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The answer was at the funeral Carla learned that he was a polygamist, and had a second wife (who looked just like Carla).". Jay Thomas, the good-natured comic actor who starred on the sitcoms Murphy Brown and Cheers, died Thursday. His other wife, it turned out, looked just like Carla. Long said, We never fought. One of his biggest roles was as loudmouth TV host Jerry Gold . He was also a radio DJ and continued to host a radio show while he was on Cheers. Kelsey Grammer, who played Frasier Crane, was also not a lock to remain on the show long-term. That was it for Eddie LeBec. Jay Thomas was a popular radio personality for years before he began receiving acting opportunities on television. 2,429, This story has been shared 2,179 times. Then on to LA radio as the #1 jock at Power 106, The Ensemble Theater Group, and recurring on "Cheers" as Carla's ice hockey playing husband. on CBS' Murphy Brown from 1989-98 winning a pair of Emmys after his stint as Rhea Perlman's husband Eddie LeBec, a French-Canadian goalie with the . Jay Thomas Dead At 69: Fans Remember 'Cheers' Actor And His Late Night Thomas chased the vehicle, then confronted the other driver who denied anything had happened and told him he was going to call the cops. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Burrows writes, "That was it. Jay Thomas may not be a name many kids know now, but he was a constant comedic presence for those that came of age in the 80s and 90sespecially if you were a sitcom superfan. Jay now hosts a daily talk show on Sirius "Stars" channel and is selling high end real estate in Santa Barbara. 2023 Cable News Network. Thomas TV career started in the early 80s, and he quickly amassed a number of credits. 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. Cheers was an iconic show from decades ago starring Ted Danson and friends. 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. His first TV role was in "Mork and Mindy". 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. But advertising revenue helps support our journalism. He said something to the effect of Its brutal. Thomas, certainly, but Levine? 4,038, This story has been shared 3,913 times. 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 appeared on nine episodes altogether. 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! 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. We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. 'Cheers' actor Jay Thomas dead at 69 | Page Six Thomas first picked off the meatball in 1998 when then-New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde tried the stunt but failed. 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.. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, TV Legends Revealed: Why You Don't Mess With Carla On Cheers. 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. "I'm doingCheers, having the greatest time of my life, and one day I get a phone call from Jimmy [Burrows]," Thomas said. 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. and more from FamousFix.com. 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. He was 69. But, Perlman remembers the situation differently. As it turns out, though, one notable actor dealt with some off-screen drama that affected her character's arc. Thomas. Jay Thomas and Rhea Perlman were in Cheers(1982) together. 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. His apprenticeship duties involved building sets at this summer stock theatre. His Lone Ranger story was the best I heard in 30 years. He has written two books about comics for Penguin-Random House Was Superman a Spy? My e-mail address is bcronin@legendsrevealed.com. Cheers Actor Jay Thomas Dead at 69 - TVLine 'Cheers': Here's Why Jay Thomas Left the Show - Outsider Actor Jay Thomas, best known for his roles in the classic sitcoms "Murphy Brown" and "Cheers," has died at age 69. . Thomas played Eddie LeBec, a fictional goalie for the Boston Bruins, who began dating waitress Carla. He later landed a recurring role as the hockey-playing husband of Rhea Perlman's character on "Cheers." He won back-to-back Emmys in 1991-92 for the guest role on "Murphy Brown," playing outspoken . Well, it may have stemmed from a radio spot by Thomas where he was asked to talk about his role on the show. Jay Thomas, 'Murphy Brown' and 'Cheers' Actor, Dies at 69 - NBC News 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. Perlman was onCheersthroughout its 11-season run and won four Emmy awards for her work. The Behind-The-Scenes Drama On Cheers That Had Jay Thomas Written Off Actor Jay Thomas attends the SIRIUS XM. Rhea Perlman and Jay Thomas - Dating, Gossip, News, Photos Thomas. Carla got pregnant with Eddies kid in Season Six, leading to the two getting hitched in the two-parter Little Carla, Happy at Last.. