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. Cheers was an iconic show from decades ago starring Ted Danson and friends. ", Naturally, Perlman didn't react well to Thomas' comments, and the writers decided to get rid of Eddie by killing him off. Don Buchwald, his longtime agent and friend, said Thomas died at his. He got his start on television in 1979 as Remo DaVinci, the co-owner of a New York deli, on ABCsMork & Mindy. Perlman was onCheersthroughout its 11-season run and won four Emmy awards for her work. 2023 Cable News Network. Long said, We never fought. They were right. 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 show actually aired longer without its original female lead than it did with her, a remarkable achievement for any television show. 2,911, This story has been shared 2,493 times. 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. All Rights Reserved. Like on Carson, when [Don] Rickles would come out. It also gave us a story arc for Carla. Jay Thomas and Rhea Perlman were in an on-screen matchup.. On Screen Matchups. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. He was on the cast of Mork and Mindy for a time (20 episodes in total between 1979 and 1981). Kevin Levine, a former writer on Cheers, wrote that Thomas said on the spot, said something to the effect of Its brutal. Start Time, How To Watch. 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. 1,120, This story has been shared 1,091 times. 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. Eventually, she became pregnant with twins, and the pair got married. LeBec is a hockey player for. Login My e-mail address is bcronin@legendsrevealed.com. 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. 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 Other Amazing Comic Book Trivia! 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. As it turns out, it appears Thomas' own big mouth got himself kicked off of the show. 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. "Since he was no longer on the show, Eddie also had to go. Actor Jay Thomas has died at 69. Well, it may have stemmed from a radio spot by Thomas where he was asked to talk about his role on the show. On the big screen he was featured in "Mr. Holland's Opus", "A Smile Like Yours", and "Santa Claus" 2 and 3. Official Sites. In addition, the actress denies the story, saying: That's not true. 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. Born Rhea Jo Perlman on 31st March, 1948 in Brooklyn, New York, she is famous for Cheers. It may have been even better than the original. He is survived by his wife Sally and sons Sam, Jake and J.T. 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. Eddie, by then, was working as a penguin in an ice show so we arrived at a Zamboni machine accident. photos, New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, TV Legends Revealed: Why You Don't Mess With Carla On Cheers. As it turns out, it appears Thomas' own big mouth got himself kicked off of the show. At his funeral, it was revealed that Eddie secretly had another wife. My heart goes out to his family.. Famous last words and two seconds later Jay Thomas was a "dead Cheers actor" walking. Finally, and most importantly, Kirstie Alley successfully replaced the female lead Shelley Long (who played Diane) after Season 5. 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? Jay Thomas was known for his TV roles, most notably as Jerry Gold on Murphy Brown in the 1990s. "It's brutal, I have to kiss Rhea Perlman". And my joke what that I got combat's pay to kiss her." 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. Those curious viewers would be right because it sounds like Thomas's off-set behavior led to him getting kicked off the show. 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. He first told the story in 1998 and returned almost every year to tell it again until Letterman retired. He has written two books about comics for Penguin-Random House Was Superman a Spy? And, according to the. She heard the broadcast. The episode Death Takes a Holiday on Icegot rid of Eddie for good (as Deciders Joe Reid recalled in a recent list). Although grew up in the south he most played "New Yorky" characters. 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. A few episodes of recurring bliss and then one day on Jays radio show a caller asked him what it was like to be on Cheers? He became a sports announcer and DJ in college. 3,913, This story has been shared 3,885 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. 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. 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. 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. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. — -- Actor Jay Thomas has died, ABC News has confirmed. 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. So why do I lean toward it being true? READ THIS NEXT:The Most Hated TV Couples of All Time. 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. I have to kiss Rhea Perlman. Jay Thomas, the good-natured comic actor who starred on the sitcoms Murphy Brown and Cheers, died Thursday. Don Buchwald, his longtime agent and friend, said Thomas died at his home in Santa Barbara after a battle with cancer. to write in with your suggestions for future installments! 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). He is most remembered for Mr. Holland's Opus. As it turns out, though, one notable actor dealt with some off-screen drama that affected her character's arc. Why did the show write him, and even have him die? Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Sitcom veteran Jay Thomas, best known for his roles on Cheers and Murphy Brown, passed away on Thursday. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. 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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. Cocktail waitress Carla Tortelli, played by Rhea Perlman, meets ice hockey player. 