, however, as viewers were a fan of Carla and Eddie as a couple. I have to kiss Rhea Perlman." READ THIS NEXT:Kissing Brad Pitt Was "Disgusting," This Co-Star Said. And I think I did a pretty good job, although maybe it wasnt good enough for him.. Maybe we should have. The same writer wrote about Kelsey on the show, Quite simply, he was retained because he was terrific and once everyone saw the dynamics between his character and the others in the bar it was clear that Frasier Crane was a keeper. Plus, nobody could throw a football like Jay. news He won his first award as emcee of the Jesuit High School talent show. He's acted here and there ever since (including a memorable supporting role in Mr. Holland's Opus). The guy took one look at Thomas and his producer and said, Oh really, who do you think they are going to believe, you two hippie freaks or me? At this point, Moore emerged from the backseat and said, Theyll believe me, citizen.. He won the best actor for and was a co-writer of best comedy at the LA iTV Fest for "Talker". He said something to the effect of Its brutal. to global superstars), there is something that is almost more amazing, which is to join one of these shows after it has become a hit and become accepted as part of the show's DNA. The answer was at the funeral Carla learned that he was a polygamist, and had a second wife (who looked just like Carla).. See Thomas' best known-roles were on the small screen. However, I think it is fair to say a leading cause in Thomas' dismissal had to do with comments he made on his radio program (Thomas still kept his disc jockey job even while acting). Heck, note that in the quote above, Thomas even says he was specifically told Perlman was not the reason. 4,038, This story has been shared 3,913 times. His Lone Ranger story was the best I heard in 30 years. It seemed like Thomas was going to become a regular character. He crossed the family." Long said, We never fought. I loved Jay Thomas as Eddie LeBec. CBR Senior Writer Brian Cronin has been writing professionally about comic books for over fifteen years now at CBR (primarily with his Comics Should Be Good series of columns, including Comic Book Legends Revealed). Season 6 saw the show change dramatically with the addition of the aforementioned Kirstie Alley, and in that season, LeBec and Carla got married. Publicity Listings She said, "I want him off the show.". To explain his departure we decided to just kill him, which led to one of my favorite episodes that David and I wrote, Death Takes a Holiday on Ice. Thomas and the producer had just gotten stoned, he said. For Kelsey to suggest anything other is not to give himself enough credit. He got his start on television in 1979 as Remo DaVinci, the co-owner of a New York deli, on ABCsMork & Mindy. The comedy, about a bar in Boston, lost one of its main characters after the third season when Nicholas Colasanto, who played the beloved bartender Coach, passed away. 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 was 69. Later, Bebe Neuwirth joined the cast as Frasier's wife Lilith. He was a regular guest on "The Late Show with David Letterman.". He became a sports announcer and DJ in college. I just don't see any reason for why Levine would make up such a story. 1,267, This story has been shared 1,120 times. And he goes, 'Look, we're not going to have you back on the show. 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 Episode Guide: How Many Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Will There Be on Disney+? quotes, Thomas also had small but memorable parts in films such as Mr. Hollands Opus and the latter two Santa Clause movies. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Enabled on this site. "Since he was no longer on the show, Eddie also had to go. He was 69. When asked about kissing Carla on Cheers, Thomas noted he received combat pay for doing so. On Cheers, Jay played Carla's (Rhea Perlman) hockey goalie husband, Eddie LeBec, for two years before his character was memorably hit by a Zamboni. He features legends about entertainment and sports at his website, Legends Revealed and other pop culture features at Pop Culture References. "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.". First off, we needed a funny demise. Rhea Perlman's on-screen hockey player husband was played by Jay Thomas, a somewhat lesser-known (at least these days) actor who probably should've considered himself lucky to act alongside Rhea.