He's acted here and there ever since (including a memorable supporting role in Mr. Holland's Opus). 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. Help us build our profile of Rhea Perlman and Jay Thomas! Thomas first picked off the meatball in 1998 when then-New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde tried the stunt but failed. 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. 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. She heard the broadcast. So Cheers had clearly established itself as a series where notable characters could be added to the ensemble. No question about it, as Frasier literally got a spinoff show from his success on Cheers. In addition, the actress denies the story, saying: That's not true. He said something to the effect of Its brutal. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I have to kiss Rhea Perlman. All Rights Reserved. Cocktail waitress Carla Tortelli, played by Rhea Perlman, meets ice hockey player. More recently, he appeared as tabloid journalist Marty Grossman on "Ray Donovan. Famous last words and two seconds later Jay Thomas was a "dead Cheers actor" walking. 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.. It resulted in him getting his own show in Seattle years later. He was a regular guest on "The Late Show with David Letterman.". And I think I did a pretty good job, although maybe it wasnt good enough for him.. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 69. Returning to the stage he starred in plays written and directed by Wendy Wasserstein and Woody Allen. At his funeral, it was revealed that Eddie secretly had another wife. ", Naturally, Perlman didn't react well to Thomas' comments, and the writers decided to get rid of Eddie by killing him off. His departure ended up being a bit more complicated, however, as viewers were a fan of Carla and Eddie as a couple. 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. His apprenticeship duties involved building sets at this summer stock theatre. In fact, plenty of younger viewers have found the series through streaming services (all 11 seasons are currently available to watch on Hulu). 2. ), 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. As it turns out, though, one notable actor dealt with some off-screen drama that affected her character's arc. 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. Jay Thomas, the good-natured . He was also a radio DJ and continued to host a radio show while he was on Cheers. 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. And he goes, "Look, we're not going to have you back on the show. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. She said, "I want him off the show.". Actor Jay Thomas attends the SIRIUS XM. 'Yellowstone' Return Date Info, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of 'Today' After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Where Is Hoda Kotb? But he didn't consider himself lucky, and in fact, complained about Rhea while he was working on the show. I don't see it, so I'm willing to believe that, at the very least, Thomas' insult of Perlman was a notable cause in his removal from the show. However, Jay would try out his stand-up comic routines on the rest of the staff. Thomas was 69. The show actually aired longer without its original female lead than it did with her, a remarkable achievement for any television show. Start Time, How To Watch. Discover short videos related to jay thomas rhea perlman on TikTok. Later, Bebe Neuwirth joined the cast as Frasier's wife Lilith. Instead, his character was killed off-screen in Season 8. and one book, 100 Things X-Men Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, from Triumph Books. In a statement, Thomas' friend and agent. On the big screen, Thomas played the Easter Bunny in the Santa Clause movies released in 2002 and 2006 and appeared in such films as Legal Eagles (1986), Straight Talk (1992),A Smile Like Yours (1997), Mr. Hollands Opus (1995) as football coach Bill Meister Dragonfly (2002) and Labor Pains (2009). Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Enabled on this site. — -- Actor Jay Thomas has died, ABC News has confirmed. 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 colorful anecdote involved Thomas giving a ride to a costumed Clayton Moore, star of TVs The Lone Ranger, and getting involved in a minor car crash that escalated into more. Always had a smile and a kind word for me, a lowly board op at KIQQ. 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. 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. His first TV role was in "Mork and Mindy". "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. For Kelsey to suggest anything other is not to give himself enough credit. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. And The Lone . 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. A notable exception was Cheers. Thomas played "Eddie LeBec," Carla's boyfriend and later husband on the show. 3.2M views. 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. TV URBAN LEGEND: Jay Thomas' character on Cheers was killed off because he called Rhea Perlman ugly. Sitcom vet Jay Thomas, best known for his recurring roles on Cheers and Murphy Brown, has died. 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. Eventually, Carla finds out she is pregnant with Eddie's twins, and the pair decide to get married. Follow him on Twitter at @Brian_Cronin and feel free to e-mail him suggestions for stories about comic books that you'd like to see featured at brianc@cbr.com! Fans of the program still flock to various streaming services to rewatch their favorite episodes from the show. Has three sons in total, Jake and Sam, with wife Sally Michelson, plus another son, During the summer of 1967, Jay (then Jon Terrell) worked as an apprentice at the Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, Connecticut. He is most remembered for Mr. Holland's Opus. I loved Jay Thomas as Eddie LeBec," she said. Carla got pregnant with Eddies kid in Season Six, leading to the two getting hitched in the two-parter Little Carla, Happy at Last.. And it has nothing to do with Rhea. Actor Jay Thomas has died at 69. He briefly played professional football in the old World Football League. Triangle of Sadness Ending Explained: Does Abigail Kill Yaya? He recurred on Mork & Mindy as deli owner Remo DaVinci, played the love interest of Rhea Perlmans Carla Tortelli on Cheers, and played tabloid talk show host Jerry Gold on Murphy Brown.. Thomas chased the vehicle, then confronted the other driver who denied anything had happened and told him he was going to call the cops. 