2,911, This story has been shared 2,493 times. In Season 6, they got married and it seemed like Thomas would be sticking around. And my joke what that I got combat's pay to kiss her." I have to kiss Rhea Perlman. 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As it turns out, it appears Thomas' own big mouth got himself kicked off of the show. and more from FamousFix.com. Eventually, Carla finds out she is pregnant with Eddie's twins, and the pair decide to get married. He said, like in a movie, 'Are you sitting down?' Jay Thomas was a popular radio personality for years before he began receiving acting opportunities on television. Her zodiac sign is Aries. Jay Thomas was doing a radio interview and he was insulting toward having to kiss Rhea Perlman. Heck, note that in the quote above, Thomas even says he was specifically told Perlman was not the reason. videos 2023 Cable News Network. 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! 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. (1987 -. Thomas often played loud, sleazy types: He recurred on ShowtimesRay DonovanasMarty Grossman, the operator of a salacious TMZ-like website. He said, like in a movie, "Are you sitting down?" His most recent credits include appearances on Bones, NCIS: New Orleans, and Ray Donovan.. Jay Thomas died on Thursday at 69 after a battle with cancer. 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. 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He attended Gulf Coast College, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, Central Piedmont College, and Jacksonville University, graduating with an AA, BS, and MA. However, after his less than pleasant comments on a radio show he was hosting . 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). That was it for Eddie LeBec. Thanks Brian Raftery's excellent Cheers oral history in GQ for the Perlman, Thomas and Levine quotes. LeBec is a hockey player for. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. And it has nothing to do with Rhea. 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New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, TV Legends Revealed: Why You Don't Mess With Carla On Cheers. But if that's what cost me my job, my wife will probably say, 'Hey [expletive], I told you so.'". Cookies help us deliver our Services. It seemed like Thomas was going to become a regular character. Jay broadcast from California, New York, and New Orleans. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. I loved Jay Thomas as Eddie LeBec," she said. Help us build our profile of Rhea Perlman and Jay Thomas! A Warner Bros. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. In a statement, Thomas' friend and agent. His writing has been featured at ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Times, About.com, the Huffington Post and Gizmodo. . TV URBAN LEGEND: Jay Thomas' character on Cheers was killed off because he called Rhea Perlman ugly. His first TV role was in "Mork and Mindy". Thomas won two Emmy awards for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for his portrayal of Gold. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. 17 Things 'Cheers' Fans Never Knew. 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. Feel free (heck, I implore you!) Thomas also had a turn on "Cheers" as Rhea Perlman's TV-husband Eddie LeBec, a Boston Bruins hockey player who was killed by a Zamboni. 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. The answer was at the funeral Carla learned that he was a polygamist, and had a second wife (who looked just like Carla).. My e-mail address is bcronin@legendsrevealed.com. Thomas was 69. 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. Cocktail waitress Carla Tortelli, played by Rhea Perlman, meets ice hockey player. And it has nothing to do with Rhea. [January 2005]. 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. Thomas chased the vehicle, then confronted the other driver who denied anything had happened and told him he was going to call the cops. Soon after, rather than being added as a cast member like Bebe Neuwirth (who also made recurring appearances in seasons 6 and 7 before being officially joining the cast in Season 8), Thomas was done for good. READ THIS NEXT:Kissing Brad Pitt Was "Disgusting," This Co-Star Said. Contract disputes, on-set conflicts, or characters just not working out: Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Paramount Television/Courtesy Everett Collection, Chris Rock Jokes About Watching Emancipation to See Will Smith Getting Whipped In Advance of Netflix Special: Report, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved, Jay Thomas, 'Cheers' And 'Murphy Brown' Actor, Dead at 69, Killed Off: A History of TV Shows That Violently Rid Themselves of Core Characters, Will There Be A 'Sex/Life' Season 3 on Netflix? He was 69. First off, we needed a funny demise. Discovery Company. I have to kiss Rhea Perlman., Well, guess who happened to be listening. 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. 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 . Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. Jay runs afoul of Rhea Perlman! Questions and whispers remained about why she ultimately left the show, but she was not alone in questions. Thomas also had small but memorable parts in films such as Mr. Hollands Opus and the latter two Santa Clause movies. 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. It resulted in him getting his own show in Seattle years later. He boxed, wrestled, played football, and ran track. 3,913, This story has been shared 3,885 times. Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #rheaperlman . Most recently, he appeared in the Showtime series Ray Donovan. He insulted Rhea, which meant he insulted all of us. Kelsey Grammer, who played Frasier Crane, was also not a lock to remain on the show long-term. Burrows writes, "That was it. 4,038, This story has been shared 3,913 times. Jay Thomas was axed after he dissed Rhea Perlman publicly. All the leads from Friends in its final season were the same as in its first; the same with Seinfeld. Updated Although grew up in the south he most played "New Yorky" characters. 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. 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. And, according to the. He recalled: I'm doing Cheers, having the greatest time of my life, and one day I get a phone call from Jimmy. And The Lone . 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. Those curious viewers would be right because it sounds like Thomas's off-set behavior led to him getting kicked off the show. | Be sure to check out my Entertainment Urban Legends Revealed for more urban legends about the worlds of TV, Movies and Music! The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. And I love football, so my two big dreams were totally realized.. 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. 3,505, This story has been shared 2,911 times. 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