Heather Thomas, who celebrated her 66th birthday on September 8, gained fame for her leading role alongside Lee Majors in The Fall Guy and was poised for a flourishing career in Hollywood.
However, during the filming of the show’s finale, she rushed to the hospital, believing her father was in critical condition. Upon her arrival at the Santa Monica hospital, family and friends informed her that her father, Leon, was fine and that they were actually concerned about her.
This marked the beginning of a significant new chapter in the life of the 28-year-old, whose career and personal life took a dramatic turn due to her hospital visit.
Continue reading to learn more about the journey of this 1980s pinup.
With a natural beauty and talent reminiscent of Farrah Fawcett and Heather Locklear, Heather pursued her dreams in the entertainment industry.
At just 14, she hosted the NBC talk show Talking with a Giant, where she interviewed celebrities alongside four other teens. Now 66, she studied theater and film at UCLA, aiming to enhance her career as an actress, director, and writer. Before graduating, she appeared in the short-lived comedy series Co-Ed Fever in 1979.
The Connecticut-born actress landed her breakout role in 1980 on The Fall Guy, starring opposite Lee Majors, who was well-known in the 1970s for his role as Steve Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man.
As Jody Banks, a stuntwoman and bounty hunter on the hit show, Thomas became a sex symbol, a label she admits she feels conflicted about. In an interview with People, she expressed, “There was an obligatory condescension that comes with that. The blonde bimbo stereotype is one you fit into. But I was just enjoying myself at the time.”
Unfortunately, her enjoyment turned excessive as she struggled with substance abuse, a pattern that began in sixth grade when she started using drugs to maintain her high grades. “I was taking acid and getting straight As,” Thomas stated. “I thought it was mind-blowing.”
Her drug use evolved as her mindset shifted from childhood to adulthood. While studying at UCLA, she began using cocaine, and her addiction worsened in 1981, shortly after she started filming The Fall Guy. The 5-foot-7 actress also developed a weight obsession and began taking Lasix, a diuretic that caused extreme fatigue, feeling pressured to uphold her sex symbol image.
To combat her lethargy, she used cocaine for energy. “At first, I was still adjusting to the medication. I thought I was getting a good deal on my purchase,” she said, insisting that she never used cocaine on set and claiming it allowed her to work through the night. “It’s not cool to use it on set. It’s a personal torment.”
Despite her claims, a source close to her told People that her drug use was damaging her career. “Word was out on Heather. People knew about her problem.” Thomas’s weight plummeted from 125 to 105 pounds, and she often fell asleep between takes. “Sometimes I was in a mini-coma,” she said.
Eventually, she fainted in front of Majors, who alerted her manager and mother. Her mother, Gladdy Ryder, a former special education teacher, came to the set after the series finale to inform Heather that her father was in the hospital.
Rushing to St. John’s Hospital, she was met by family and friends who had arranged for her to enter a three-week drug treatment program. “It was a huge relief for me,” Thomas reflected. When she checked into detox, she mentioned having pneumonia, scarred lungs, and swollen kidneys. “I wanted to get off the roller coaster I’d been on. If my family hadn’t stepped in, I probably would have continued until I lost my job or died.”
“The doctors said I should have died three years ago,” she added.
Determined to recover, Thomas surrounded herself with supportive individuals who shared her goals. It was during this time that she met Allan Rosenthal, a co-founder of Cocaine Anonymous. The two later married, but she filed for divorce in September 1986.
That same month, she was struck by a car while crossing the street, severely injuring both legs.
After completing detox, her divorce, and surgery to repair significant damage to one leg, Thomas returned to acting, albeit in smaller roles on TV shows. She also appeared in films like Cyclone in 1987 and Red Blooded American Girl in 1990, starring Christopher Plummer.
Having moved on from her past, Thomas embarked on a new chapter in the 1990s. She married entertainment attorney Skip Brittenham in 1992. In June 2000, she welcomed her only biological child, India Rose, while also becoming a stepmother to his two daughters, Kristina and Shauna.
“I decided to step back and focus on writing for a while,” she told Reuters, noting that she had numerous restraining orders against stalkers. “I was being really harassed. One day, I saw someone use a knife to climb the fence. That was it; I had two small kids who needed to be raised. But I think now that I’m older, people won’t bother me as much.”
Thomas has also become an activist, previously serving on the boards of the Amazon Conservation Team and the Rape Foundation.
Identifying as a feminist—a term that might seem ironic for a former sex symbol—Thomas explained its significance to her. “When I was younger, I followed what others told me, but as I grew older, I refused to compromise. I wanted independence and control. This got me a home and the recognition I needed to open doors. Being seen in a positive light isn’t inherently bad. I don’t think I misled myself. I believe being a feminist doesn’t mean body shaming.”
While it’s unfortunate that Heather Thomas hasn’t returned to acting, we’re pleased she received the support she needed and is now on a lifelong journey of healing.
We fondly remember her as Jody Banks in The Fall Guy, starring alongside Lee Majors, a standout show from the 1980s!
We’d love to hear your thoughts on Thomas and her recovery!
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