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Who Is Marlo Thomas?
Marlo Thomas is an acclaimed American actress, producer, and philanthropist, best known for her iconic roles in the television series That Girl and Free To Be… You and Me. Following in the footsteps of her father, renowned entertainer Danny Thomas, Marlo embarked on an acting career in the early 1960s. Her breakout role in That Girl not only made her a household name but also revealed her behind-the-scenes influence as an executive producer for the show. Over the years, Thomas has become a prominent figure in both the entertainment industry and charitable circles. She was married to former TV talk show host Phil Donahue for over 40 years and has served as the national outreach director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a cause close to her heart as it was founded by her father.
Early Life
Margaret “Marlo” Thomas was born on November 21, 1937, in Deerfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, as the third child of entertainer Danny Thomas and his wife, Rosie. Raised in Beverly Hills, California, she graduated from the University of Southern California in 1959. After completing her education, Thomas began pursuing a career in acting, which would ultimately lead to her widespread recognition and success.
TV Shows: That Girl, Free to Be…, and More
An ebullient and lively brunette, Marlo Thomas began her television career in the 1960s, appearing on shows such as 77 Sunset Strip, Bonanza, and The Donna Reed Show. She also had a recurring role on the first season of The Joey Bishop Show from 1961 to 1962.
Breakout Role in That Girl
Thomas’s career truly soared when she landed the lead role in the groundbreaking sitcom That Girl in 1966. In the series, she portrayed Ann Marie, an aspiring actor and model navigating life as an independent, career-oriented woman in New York City. With the support of her boyfriend, Donald Hollinger (Ted Bessell), and her father, Lou Marie (Lew Parker), Ann faced the challenges of pursuing her dreams while maintaining personal relationships. The show was a significant success and catapulted Thomas into stardom, earning her the Best Female TV Star Golden Globe in 1967. It was later revealed that Thomas was not only the star of the show but also served as an executive producer, making her a trailblazer for women in television.
Free to Be… You and Me
After That Girl concluded in 1971, Thomas expanded her horizons as a producer and star of the children’s TV special Free to Be… You and Me in 1974. Based on a 1972 album that also inspired a book, the special celebrated diversity, open expression, and gender equality. Featuring an all-star cast including Alan Alda, Harry Belafonte, Mel Brooks, Roberta Flack, Michael Jackson, and Kris Kristofferson, Free to Be… became an iconic and influential program. The special won an Emmy Award, marking Thomas’s first Emmy win after several nominations for her work on That Girl.
Guest Roles on Friends and More
Thomas continued to build on her legacy with occasional appearances on television throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She won another Emmy in 1986 for her portrayal of Marie Balter in the TV film Nobody’s Child, which depicted the real-life story of a woman who overcame institutionalization to lead a fulfilling life. In 1989, she received a third Emmy for Free to Be… a Family, which revisited the themes of the 1974 special and forged connections with Russian children.
From the 1990s into the 2000s, Thomas guest-starred on a variety of popular TV shows, including Roseanne, Frasier, Law & Order: SVU, and Ugly Betty. In 1996, she earned an Emmy nomination for her role as the mother of Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) on the hit sitcom Friends.
Later Career and Online Ventures
In 2010, Thomas launched Mondays with Marlo, a successful online talk show aimed at women over 35. The program, produced in partnership with AOL and General Mills, featured interviews with notable celebrities like Suze Orman and Chelsea Clinton. Thomas remained active in the entertainment industry in the late 2010s, appearing in the Netflix series Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later in 2017 and the heist comedy Ocean’s 8 in 2018, showcasing her enduring presence in both television and film.
Theater Work and Books
Thomas began her theater career in 1965, joining the London production of Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park, which enjoyed a successful one-year run. She made her Broadway debut in 1974 in Herb Gardner’s play Thieves, reprising her role in the 1977 film adaptation. In 1986, she returned to Broadway in the domestic comedy Social Security, directed by Mike Nichols and co-starring Olympia Dukakis and Ron Silver. Thomas also appeared in the 2011 one-act play George Is Dead.
In addition to her acting career, Thomas is an accomplished author. Her books include the best-selling Free to Be… A Family: A Book About All Kinds of Belonging (1987), The Right Words at the Right Time (2002), and her 2010 memoir, Growing Up Laughing. In 2020, Thomas and her husband, former talk show host Phil Donahue, co-authored What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life, which includes interviews with prominent couples such as Billy and Janice Crystal, and Elton John and David Furnish.
Husband Phil Donahue
Thomas met Phil Donahue on his long-running talk show The Phil Donahue Show. They married in 1980 and shared a life together for 44 years until his passing in mid-August 2024.
Philanthropy: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Thomas is deeply involved in charity work, particularly for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, which was founded by her late father in 1962. She currently serves as the hospital’s national outreach director, continuing her father’s legacy in supporting the institution’s mission.
Awards and Recognition
In addition to her Emmys and Golden Globe, Thomas has received a Peabody Award, a Grammy, and was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame. She has also earned numerous honors for her activism, including the Helen Caldicott Award for Nuclear Disarmament, the American Women in Radio and Television Satellite Award, and the William Kunstler Racial Justice Award. In 2014, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in recognition of her contributions to the arts and social causes.