Jay Thomas: From Mork and Mindy to Cheers to Murphy Brown

Jay Thomas as Eddie LeBec in "Cheers". He played a variety of roles throughout the '70s, '80s, and '90s,
primarily in comedies.

Source: https://www.metv.com/stories/rip-jay-thomas-the-actor-behind-eddie-lebec-on-cheers-and-jerry-gold-on-murphy-brown

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Death by zamboni.

That was the ultimate fate of fictitious Boston Bruin goaltender Eddie LeBec, when he gave his life to save the life of a member of an ice show.

LeBec used to frequent the bar Cheers, and was married to barmaid Carla Tortelli.

He was played by Jay Thomas, who played a string of interesting characters on shows from “Mork and Mindy” to “Murphy Brown.”

Thomas died awhile back, and seeing his name reminded me of just how prolific he was in the 1980s.

Cater to the stars

Thomas played Remo DaVinci in the second and third seasons of “Mork and Mindy”. In the second season, Remo co-owned a delicatessen with his sister Jeanie. In the opening credits he is seen hastily slapping together a sandwich and smiling. I remember that smile best, because it was infectious. The next season, the DaVincis opened a restaurant. However, the creators of the show could not stop tinkering with it, driving "Mork and Mindy" to the bottom of the ratings. So, by the time the fourth and final season aired, the DaVincis and Jay Thomas were long gone.

Pulling the goalie

Jay Thomas resurfaced in series television in 1987 when he played the hapless, superstitious goaltender Eddie LeBec on “Cheers”. He dated Carla, played by Rhea Perlaman, and eventually married her. He appeared in nine episodes, ending with his death at the hands of a zamboni, only for it to be revealed he had another wife and twins.

Perfect foil

Thomas closed out the 1980s playing another romantic interest. In this case, he wasn't dim and bumbling like Eddie LeBec, but a foil to the headstrong “Murphy Brown”. He played Jerry Gold, a tabloid talk show host, who jousted with Murphy, and befriended and eventually dated her. He was the perfect foil, often referringh to her simply as, "Brown". Thomas was even suspected of being the father of her child when Murphy found the stick had turned blue at the end of the show’s third season. It ended up being someone else though

He was twice nominated for an Emmy for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series, in 1990 and 1991. He won in 1991.

The years after

Thomas would continue to act, starring in "Love and War" as newspaper columnist Jake Stein, first opposite Susan Dey then Annie Potts, from 1992 to 1995. He would appear as the Easter Bunny in "The Santa Clause 2 and 3", and as football coach and best friend of the title character in "Mr. Holland’s Opus". There are so many other roles, too numerous to mention.

Parting thoughts

In retrospect, the role of Eddie LeBec is a little bit of cultural stereotyping, and probably not the best depiction of either Canadians or hockey players. But “Cheers” really wasn’t heavy on social commentary anyway.

Beyond that, what I will always remember about Jay Thomas is the infectious smile, whether it was as a sandwich maker, down-on-his-luck goaltender, shock jock, or football coach.

He was a prolific actor, that I think anyone would recognize if they watched TV and movies in the 80s, and 90s.

But I will always remember him for that shocking death at the wheels of a zamboni.