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

Heather Thomas, who turned 66 on September 8, was well-known for her leading part opposite Lee Majors in The Fall Guy and was expected to have a very successful Hollywood career.

However, the stunning blonde hurried to the hospital, thinking her father had an emergency, when the actor’s mother appeared on set during the filming of the show’s conclusion.

She was informed by her relatives and friends who met her at the Santa Monica hospital that her father, Leon, was doing well and that they were worried about her.

This was only the start of a new adventure for the 28-year-old woman, whose job and personal life had totally changed as a result of her hospital stay.

Discover what became of the 1980s pinup girl by continuing to read!

With a natural beauty and ability comparable to that of Farrah Fawcett and Heather Locklear, Heather Thomas pursued her passion.

When the girl was just 14 years old, she presented the talk show Talking with a Giant on NBC, where she and four other teenagers conducted celebrity interviews.

Thomas, now 66, studied theater and cinema at UCLA with the goal of advancing her career as an actor, director, and writer. The year before she graduated, she made an appearance in the short-lived comedy series Co-Ed Fever (1979).

The Connecticut-born performer landed her first major part in 1980 in the television series The Fall Guy, supporting Lee Majors, who became well-known throughout the world in the 1970s for his portrayal of Steven Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man.

As the popular action show’s stuntwoman-bounty hunter Jody Banks, Thomas was adored by men who saw her as a sex symbol—a label about which she acknowledges she feels conflicted.

Thomas told People that there was “obligatory condescension that goes with that.” “The blonde bimbo is a stereotype that you fit into. But I was simply enjoying myself at the moment.

Regretfully, she was enjoying herself excessively when using drugs, a tendency that predates her portrayal of Jody Banks.

Her history with drugs began in the sixth grade, when she began abusing narcotics to keep her grades at the top. “I was taking acid and getting straight As,” Thomas declared. I simply believed it to be mind-blowing.

Her drug use changed as her mentality matured from that of a child to an adult.

Thomas began taking cocaine while she was a student at UCLA, and her drug use worsened in 1981, a year after she started filming The Fall Guy.

Additionally, the 5-foot-7 Thomas developed an obsession with weight and began taking Lasix, a diuretic that may produce extreme sleepiness, feeling as though she had to live up to her reputation as a sex symbol.

She took additional cocaine to give her an energy boost in order to combat the sluggishness.

“At first, I was still getting used to the medicine. I thought I was receiving a good deal on my purchase. She asserted that she had never used cocaine on site and that it had allowed her to work through the night. It is not permitted to use cocaine on sets. It’s no longer clubby to carry it out. It’s merely a personal torment.

A person close to the performer told People that her drug usage was hurting her career, despite her statements to the contrary. According to the source, “word was out on Heather.” “People were aware of her issue.”

Between takes, Thomas’s weight plummeted from 125 to 105 pounds and he was fast asleep. Thomas said, “I was in a minicoma sometimes.”

Subsequently, she fainted in front of Majors, who subsequently contacted her manager and her mother.

Her mother, Gladdy Ryder, a former special education teacher, showed up on the set of The Fall Guy to tell her daughter that her father was in the hospital after the series finale concluded.

The writer of “Trophies” hurried to St. John’s Hospital, where she was welcomed by relatives and friends who were prepared to have her admitted into the three-week drug program.

Thomas remarked of that day, “It was a big relief to me.” She also mentioned that she had pneumonia, scarred lungs, and swollen kidneys when she checked into detox. “I wanted to get off the roller coaster I’d been on.” I most likely would have continued on my merry way till I lost my job or passed away if my family hadn’t stepped in.

“The doctors said I should have died three years ago,” she continued.

Thomas, who was dedicated to her recovery, surrounded herself with people who shared her values and would help her achieve her drug-free objectives. That’s when Allan Rosenthal, a co-founder of Cocaine Anonymous, and 28-year-old Thomas first met. She later got married to him and filed for divorce in September 1986.

She was hit by a car while crossing the street that same month, severely injuring both of her legs.

Following her detox, divorce, and surgery to heal severe damage to one leg, Thomas resumed her career, albeit in minor roles in TV shows. She also starred in movies including the 1987 movie Cyclone and the 1990 Canadian movie Red Blooded American Girl, which starred Christopher Plummer.

After putting her past behind her, Thomas made a fresh start in the 1990s. In an effort to further her career, she married entertainment attorney Skip Brittenham in 1992. In June 2000, Thomas gave birth to her only biological child, India Rose, while also assuming the role of stepmother to his two daughters, Kristina and Shauna.

