I loved Jay Thomas as Eddie LeBec. 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). 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? When Will 'Attack on Titan' Season 4, Part 4 Air? 'Yellowstone' Return Date Info, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of 'Today' After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Where Is Hoda Kotb? When this actor insulted his co-star, he evidently couldn't foresee the consequences he would face. 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. 1,313, This story has been shared 1,267 times. 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. Login 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. 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). My heart goes out to his family.. He won the best actor for and was a co-writer of best comedy at the LA iTV Fest for "Talker". Jay Thomas, the good-natured comic actor who starred on the sitcoms Murphy Brown and Cheers, died Thursday. Mark King & Rhea Perlman 1983 Press Photo 7x9 Cheers TV Show *P69a ", Naturally, Perlman didn't react well to Thomas' comments, and the writers decided to get rid of Eddie by killing him off. 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 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.. 1,686, This story has been shared 1,313 times. 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. Kevin Levine, a former writer on Cheers, wrote that Thomas said on the spot, said something to the effect of Its brutal. Most recently, he appeared in the Showtime series Ray Donovan. 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. As you can imagine, important people heard that interview and were not happy about it. 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. He also found time to put in three years of small college football as a QB. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In his new book, Directed by James Burrows, Cheers co-creator James Burrows tells his version ofthe story. 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.. I have to kiss Rhea Perlman." First off, we needed a funny demise. Cheers was an iconic show from decades ago starring Ted Danson and friends. 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. Actor Jay Thomas attends the SIRIUS XM. Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Disable on Observer.com. In Season 6, they got married and it seemed like Thomas would be sticking around. In our world, you don't wind up sleeping with the fishes; you die a violent yet comedic death.". Jay broadcast from California, New York, and New Orleans. He guest starred in an episode of "Hung" on HBO. 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. Actor Jay Thomas, Jesuit High School graduate, dies at 69 We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. 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. Feel free (heck, I implore you!) He was 69. 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 . 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!" 4. and more from FamousFix.com. (1987 -. To read our full stories, please turn off your ad blocker.We'd really appreciate it. Be sure to check out my Entertainment Urban Legends Revealed for more urban legends about the worlds of TV, Movies and Music! Later, Bebe Neuwirth joined the cast as Frasier's wife Lilith. What about Long and Ted Danson? More recently, he appeared as tabloid journalist Marty Grossman on "Ray Donovan. His writing has been featured at ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Times, About.com, the Huffington Post and Gizmodo. 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 was an actor, he was a radio host and he was a comedian. He boxed, wrestled, played football, and ran track. At 16 he started as a stand-up on Bourbon St. 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. videos, Rhea was listening to the show and his character was killed off by a 'Zamboni incident' a few episodes later. Thomas also portrayed Carla's (played by Rhea Perlman) hockey player . Cookies help us deliver our Services. In this weeks installment, Was Superman a Spy? He features legends about entertainment and sports at his website, Legends Revealed and other pop culture features at Pop Culture References. 1,836, This story has been shared 1,686 times. [January 2005]. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Reared in New Orleans, he was always active in sports and performing. trivia, And I love football, so my two big dreams were totally realized.. His other wife, it turned out, looked just like Carla. 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? Folks came and went on the sitcom, its how things go for the most part. In a statement, Thomas' friend and agent. videos Cocktail waitress Carla Tortelli, played by Rhea Perlman, meets ice hockey player. Kissing This "Cheers" Star Was "Brutal," Cast Member Said - Yahoo! 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. His first TV role was in "Mork and Mindy". Carla got pregnant with Eddies kid in Season Six, leading to the two getting hitched in the two-parter Little Carla, Happy at Last.. Not Rheathey were talking about Carla. jay thomas, Other Works 1,091. Every holiday season since 1998, he was asked by, Was the Morning man at New York City radio station WXRK, just prior to. Thomas' best known-roles were on the small screen. ), 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. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Don Buchwald, his longtime agent and friend, said Thomas died at his home in Santa Barbara after a battle with cancer. — -- Actor Jay Thomas has died, ABC News has confirmed. Jay Thomas - Biography - IMDb 2,911, This story has been shared 2,493 times. He earned that promotion.. 2,179, This story has been shared 1,917 times. (@norm.of.cheers), Where everybody knows ur name (@welcome.to.cheers) . Jay Thomas was axed after he dissed Rhea Perlman publicly. 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. Like on Carson, when [Don] Rickles would come out. Jay Thomas attends "Hateship Loveship" film premiere at the Cinema Society in New York, April 8, 2014. Why did the show write him, and even have him die? 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! 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. 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. The biggest surprise exit from the program came from Shelley Long. Jay Thomas and Rhea Perlman were in Cheers (1982) together.. About. And I think I did a pretty good job, although maybe it wasnt good enough for him.. 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 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.