My heart goes out to his family.. Fans of the program still flock to various streaming services to rewatch their favorite episodes from the 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. 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.. A notable exception was Cheers. Here is where things get a bit disputed. The answer was at the funeral Carla learned that he was a polygamist, and had a second wife (who looked just like Carla).. Thomas. Maybe Tina Fey, maybe. 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. It may have been even better than the original. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. READ THIS NEXT:Kissing Brad Pitt Was "Disgusting," This Co-Star Said. On the way, a car backed into their Volvo during a traffic jam and fled. His apprenticeship duties involved building sets at this summer stock theatre. Thomas best known roles were Remo DaVinci on ABCs Mork & Mindy, Eddie LeBec on NBCs Cheers and Jerry Gold on NBCs Murphy Brown, where he earned two Emmys. Finally, and most importantly, Kirstie Alley successfully replaced the female lead Shelley Long (who played Diane) after Season 5. Both Rhea Perlman and James Burrows deny it had anything to do with writing off Eddie. 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. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Watch popular content from the following creators: goodtimeediting (@goodtimeediting), Sumovie (@sumovie363), AlienWarr (@alienwarr), Norm! He was a delightful character. We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. Publicity Listings Jay Thomas was doing a radio interview and he was insulting toward having to kiss Rhea Perlman. 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. 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. I just don't see any reason for why Levine would make up such a story. He has written two books about comics for Penguin-Random House Was Superman a Spy? (We were worried that we wouldnt be able to use the name Zamboni but the company loved it. He was on the cast of Mork and Mindy for a time (20 episodes in total between 1979 and 1981). And my joke what that I got combat's pay to kiss her." It's likely all going to be paraphrase since it was a radio show. [January 2005]. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. He is most remembered for Mr. Holland's Opus. 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. One of the greatest strengths of the classic show is itsensemble cast, who portrayed the gang of compelling characters from the ladies' man bartender Sam Malone (Ted Danson) to his on-and-off academic girlfriend Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) who are still celebrated today. 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. Jay Thomas and Rhea Perlman were in an on-screen matchup.. On Screen Matchups. He was also a radio DJ and continued to host a radio show while he was on Cheers. It resulted in him getting his own show in Seattle years later. The show actually aired longer without its original female lead than it did with her, a remarkable achievement for any television show. Following his comment, Thomas was not simply written out of the showhe was written off the show through his character meeting a painful, embarrassing end. Updated photos, 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. . 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. Jay Thomas, the good-natured comic actor who starred on the sitcoms Murphy Brown and Cheers, died Thursday. The Behind-The-Scenes Drama On Cheers That Had Jay Thomas Written Off The Show. However, in Season 7, Eddie is killed off. 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. 1,267, This story has been shared 1,120 times. to write in with your suggestions for future installments! It's TV legend that Eddie was killed off because Thomas slammed his co-star on his radio show. Thomas died after a battle with cancer, his friend and longtime agent Don Buchwald confirmed to the New York Daily News. 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. No question about it, as Frasier literally got a spinoff show from his success on Cheers. 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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. 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. For years, Thomas appeared on David Lettermans late-night talk show during Christmas season and told an entertaining, never-gets-old story centered on Clayton Moore, star of TVs The Lone Ranger. Jay runs afoul of Rhea Perlman! Later, Bebe Neuwirth joined the cast as Frasier's wife Lilith. 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. However, Jay would try out his stand-up comic routines on the rest of the staff. 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He was 69. Although grew up in the south he most played "New Yorky" characters. and more from FamousFix.com. And he goes, "Look, we're not going to have you back on the show. 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). Jay Thomas was a popular radio personality for years before he began receiving acting opportunities on television. Thomas, certainly, but Levine? Jay Thomas died on Thursday at 69 after a battle with cancer. 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. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 6161 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Survivors include his wife Sally and sons Sam, Max and J.T. The actor was also known as an annual guest on The Late Show With David Letterman where he came on during the holiday season to help out with Christmas. 2,179, This story has been shared 1,917 times. 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! Rhea was listening to the show and his character was killed off by a 'Zamboni incident' a few episodes later. For more celebrity news delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Long said, We never fought. But, Perlman remembers the situation differently. (1982) after making a comment during a radio show in which he made fun of Rhea Perlman's looks. She heard the broadcast. He was an actor, he was a radio host and he was a comedian. 2023 Cable News Network. Well, it may have stemmed from a radio spot by Thomas where he was asked to talk about his role on the show. 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). His departure ended up being a bit more complicated, however, as viewers were a fan of Carla and Eddie as a couple. trivia, 1,836, This story has been shared 1,686 times. He was 69. In our world, you don't wind up sleeping with the fishes; you die a violent yet comedic death.". 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. As it turns out, though, one notable actor dealt with some off-screen drama that affected her character's arc. '", Thomas explained of what he said on the radio show, "[Listeners] would go, 'What's it like to kiss Carla?' 