Renowned for her role alongside Lee Majors in “The Fall Guy,” Heather Thomas, who celebrated her 66th birthday on September 8, seemed destined for a stellar Hollywood career. However, her life took a dramatic turn when she rushed to the hospital after the show’s finale, believing her father had an emergency.
Upon arrival, Thomas discovered her father was well, and it was her own health at stake. This marked the beginning of a transformative journey for the 28-year-old actress, altering both her personal life and career.
Continue reading to uncover the events that shaped the former pinup girl of the 1980s!
Endowed with talent and movie star beauty comparable to Farrah Fawcett and Heather Locklear, Heather Thomas pursued her calling. At just 14, she hosted the NBC series “Talking with a Giant,” where she interviewed celebrities alongside four other teens.
Eager to elevate her career as an actor, director, and writer, the now 66-year-old Thomas studied film and theater at UCLA. A year before graduating, she appeared in the short-lived comedy series “Co-Ed Fever” (1979).
In 1980, she secured her breakthrough, winning her first leading role in the TV series “The Fall Guy,” playing Lee Majors’ sidekick. Portraying Jody Banks, a stuntwoman-bounty hunter, Thomas became a sex symbol, a title she embraced with mixed feelings.
However, her rise to fame coincided with struggles. Drug use, initiated in the sixth grade, escalated during her time at UCLA. Cocaine use intensified in 1981, and her obsession with weight led to unhealthy practices.