R.I.P. Jay Thomas of 'Cheers,' 'Mork & Mindy' and 'Murphy Brown'

The Emmy-winning sitcom actor passed away at 69.

Cheers was a bar where everybody knows your name, but Eddie LeBec had a leg up. He was a goalie for the Bruins, which grants one immediate fame in Boston. The charming character ended up marrying Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman), before he became a costumed penguin in an ice show. The actor behind the fictional athlete was Jay Thomas.

His performance on the sitcom led to a similarly short-but-impactful stint on Murphy Brown, where he played tabloid talk show host Jerry Gold. That role led to two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 1990 and 1991.

This week, Thomas passed away due to cancer at the age of 69.

Don Buchwald, his agent and friend, reported his death to The New York Daily News.

Born in Texas and raised in New Orleans, Thomas frequently portrayed a blue collar New Yorker or New Englander to perfection. He got his break on Mork & Mindy, where he played deli and restaurant owner Remo DaVinci in a few dozen episodes. His first appeared in the episode "Stark Raving Mork," which you can stream on MeTV.com.

Thomas was also known as a frequent holiday guest on David Letterman. Most recently, he appeared on the acclaimed Showtime series Ray Donovan.

No more details about his death is available at this time, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

People we have lost in 2017

ADAM WEST, TV'S BELOVED BATMAN

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Image: AP Photo

Mary Tyler Moore

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BARBARA HALE OF 'PERRY MASON'

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Roger Moore

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ERIN MORAN OF 'HAPPY DAYS' AND 'JOANIE LOVES CHACHI'

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DINA MERRILL, THE BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS WHO PLAYED BATMAN VILLAIN CALAMITY JAN

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Mike Connors, star of 'Mannix'

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Don Rickles

The legendary comedian passed away at the age of 90. READ MORE

RICHARD HATCH of 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'

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MICHAEL PARKS OF 'THEN CAME BRONSON' AND 'TWIN PEAKS'

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Image: The Everett Collection

Chuck Barris, host of 'The Gong Show'

The iconic game-show guru passed away at 87. READ MORE

Roger Smith of '77 Sunset Strip'

The actor best known as Jeff Spencer on the hip P.I. series 77 Sunset Strip died at the age of 84. READ MORE

ELENA VERDUGO OF 'MARCUS WELBY, M.D.'

The pioneering Latina actress passed away at 92. READ MORE

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CURT LOWENS, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, WAR HERO AND 'HOGAN'S HEROES' ACTOR

The fascinating actor known for playing German officers in film and on television passed away at 91. READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

JUDGE JOSEPH WAPNER OF 'THE PEOPLE'S COURT'

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FILM HISTORIAN ROBERT OSBORNE

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Dick Gautier, Hymie the Robot from 'Get Smart'

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LAWRENCE MONTAIGNE OF 'STAR TREK'

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LOLA ALBRIGHT OF 'PETER GUNN'

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Image: The Everett Collection

CHELSEA BROWN OF 'ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN'

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QUINN O'HARA OF 'THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI'

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PETER HANSEN OF 'GENERAL HOSPITAL' AND 'GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C.'

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  • ADAM WEST, TV'S BELOVED BATMAN
  • Mary Tyler Moore
  • BARBARA HALE OF 'PERRY MASON'
  • Roger Moore
  • ERIN MORAN OF 'HAPPY DAYS' AND 'JOANIE LOVES CHACHI'
  • DINA MERRILL, THE BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS WHO PLAYED BATMAN VILLAIN CALAMITY JAN
  • Mike Connors, star of 'Mannix'
  • Don Rickles
  • RICHARD HATCH of 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'
  • MICHAEL PARKS OF 'THEN CAME BRONSON' AND 'TWIN PEAKS'
  • Chuck Barris, host of 'The Gong Show'
  • Roger Smith of '77 Sunset Strip'
  • ELENA VERDUGO OF 'MARCUS WELBY, M.D.'
  • CURT LOWENS, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, WAR HERO AND 'HOGAN'S HEROES' ACTOR
  • JUDGE JOSEPH WAPNER OF 'THE PEOPLE'S COURT'
  • FILM HISTORIAN ROBERT OSBORNE
  • Dick Gautier, Hymie the Robot from 'Get Smart'
  • LAWRENCE MONTAIGNE OF 'STAR TREK'
  • LOLA ALBRIGHT OF 'PETER GUNN'
  • CHELSEA BROWN OF 'ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN'
  • QUINN O'HARA OF 'THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI'
  • PETER HANSEN OF 'GENERAL HOSPITAL' AND 'GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C.'
  • JUNE FORAY, THE VOICE OF ROCKY THE FLYING SQUIRREL
  • RED WEST, THE ELVIS PRESLEY BODYGUARD WHO PLAYED THE PERFECT TV TOUGH GUY
  • JOHN CYGAN OF 'THE COMMISH' AND 'BOB'
  • MIGUEL FERRER, SON OF JOSÉ FERRER AND ROSEMARY CLOONEY
  • Francine York, 'Batman' actress and 1960s star
  • BRUCE LANSBURY, BROTHER OF ANGELA, PRODUCER OF 'WONDER WOMAN' AND 'WILD WILD WEST'
  • JEFFREY HAYDEN, DIRECTOR OF ALL OF OUR FAVORITE TV EPISODES
  • ADAM WEST, TV'S BELOVED BATMAN
  • Mary Tyler Moore
  • BARBARA HALE OF 'PERRY MASON'
  • Roger Moore
  • ERIN MORAN OF 'HAPPY DAYS' AND 'JOANIE LOVES CHACHI'
  • DINA MERRILL, THE BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS WHO PLAYED BATMAN VILLAIN CALAMITY JAN
  • Mike Connors, star of 'Mannix'
  • Don Rickles
  • RICHARD HATCH of 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'
  • MICHAEL PARKS OF 'THEN CAME BRONSON' AND 'TWIN PEAKS'
  • Chuck Barris, host of 'The Gong Show'
  • Roger Smith of '77 Sunset Strip'
  • ELENA VERDUGO OF 'MARCUS WELBY, M.D.'
  • CURT LOWENS, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, WAR HERO AND 'HOGAN'S HEROES' ACTOR
  • JUDGE JOSEPH WAPNER OF 'THE PEOPLE'S COURT'
  • FILM HISTORIAN ROBERT OSBORNE
  • Dick Gautier, Hymie the Robot from 'Get Smart'
  • LAWRENCE MONTAIGNE OF 'STAR TREK'
  • LOLA ALBRIGHT OF 'PETER GUNN'
  • CHELSEA BROWN OF 'ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN'
  • QUINN O'HARA OF 'THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI'
  • PETER HANSEN OF 'GENERAL HOSPITAL' AND 'GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C.'
  • JUNE FORAY, THE VOICE OF ROCKY THE FLYING SQUIRREL
  • RED WEST, THE ELVIS PRESLEY BODYGUARD WHO PLAYED THE PERFECT TV TOUGH GUY
  • JOHN CYGAN OF 'THE COMMISH' AND 'BOB'
  • MIGUEL FERRER, SON OF JOSÉ FERRER AND ROSEMARY CLOONEY
  • Francine York, 'Batman' actress and 1960s star
  • BRUCE LANSBURY, BROTHER OF ANGELA, PRODUCER OF 'WONDER WOMAN' AND 'WILD WILD WEST'
  • JEFFREY HAYDEN, DIRECTOR OF ALL OF OUR FAVORITE TV EPISODES


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