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. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. ", The Sirius radio host also had roles in films including "Mr. Holland's Opus," "The Santa Clause 2" and "The Santa Clause 3." Instead, his character was killed off-screen in Season 8. quotes, He's acted here and there ever since (including a memorable supporting role in Mr. Holland's Opus). Here is where things get a bit disputed. 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. 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. He was an actor, he was a radio host and he was a comedian. Thomas played Eddie LeBec, a fictional goalie for the Boston Bruins, who began dating waitress Carla. 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. 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. Burrows writes, "That was it. He also found time to put in three years of small college football as a QB. 1,313, This story has been shared 1,267 times. 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. He also hosted a radio show in Los Angeles and, most recently, had a daily gig with SiriusXM. He was 69. On the way, a car backed into their Volvo during a traffic jam and fled. In our world, you don't wind up sleeping with the fishes; you die a violent yet comedic death.". Rhea Perlman and Jay Thomas - Dating, Gossip, News, Photos list. In fact, plenty of younger viewers have found the series through streaming services (all 11 seasons are currently available to watch on Hulu). The answer was at the funeral Carla learned that he was a polygamist, and had a second wife (who looked just like Carla).". He was 69. She heard this interview and Eddie was written off the show. 3,505, This story has been shared 2,911 times. Thomas. Jay Thomas was never seen on Cheers again. Survivors include his wife Sally and sons Sam, Max and J.T. 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! "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. 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. "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.". The Behind-The-Scenes Drama On Cheers That Had Jay Thomas Written Off The Show. In Season 6, they got married and it seemed like Thomas would be sticking around. 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 . He attended Gulf Coast College, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, Central Piedmont College, and Jacksonville University, graduating with an AA, BS, and MA. 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. And The Lone . 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. Kissing Brad Pitt Was "Disgusting," This Co-Star Said. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. 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). Thomas also portrayed Carla's (played by Rhea Perlman) hockey player . To read our full stories, please turn off your ad blocker.We'd really appreciate it. Cheers: Heres Why Jay Thomas Left the Show. quotes, 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. trivia, Thomas and the producer had just gotten stoned, he said. 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. He starred in his own TV shows "Married People" with Beth Armstrong and "Love and War" with Susan Dey and later Annie Potts. Did you encounter any technical issues? 1,836, This story has been shared 1,686 times. He won two Emmy awards for portraying Jerry Gold on"Murphy Brown". Thomas' best known-roles were on the small screen. 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! Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. 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. Well, it may have stemmed from a radio spot by Thomas where he was asked to talk about his role on the show. He is most remembered for Mr. Holland's Opus. Kelsey Grammer, who played Frasier Crane, was also not a lock to remain on the show long-term. He recalled: I'm doing Cheers, having the greatest time of my life, and one day I get a phone call from Jimmy. He was on the cast of Mork and Mindy for a time (20 episodes in total between 1979 and 1981). Later, Bebe Neuwirth joined the cast as Frasier's wife Lilith. He was 69. Carla got pregnant with Eddies kid in Season Six, leading to the two getting hitched in the two-parter Little Carla, Happy at Last.. Jay Thomas, the good-natured . Heres how show writer Ken Levine tells it, per his blog: He was terrific in the episodes, he and Rhea made a very cute couple and so he was brought back periodically as her boyfriend. . Jay Thomas was axed after he dissed Rhea Perlman publicly. His apprenticeship duties involved building sets at this summer stock theatre. 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. 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.. He said, like in a movie, 'Are you sitting down?' | I loved Jay Thomas as Eddie LeBec," she said. He said, like in a movie, "Are you sitting down?" 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. 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. Thomas first picked off the meatball in 1998 when then-New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde tried the stunt but failed. 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. He will be dearly missed by so many, Estey said in a statement to CNN. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Eddie died in a Zamboni accident off-screen, and his character was only maligned further. TV URBAN LEGEND: Jay Thomas' character on Cheers was killed off because he called Rhea Perlman ugly. First off, we needed a funny demise. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. and more from FamousFix.com, See Long was a superstar on the program for years, but, ultimately, she was not long for the show as many expected when it first hit the small screen. 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