Heather Thomas, who turned 66 on September 8, was set to have a successful Hollywood career after becoming well-known for her major part in The Fall Guy with Lee Majors.
But thinking her father was seriously ill, she hurried to the hospital while the show’s climax was being filmed. Family and friends told her that her father, Leon, was doing well and that they were really worried about her when she arrived at the Santa Monica hospital.
The 28-year-old’s professional and personal life drastically changed as a result of her hospital stay, and this marked the start of an important new chapter in her life.
To find out more about this 1980s pinup’s journey, keep reading.
Like Farrah Fawcett and Heather Locklear, Heather had a natural beauty and talent that led her to pursue a career in entertainment.
Along with four other teenagers, she interviewed celebrities while hosting the Talking with a Giant chat show on NBC at the age of 14. She is now 66 and attended UCLA to study theater and cinema with the goal of advancing her acting, directing, and writing careers. She made an appearance in the brief comedy series Co-Ed Fever in 1979 prior to graduating.
The actress, who was born in Connecticut, had her big break in 1980 when she starred opposite Lee Majors, who was famous in the 1970s for playing Steve Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man.
Thomas, who acknowledges that she feels uncomfortable about the term, became a sex symbol while playing the role of Jody Banks, a stuntwoman and bounty hunter on the popular drama. “There was an obligatory condescension that comes with that,” she said in an interview with People. You fit the cliché of the blonde bimbo. But at the moment, I was just having fun.
Her struggle with substance misuse, which started in sixth grade when she began using drugs to preserve her outstanding grades, unfortunately caused her enjoyment to become extreme. Thomas said, “I was taking acid and getting straight As.” “I found it to be 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!