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Thomas popped up 9 times between 1987 and 1989, starting with the Season Five two-parter Never Love a Goalie.Carla (Rhea Perlman) and Eddie, the goalie for the Boston Bruins, hit it off immediately, even if their love affair put a temporary jinx on the Bruins wining streak. Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #rheaperlman . In a statement, Thomas' friend and agent. 1,267, This story has been shared 1,120 times. Don Buchwald, his longtime agent and friend, said Thomas died at his. Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Enabled on this site. ', "Well," Levine wrote, "guess who happened to be listening. Like on Carson, when [Don] Rickles would come out. Thanks Brian Raftery's excellent Cheers oral history in GQ for the Perlman, Thomas and Levine quotes. Heck, note that in the quote above, Thomas even says he was specifically told Perlman was not the reason. He also hosted a radio show in Los Angeles and, most recently, had a daily gig with SiriusXM. A Warner Bros. 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. These became such a distraction that management changed his duties to mowing the lawn on the grounds. Every holiday season since 1998, he was asked by, Was the Morning man at New York City radio station WXRK, just prior to. (1987 -. "Cheers" is one of the most famous sitcoms of all-time, and has maintained its relevance over the years, following its series finale in 1993. Recently he has hosted shows at Carolines in NYC and the Bellagio in Vegas. And Other Amazing Comic Book Trivia! Later, Bebe Neuwirth joined the cast as Frasier's wife Lilith. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 6161 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Cocktail waitress Carla Tortelli, played by Rhea Perlman, meets ice hockey player Eddie LeBec (Jay Thomas) in Season 5 and the two continue to date on-and-off for a while. - IMDb Mini Biography By: He boxed, wrestled, played football, and ran track. As it turns out, though, one notable actor dealt with some off-screen drama that affected her character's arc. Actor Jay Thomas has died at 69. Survivors include his wife Sally and sons Sam, Max and J.T. He was on the cast of Mork and Mindy for a time (20 episodes in total between 1979 and 1981). Well, it may have stemmed from a radio spot by Thomas where he was asked to talk about his role on the show. Jay Thomas, the good-natured . 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. Always had a smile and a kind word for me, a lowly board op at KIQQ. Publicity Listings Feel free (heck, I implore you!) 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. When asked about kissing Carla on Cheers, Thomas noted he received combat pay for doing so. Eddie showed up a few more times in Season Six and Seven, but then something major happened off-camera in between April and November of 1989. What We Know About Her Continued 'Today Show' Absence, Joy Behar Scolds Co-Hosts for Texting 'The View' EP With Their Problems: "He's a Producer, Not a Gynecologist". Jay Thomas, Actor on 'Murphy Brown' and 'Cheers,' Is Dead at 69 He won his first award as emcee of the Jesuit High School talent show. All the leads from Friends in its final season were the same as in its first; the same with Seinfeld. He was on the cast of Mork and Mindy for a time (20 episodes in total between 1979 and 1981). TV URBAN LEGEND: Jay Thomas' character on Cheers was killed off because he called Rhea Perlman ugly. | Jay Thomas and Rhea Perlman : r/Cheers - reddit I have to kiss Rhea Perlman." Hilariously, though, the writers made his demise rather humorous as they revealed he had another wife who looked just like Carla on the show. 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. and one book, 100 Things X-Men Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, from Triumph Books. Instead, Thomas is sent off to perform in an ice show, making just two appearances in Season 7 after seven episodes in Season 6. He recalled: I'm doing Cheers, having the greatest time of my life, and one day I get a phone call from Jimmy. 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 Episode Guide: How Many Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Will There Be on Disney+? 