The sultry Heather Thomas of ‘The Fall Guy’ struggled with addiction – but look at her now, at 66

Heather Thomas, who celebrated her 66th birthday on September 8, was on the brink of a thriving career in Hollywood after her notable role alongside Lee Majors in The Fall Guy.

Following the conclusion of the series, her mother arrived at the set, prompting the concerned actress to rush to the hospital, fearing an emergency involving her father.

Upon her arrival at the Santa Monica hospital, her family and friends reassured her that her father, Leon, was in good health and that their primary concern was for her well-being. This medical incident marked a pivotal moment in the life and career of the then 28-year-old.

Continue reading to discover the journey of this iconic figure from the 1980s!

Heather Thomas was destined for the acting profession, possessing both the talent and beauty that could easily be compared to Farrah Fawcett and Heather Locklear. At the age of 14, she hosted Talking with a Giant, an NBC program where she and four other teenagers interviewed celebrities.

Before completing her education, Thomas, now 66, pursued studies in film and theater at UCLA and made an appearance in the short-lived comedy series Co-Ed Fever in 1979. Her aspirations included becoming an actress, director, and writer.

In 1980, the Connecticut native landed her first significant role in The Fall Guy, where she portrayed the sidekick to Lee Majors, who was well-known for his role as Steven Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man during the 1970s.

As Jody Banks, a stuntwoman and bounty hunter on the popular action series, Thomas garnered admiration from male audiences who viewed her as a sex symbol, a label she has expressed mixed feelings about.

“There’s obligatory condescension that goes with that,” Thomas remarked in an interview with People. “You fit the blonde bimbo stereotype. At that time, I was having fun.”

Regrettably, her enjoyment led to an excessive reliance on drugs, a habit she had developed prior to her role as Jody Banks. She began using substances in sixth grade to maintain her academic performance, stating, “I was taking acid and getting straight A’s. I thought it was mentally stimulating.”
As she matured, both her mindset and her medication regimen evolved.

Thomas began using cocaine while attending UCLA, and her substance abuse escalated in 1981, during her first year on The Fall Guy.

Standing at 5 feet 7 inches, Thomas developed an obsession with her weight and resorted to using Lasix, a diuretic that induces significant fatigue, in an effort to maintain her image as a sex symbol.

To counteract her exhaustion, she consumed additional cocaine for an energy boost.

“I was enamored with the medication. I felt it provided great benefits. It allowed me to stay awake all night and still function the next day,” she stated, while denying any cocaine use on set. “Cocaine is not allowed on location. Engaging in it is no longer a social activity; it has become a private torment.”

However, contrary to her claims, a source close to the actress informed People that her drug use was detrimental to her career. “The word was out about Heather,” the individual remarked. “People were aware that she was struggling.”

During breaks in filming, Thomas’s weight plummeted from 125 to 105 pounds, and she often fell asleep. “At times, I felt like I was in a mini-coma,” she recounted.

She fainted in front of her co-star, Majors, who then reached out to her manager, who subsequently contacted her mother.

Following the series finale of The Fall Guy, her mother, Gladdy Ryder, a former special education teacher, informed her that her father had been hospitalized.

At St. John’s Hospital, her family and friends facilitated her admission into a three-week drug rehabilitation program. Thomas expressed, “It was a tremendous relief for me,” noting that she entered detox suffering from pneumonia, damaged lungs, and swollen kidneys. “I wanted to escape the roller coaster. Without my family’s intervention, I likely would have continued until I either lost my job or my life.”

“The doctors told me I should have died three years ago,” she reflected.

In her quest for sobriety, Thomas sought companionship with individuals who shared her goals. At the age of 28, she married Allan Rosenthal, a co-founder of Cocaine Anonymous, but they divorced in September 1986.

That same month, she was struck by a car while crossing the street, resulting in injuries to both of her legs.
Thomas made her return to television with smaller roles following a period of detoxification, a divorce, and leg surgery. She featured in the 1987 film Cyclone and appeared alongside Christopher Plummer in the 1990 production Canadian Red Blooded American Girl.

In 1992, Thomas wed entertainment attorney Skip Brittenham, seeking to revitalize her career after facing numerous challenges. She welcomed her only biological child, India Rose, in June 2000, after becoming a stepmother to Kristina and Shauna.

Reflecting on her past, she stated, “When I had approximately 45 restraining orders in place, and I was featured on everything from toilet seat covers to ashtrays—while being in love and raising two young daughters—I chose to step back and focus on writing.” Thomas made a brief return to acting in 2017 with a role in Girltrash: All Night Long, adding to her 26 acting credits.

The Zapped! actress noted that her inability to perform was due to stalking incidents rather than a lack of available roles. “I was stalked. One man even scaled a barrier armed with a knife. With two small children to care for, I had to make a choice. However, I believe I have reached an age where I can be overlooked.”

Currently, Thomas is an activist and serves on the boards of the Rape Foundation and the Amazon Conservation Team.

She articulated the significance of her dual identity as a feminist and a former sex symbol, stating, “In my youth, I followed others’ directives, but as I matured, I refused to compromise. This pursuit granted me a home and the fame to navigate my path. Embracing one’s body is acceptable; I do not feel I have betrayed myself. Feminists should take pride in their bodies,” she asserted.

Reuters expresses sadness over Heather Thomas’s inability to return to acting, yet we are pleased to see her receiving therapy and making strides toward recovery.

We cherished her portrayal of Jody Banks in The Fall Guy alongside Lee Majors, one of the many iconic series from the 1980s!

We invite you to share your thoughts on Thomas’s journey to recovery.