Michael Thoma
Michael Thoma was born Michael John
Thoma on December 4th 1926 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
His star sign was Sagittarius.
Sagittarians have been described as Sagittarians are optimistic, restless,
progressive and adventurous.
Michael started his acting career in
1943 as a high-school student working in a radio serial in Philadelphia.
He served in the Army during World
War II, then entered the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. His
classmates included Grace Kelly, Don Rickles and Anne Bancroft.
In 1951 Michael Married Rosemary
Prinz and they divorced in 1957.
Michael taught at the academy in the
1950s and in 1974 helped open the school's western campus in Pasadena, where he
later served as a teacher, administrator and director. He had actually been
Fame producers Bill Blinn’s acing teacher.
In 1962 he married Marilyn Johnson
and they had 2 children. The couple divorced in 1971.
Michael appeared in several TV movies
and in episodes of series including 'Studio One,' 'The Waltons,' 'The Bionic
Woman,' 'The Rookies,' 'The Rockford Files' ‘Winter Kills’, and 'General
Hospital'.
From 1977 to 1980 he played Doctor
Greg Maxwell on the TV show “Eight Is Enough”.
Michael also worked as a director and
stage manager. He directed Leonard Spigelgass's play, "Dear Me, The Sky Is
Falling," in 1963 at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey with
Gertrude Berg and Joseph Buloff in the cast. He worked as a stage manager on
plays like: “Hedda Gabler” in 1971, “The Rothchilds” from 1970 to 1972 and “Old Calcutta” in 1969.
In 1981 he married his 3rd
wife Lynn Bennett.
Also In 1981 Bill Blinn cast him as
the drama teacher Greg Crandall in the TV series “Fame” where he appeared
in 7 episodes from the first season in
1982. The Second Season episode “A Tough Act To follow” was dedicated to
Michael.
Sadly on 3rd September 1982, aged 55, Michael died at the Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, after
a two-year battle with cancer. A
memorial service will was held at Pasadena's American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
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