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. 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. His other wife, it turned out, looked just like Carla. He crossed the family." These became such a distraction that management changed his duties to mowing the lawn on the grounds. 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. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Jay Thomas, the good-natured comic actor who starred on the sitcoms Murphy Brown and Cheers, died Thursday. He was 69. What Thomas had to say about kissing his co-star did not go over well with others involved in the show, and they retaliated in a very creative way. She said, 'I want him off the show,'" Levine claimed. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. My heart goes out to his family.. Cheers: Heres Why Jay Thomas Left the Show. But if that's what cost me my job, my wife will probably say, 'Hey [expletive], I told you so.'". I became that guy. Thomas also had small but memorable parts in films such as Mr. Hollands Opus and the latter two Santa Clause movies. Perlman was onCheersthroughout its 11-season run and won four Emmy awards for her work. Thomas often played loud, sleazy types: He recurred on ShowtimesRay DonovanasMarty Grossman, the operator of a salacious TMZ-like website. 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. I have to kiss Rhea Perlman., Well, guess who happened to be listening. Deaths aren't exactly commonplace for sitcoms, so Eddie's death may leave viewers wondering if there was a real-life reason for the narrative choice. videos Thomas also portrayed Carla's (played by Rhea Perlman) hockey player . "Jay was one of a kind, never at a loss for words and filled with so. In his new book, Directed by James Burrows, Cheers co-creator James Burrows tells his version ofthe story. Thomas' best known-roles were on the small screen. We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. 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). 2:25 PM EDT, Fri August 25, 2017, Jay Thomas' Lone Ranger Story Letterman Dec 2014. 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. He won the best actor for and was a co-writer of best comedy at the LA iTV Fest for "Talker". It seemed like Thomas was going to become a regular character. Maybe we should have. Sitcom veteran Jay Thomas, best known for his roles on Cheers and Murphy Brown, passed away on Thursday. It's TV legend that Eddie was killed off because Thomas slammed his co-star on his radio show. 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. Jay runs afoul of Rhea Perlman! 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. At 16 he started as a stand-up on Bourbon St. Eddie died in a Zamboni accident off-screen, and his character was only maligned further. Jay Thomas the storyteller kept a story alive year after year, and Jay Thomas the actor gave sitcom fans a story to tell year after year. As it turns out, though, one notable actor dealt with some off-screen drama that affected her character's arc. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. On the way, a car backed into their Volvo during a traffic jam and fled. Thomas died after a battle with cancer, his friend and longtime agent Don Buchwald confirmed to the New York Daily News. in which he played Rhea Perlman's . 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 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. Survivors include his wife Sally and sons Sam, Max and J.T. 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. 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. ', "Well," Levine wrote, "guess who happened to be listening. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. Burrows writes, "That was it. jay thomas, Other Works 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. 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 was an iconic show from decades ago starring Ted Danson and friends. Publicity Listings Well, it may have stemmed from a radio spot by Thomas where he was asked to talk about his role on the show. Jay broadcast from California, New York, and New Orleans. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Cookies help us deliver our Services. Levine and his writing partner David Isaacs killed Eddie off-screen in a freak Zamboni accident, and then revealed at his funeral that hed been a polygamist all along. "It's brutal, I have to kiss Rhea Perlman". quotes, But advertising revenue helps support our journalism. 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. It is very difficult to work your way into a hit TV show after it has become a hit. He became a sports announcer and DJ in college. His character was not just dropped but killed off - death by . WhenCheers came back for Season Eight, Eddie was nowhere to be seen. Read on to find out what Thomas said about Perlman and how his storyline came to a surprising end. He boxed, wrestled, played football, and ran track. Although grew up in the south he most played "New Yorky" characters. When NYC beckoned Jay continued his eclectic career as a top rated morning DJ, comic at the Improve in NYC, and began an active off Broadway acting career, that saw him mix drama and comedy. As you can imagine, important people heard that interview and were not happy about it. The episode Death Takes a Holiday on Icegot rid of Eddie for good (as Deciders Joe Reid recalled in a recent list). Watch popular content from the following creators: goodtimeediting (@goodtimeediting), Sumovie (@sumovie363), AlienWarr (@alienwarr), Norm! 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.