“I decided to give it up and write for a while,” she told Reuters, “because I had about 45 restraining orders out, and I was on everything from a toilet seat cover to an ashtray—and I was in love, and [then] had two little girls.”

With a primary focus on writing, the actress from Zapped! claimed that frequent privacy violations by stalkers drove her away from acting, rather than a lack of roles.

“I was being really harassed. One day, I witnessed a person use a knife to scale the fence. That was it; I had these two small kids who needed to be raised so badly. However, I believe that now that I am older, people won’t annoy me as much.

In addition, Thomas is currently an activist, having previously served on the boards of the Amazon Conservation Team and the Rape Foundation.

Declaring oneself a feminist—a deceptive term for a former gender symbol—Thomas elucidated the significance of both.

“When I was younger, I followed people’s instructions, but as I grew older, I refused to compromise.” I desired independence and control. This got me a house and the recognition I needed to open doors. Having people see your body is not inherently bad. I don’t believe I deceived myself. Being a feminist, in my opinion, does not entail body shame, the woman stated.

Although it’s really unfortunate that Heather Thomas was unable to return to the acting world, we’re glad she received the support she required and is now embarking on a lifelong healing process.

We really enjoyed watching her as Jody Banks in The Fall Guy with the Six Million Dollar Man Lee Majors, one of the many amazing shows from the 1980s!

What you have to say about Thomas and her recuperation would be greatly appreciated!

4 TIMES TAYLOR SWIFT WENT MAKEUP-FREE AND LOOKED FLAWLESS

Despite the celebrity’s seemingly flawless appearance, she has openly admitted to a relatable yet not-so-great habit of neglecting to remove her makeup. “Sometimes I forget to wash off my makeup. Okay—almost all the time,” Swift confessed to Allure in 2011. Nevertheless, the pop star is just as stunning without makeup as when she graces TV screens and stages at her sold-out concerts — a fact evident in her makeup-free photos.

Tied together with a smile

On January 22, 2019, Taylor Swift shared a casual selfie donning a denim jacket, adorable dirty blond bangs swept to the side, and seemingly no trace of makeup. Smiling next to her “Cats” character name, Bombalurina, she aptly captioned the post, “Meow.” Even without makeup, the celebrity displayed bright eyes, clear skin, and full lips. With raised eyebrows and a somewhat mischievous smirk, this selfie radiates a playful mood, enhanced by the absence of makeup.

But what can we say? You’re gorgeous

On October 24, 2022, Taylor Swift demonstrated that makeup is not a prerequisite for capturing a moody photograph, especially when announcing the release of her latest album. Without makeup, the musician appeared genuinely beautiful with her hair styled in a braided bun as she gazed into the distance, dressed in a fairytale-inspired ensemble. The promotional post’s caption added, “Midnight, what a storied and fabled hour… On this sparkling evening, I’ll be releasing my twist on a fairytale we all know.” This picture not only affirmed Swift’s beauty sans makeup but also hinted at her internal and external brilliance, considering the success of her “Midnights” album.

He said the way her blue eyes shined …

Every devoted Swiftie is aware of Taylor Swift’s penchant for rocking sweaters (or shall we say, cardigans?). On October 24, 2018, the musician showcased her love for turtlenecks, likely surpassing her affection for makeup. In a selfie flaunting her famous blond bangs and captivating blue eyes, the pop star sported a dark, snug-looking turtleneck. The post’s caption humorously noted, “Here we can observe an Australian swiftlet in her natural habitat, a turtleneck.” The selfie emitted a down-to-earth, nature-focused vibe, with Swift exploring an Australian nature landscape in the post’s subsequent photos.

Never go out of style

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, almost every active social media user posted at least one no-makeup selfie at home with a boredom-related caption. Taylor Swift joined the Instagram trend, sharing a flawless makeup-free selfie on April 27, 2020. Staring into the camera with her iconic blond curls slightly longer than her clavicle, she captioned the photo, “Not a lot going on at the moment.” While the caption resonated with the lockdown experience, viewers were likely taken aback (or perhaps not so surprised) by how effortlessly perfect Swift looked without makeup.

Taylor Swift is not only celebrated for her musical prowess and romantic exploits, but her devoted fan base, known as Swifties, also frequently marvel at her captivating makeup looks. The songstress has flaunted an array of makeup styles since her debut single, “Tim McGraw,” graced the Billboard charts in 2006. From dark smokey eyes, blue eyeshadow, long lashes, peachy tones, to cat eyes “sharp enough to kill a man” — Swift has experimented with diverse looks. And let’s not overlook the numerous red lipsticks she has effortlessly pulled off. But have you ever wondered what Taylor Swift looks like without makeup?

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