Heather Thomas, known for her role alongside Lee Majors in *The Fall Guy*, turned 66 on September 8. She was on track for a very successful Hollywood career.
However, after the show’s finale, her mother appeared on set, and Thomas rushed to the hospital, thinking her father had an emergency. But when she arrived at the Santa Monica hospital, her family and friends told her that her father, Leon, was fine—it was her they were worried about.
This marked the start of a new chapter in the 28-year-old’s life, which would change both her personal life and career.
Read on to find out what happened to the famous 1980s pinup girl!
Heather Thomas had talent and natural beauty that compared to stars like Farrah Fawcett and Heather Locklear. She was born to be in the spotlight.
At just 14, she hosted an NBC show called *Talking with a Giant*, where she and other teens interviewed celebrities.
Wanting more, Thomas studied film and theater at UCLA, aiming to be an actor, director, and writer. Before she graduated, she appeared in a short-lived comedy series called *Co-Ed Fever* in 1979.
In 1980, Thomas, who was born in Connecticut, landed her first major role in *The Fall Guy*. She played Jody Banks, a stuntwoman and bounty hunter, alongside Lee Majors, who was famous for his role in *The Six Million Dollar Man*.
Her role made her popular, especially among male viewers, who saw her as a sex symbol. Thomas had mixed feelings about this label.
“There’s a kind of condescension that comes with it,” she told *People*. “You fit the stereotype of the blonde bimbo. But at the time, I was just having fun.”
Unfortunately, Thomas’s fun also involved drugs, a habit that began before her role as Jody Banks.
She revealed that her drug use started in sixth grade to help keep her grades up. “I was taking acid and getting straight A’s. I thought it was mind-expanding,” Thomas said.
As Heather Thomas grew older, the drugs she used also changed.
While studying at UCLA, Thomas started using cocaine. By 1981, just one year into her role on *The Fall Guy*, her drug problems got worse.
Feeling pressure to live up to her image as a sex symbol, the 5-foot-7 actress became obsessed with her weight. She began taking Lasix, a diuretic that can cause extreme tiredness.
To fight the tiredness, she used more cocaine to stay energized.
“At first, I loved the drug. I felt like I was getting a lot out of it. It kept me awake all night, and I could still work the next day,” she said, but claimed she never used it on set. “Cocaine isn’t accepted on sets. It’s no longer cool. It’s just a personal nightmare.”
However, a source close to Thomas told *People* that her drug use was hurting her career. “People knew Heather had a problem,” the source said.
Thomas’s weight dropped from 125 to 105 pounds, and she began falling asleep between scenes. She admitted, “Sometimes, I was in a mini coma.”
One day, she passed out in front of her co-star, Lee Majors. He contacted her manager, who then called her mother.
After the final episode of *The Fall Guy* was filmed, Thomas’s mother, Gladdy Ryder, showed up on set and told her that her father was in the hospital.
Thomas rushed to St. John’s Hospital, but when she arrived, she was met by her family and friends. They were there to admit her into a three-week drug rehabilitation program.
“That day was a big relief for me,” Thomas said. When she checked into detox, she had pneumonia, scarred lungs, and inflamed kidneys. “I’d been on a roller coaster, and I wanted to get off. If my family hadn’t stepped in, I probably would have kept going until I lost my job or died.”
She also said, “The doctors told me I should have been dead three years ago.”
Determined to recover, Thomas surrounded herself with people who supported her goal of staying drug-free. That’s when she met Allan Rosenthal, co-founder of Cocaine Anonymous, and married him when she was 28. They divorced in September 1986.
That same month, Thomas was hit by a car while crossing the street, leaving her with serious injuries to both legs.
After detox, divorce, and surgery to repair major damage in one of her legs, Heather Thomas returned to acting with smaller roles in TV series. She also appeared in movies like *Cyclone* in 1987 and the 1990 Canadian film *Red Blooded American Girl* with Christopher Plummer.
With her struggles behind her, Thomas started fresh in the 1990s. While working to revive her career, she married entertainment lawyer Skip Brittenham in 1992. She became a stepmother to his two daughters, Kristina and Shauna, and gave birth to her only biological child, daughter India Rose, in June 2000.
Talking about her decision to step away from acting, Thomas said, “I had about 45 restraining orders, and I was on everything from a toilet seat cover to an ashtray. Then I fell in love, had two little girls, and decided to give up acting to write for a while.”
In 2017, Thomas made a brief comeback in the movie *Girltrash: All Night Long*, one of her 26 acting credits.
However, Thomas has focused mostly on writing. She said it wasn’t a lack of roles that drove her away from acting but the constant threat of stalkers invading her privacy. “One guy climbed over the fence with a knife. I had two little girls who needed raising, so that was that. Now, I think I’m old enough that people won’t bother me as much.”
Today, Thomas is also involved in activism. She has served on the boards of the Rape Foundation and the Amazon Conservation Team.
Identifying as a feminist, which some find surprising for a former sex symbol, Thomas explained how she embraced both roles.
“When I was younger, I did what people told me. But as I got older, I didn’t compromise myself. I wanted power and freedom, and my career gave me that. I don’t think being a feminist means you should be ashamed of your body,” she said.