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. Kissing Brad Pitt Was "Disgusting," This Co-Star Said. For Kelsey to suggest anything other is not to give himself enough credit. Rhea Perlman Once Got This Actor Fired For Making Fun Of Her SinceCheers was primarily set at a bar, we only saw Carlas home life when it pulled up a stool. Jay Thomas and Rhea Perlman were in Cheers (1982) together.. About. All Rights Reserved. Eventually, Carla finds out she is pregnant with Eddie's twins, and the pair decide to get married. 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. Paramount Television Actor Jay Thomas, known for his roles on "Murphy Brown" and "Cheers," died Thursday following a battle with . Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Mark King & Rhea Perlman 1983 Press Photo 7x9 Cheers TV Show *P69a at the best online prices at eBay! 4. As it turns out, it appears Thomas' own big mouth got himself kicked off of the show. 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). quotes, The actor, who went on to have a recurring role onMurphy Brown,added, "Look, I made jokes about kissing Murphy Brown [too]. He attended Gulf Coast College, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, Central Piedmont College, and Jacksonville University, graduating with an AA, BS, and MA. READ THIS NEXT:Kissing Brad Pitt Was "Disgusting," This Co-Star Said. At his funeral, it was revealed that Eddie secretly had another wife. I loved Jay, Letterman told CNN in a statement. "It's brutal, I have to kiss Rhea Perlman". 1,836, This story has been shared 1,686 times. In his new book, Directed by James Burrows, Cheers co-creator James Burrows tells his version ofthe story. 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. Official Sites. (We were worried that we wouldnt be able to use the name Zamboni but the company loved it. He won two Emmy awards for portraying Jerry Gold on"Murphy Brown". Eddie, by then, was working as a penguin in an ice show so we arrived at a Zamboni machine accident. He guest starred in an episode of "Hung" on HBO. He is most remembered for Mr. Holland's Opus. Thomas is survived by wife, Sally, and his three sons. Finally we decided to marry them. Thomas also portrayed Carla's (played by Rhea Perlman) hockey player . 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.. Jay Thomas attends "Hateship Loveship" film premiere at the Cinema Society in New York, April 8, 2014. Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Disable on Observer.com. 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. 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. Maybe Tina Fey, maybe. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. "Jay was one of a kind, never at a loss for words and filled with so. Jay Thomas Dead: 'Murphy Brown,' 'Cheers' Actor Was 69 - The Hollywood 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. By Ken Levine: The kiss of death for Eddie LeBec - Blogger They were right. 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. In the same oral history, Levine claimed that Perlman was upset about Thomas' radio show comment. Why did the show write him, and even have him die? ", Naturally, Perlman didn't react well to Thomas' comments, and the writers decided to get rid of Eddie by killing him off. He became a sports announcer and DJ in college. Start Time, How To Watch. His character was not just dropped but killed off - death by . I have to kiss Rhea Perlman. He crossed the family." Jay Thomas passes away at 69 - Yahoo! Thomas died after a battle with cancer, his friend and longtime agent Don Buchwald confirmed to the New York Daily News. "Since he was no longer on the show, Eddie also had to go. "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. (1982) after making a comment during a radio show in which he made fun of Rhea Perlman's looks. Thomas and the producer had just gotten stoned, he said. Jay runs afoul of Rhea Perlman! However, after his less than pleasant comments on a radio show he was hosting . When this actor insulted his co-star, he evidently couldn't foresee the consequences he would face. Thomas went on to have a recurring role on Murphy Brown and then a starring role on the sitcom Love and War (from Murphy Brown creator Diane English). Although grew up in the south he most played "New Yorky" characters. Triangle of Sadness Ending Explained: Does Abigail Kill Yaya? 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 Jerry Gold on "Murphy Brown." 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. Jay Thomas Dead: 'Murphy Brown,' 'Cheers' Actor Was 69 - The Hollywood His writing has been featured at ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Times, About.com, the Huffington Post and Gizmodo. He was 69. Jay Thomas, 'Cheers' actor, dead at 69 | CNN "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.".