1,917, This story has been shared 1,836 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. He features legends about entertainment and sports at his website, Legends Revealed and other pop culture features at Pop Culture References. ", Naturally, Perlman didn't react well to Thomas' comments, and the writers decided to get rid of Eddie by killing him off. He won two Emmy awards for portraying Jerry Gold on"Murphy Brown". 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." Don Buchwald, his longtime agent and friend, said Thomas died at his. The episode Death Takes a Holiday on Icegot rid of Eddie for good (as Deciders Joe Reid recalled in a recent list). Kevin Levine, a former writer on Cheers, wrote that Thomas said on the spot, said something to the effect of Its brutal. 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. 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. 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. Sitcom vet Jay Thomas, best known for his recurring roles on Cheers and Murphy Brown, has died. 2. 3,885, This story has been shared 3,505 times. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. "Jay was fired unceremoniously," Burrows writes in his book. He crossed the family." 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 . "Jay was one of a kind, never at a loss for words and filled with so. Why did the show write him, and even have him die? I loved Jay Thomas as Eddie LeBec. And it has nothing to do with Rhea. Thomas played "Eddie LeBec," Carla's boyfriend and later husband on the show. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. I knew they were deciding [about] whether to add me or Bebe to the cast full-time, and I thought he was calling with good news. And he goes, 'Look, we're not going to have you back on the show. However, after his less than pleasant comments on a radio show he was hosting . All Rights Reserved. His other wife, it turned out, looked just like Carla. 4,038, This story has been shared 3,913 times. First off, we needed a funny demise. 1,091. in which he played Rhea Perlman's . ", The Sirius radio host also had roles in films including "Mr. Holland's Opus," "The Santa Clause 2" and "The Santa Clause 3." 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 Thomas kissed and told too much Between 1987 and 1989, the late Jay Thomas played the recurring role of hockey player Eddie LeBec on the hit sitcom Cheers. 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. 2,429, This story has been shared 2,179 times. 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. Jay now hosts a daily talk show on Sirius "Stars" channel and is selling high end real estate in Santa Barbara. 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. In a statement, Thomas' friend and agent. Jay was one of a kind, never at a loss for words and filled with so much fun and wonderfully wacky thoughts and behavior," his agent, Don Buchwald, said. When asked about kissing Carla on Cheers, Thomas noted he received combat pay for doing so. His writing has been featured at ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Times, About.com, the Huffington Post and Gizmodo. In addition to his work on TV, many know Thomas from his annual holiday season appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, where hed retell what Letterman once called the greatest talk show story of all time.. And Other Amazing Comic Book Trivia! Login The two-time Emmy winner most recently appeared on 'Ray Donovan' and spent many a Christmas season with David Letterman. His zodiac sign is Cancer. But he didn't consider himself lucky, and in fact, complained about Rhea while he was working on the show. He was 69. So Cheers had clearly established itself as a series where notable characters could be added to the ensemble. "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.". Biological father of musician and songwriter, The Jay Thomas Show was heard for a number of years on Sirius Satellite Radio Monday through Fridays, 3:00PM to 6:00PM on Sirius Stars Too, Channel 108. Read on to find out what Thomas said about Perlman and how his storyline came to a surprising end. "Rhea came up to my office and she was furiousI'd never seen her like this. videos Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. quotes, 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 . Actor Jay Thomas, best known for his roles in the classic sitcoms "Murphy Brown" and "Cheers," has died, according to his publicist. "It's brutal, I have to kiss Rhea Perlman". Feel free (heck, I implore you!) Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. 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. (@norm.of.cheers), Where everybody knows ur name (@welcome.to.cheers) . Eddie died in a Zamboni accident off-screen, and his character was only maligned further. And I think I did a pretty good job, although maybe it wasnt good enough for him.. He said, like in a movie, 'Are you sitting down?' 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). photos, Jay broadcast from California, New York, and New Orleans. He was 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. "That's not true. Thomas is survived by wife, Sally, and his three sons. The biggest surprise exit from the program came from Shelley Long. He attended Gulf Coast College, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, Central Piedmont College, and Jacksonville University, graduating with an AA, BS, and MA. "I'm doingCheers, having the greatest time of my life, and one day I get a phone call from Jimmy [Burrows]," Thomas said. He insulted Rhea, which meant he insulted all of us. . As it turns out, it appears Thomas' own big mouth got himself kicked off of the show. 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. 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. See 2,493, This story has been shared 2,429 times. Cookies help us deliver our Services. 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. Why did the show write him, and even have him die? and one book, 100 Things X-Men Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, from Triumph Books. On the big screen he was featured in "Mr. Holland's Opus", "A Smile Like Yours", and "Santa Claus" 2 and 3. 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.). I loved Jay Thomas as Eddie LeBec," she said. 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 Episode Guide: How Many Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Will There Be on Disney+? By the way I used to ride the elevator with Jay as he was heading to his morning show at Power / Magic, whatever the hell it was. Did you encounter any technical issues? Always had a smile and a kind word for me, a lowly board op at KIQQ. 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.