It’s unfortunate that Heather Thomas wasn’t able to fully revive her acting career, but we’re glad she got the help she needed and is now on a lifelong journey of recovery.
The 1980s had so many great shows, and we loved watching her as Jody Banks in *The Fall Guy* alongside Lee Majors, the Six Million Dollar Man!
We’d love to hear your thoughts about Heather Thomas and her journey to recovery!
ADAM SANDLER’S DAUGHTERS ARE ALL GROWN UP – SEE THEIR JAW-DROPPING TRANSFORMATION
Adam Sandler’s daughters have grown up and are now stylish and beautiful young women. Fans are amazed by how much they’ve changed and love seeing their new looks and unique fashion sense.
Adam Sandler, famous for his comedy and friendly nature, is also a dedicated dad to his daughters, Sadie and Sunny. He has often shared moments of their close relationship. As his daughters have matured, people have become even more interested in their lives.
Adam Sandler often talks openly about the joys and challenges of being a dad. He has shared how seeing Sadie and Sunny grow up brings a mix of emotions for him and his wife, Jackie. While they are excited to watch their daughters become young women, Adam admits that it also makes him a little nervous, like many parents feel as their kids get older.
Adam Sandler has mentioned how challenging it can be to parent teens as they start becoming more independent. However, he stays connected with his daughters by using humor, often joking about how he struggles with technology just to keep up with them. His playful approach helps bridge the gap and keeps their relationship strong as they grow older.
Now that his daughters are teens, Adam Sandler humorously shared how tough it can be to stay connected with them. He reflected on how his life used to revolve around their schedules, sticking to early dinners and bedtimes. As they’ve grown older, those routines have shifted, and he’s had to adjust to the changes that come with parenting teenagers. Despite the challenges, Adam remains dedicated to staying involved in their lives.
Gone were the days of late-night outings for Adam Sandler. Staying up past his usual bedtime now left him exhausted the next day, which was quite the contrast to the “wild” life many might associate with a movie star.
When asked if he still lived a wild movie star life despite being a parent, Adam’s response was refreshingly grounded. He humorously recalled a night when he and his wife, Jackie Sandler, tried to break their early bedtime routine. After the kids went to bed, they talked about watching a movie—but the plan didn’t last long before they were too tired to follow through.
However, as is often the case with parenthood, things didn’t go as planned. Sunny and Sadie Sandler took longer than expected to fall asleep, and by the time Adam finished putting one of them to bed, he found his wife and their other daughter already fast asleep.
Left alone, Adam stayed up half the night with one of his daughters. For him, this chaotic yet heartwarming routine perfectly sums up the unpredictable, yet deeply rewarding, reality of being a parent.
Now that Sadie and Sunny are teenagers, they’ve started to take on a more protective role, often looking out for their father’s health in the same way he once did for his own dad. Adam finds this change both touching and reassuring. He appreciates how their relationship has evolved into one of mutual care, where they now look out for each other, reflecting the deep bond they share as a family.
Whether it’s reminding him to take care of himself or playfully nagging him about his eating habits, Sadie and Sunny have become more attentive and caring. They make sure their dad stays healthy and happy, showing just how much they value his well-being. For Adam, seeing his daughters take on this role is a heartwarming reminder of the love and connection they share as a family.
As Sadie and Sunny continue to grow into young adults, the public has definitely taken notice. A video of the family’s outing in July 2024 sparked a lot of attention, with fans eagerly reacting to how much the Sandler girls have matured. Their stylish appearance and poised demeanor impressed many, and it’s clear that they are stepping confidently into their own spotlight while still maintaining a close bond with their famous father.
At the 2024 Kids’ Choice Awards, Adam Sandler and his family of four made a splash on the red carpet. Fans were captivated by how much Sadie and Sunny had grown, showing off their new styles with confidence. The girls’ transformation into stylish young women was the talk of the night, as they joined their father, who proudly walked alongside them.
Comments like “When did Sunny get so tall?,” “She’s so tall … I LOVE IT,” and “Sunny should be a model, she has the height and the beauty” showcase how much fans are fascinated by the growth and style of Adam Sandler’s daughters. Beyond their physical changes, fans have also praised the overall beauty of the Sandler sisters, noting their stylish outfits and natural charm. Many admired the family’s close bond, with one fan commenting, “They’re such a beautiful family.”
The warm reactions from fans highlight Sadie and Sunny’s beauty and growth, and reflect the close bond they share with their father. This admiration shows that they are a family many people look up to.
Adam’s relationship with his daughters is truly heartwarming. However, he once joked about their communication. In a February 2024 interview, he humorously said, “They still don’t talk to you,” when asked if casting his daughters in his films was his way of spending more time with them.
Adam has included his daughters in some of his projects, but he admits that even this doesn’t always keep them close. “They do the best they can, and then they go do their life,” he explained, reflecting the typical teenage desire for independence.
As Sadie and Sunny make headlines, they are stepping into the spotlight in their own right. They’re not just Adam Sandler’s daughters; they’re becoming young women with their own presence and style.
Their growth has captured the public’s attention. While Adam Sandler may be the star of the family, his daughters are on their way to becoming stars in their own right. They’re being celebrated for who they are and who they’re becoming.
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