Jay Thomas was born in Kermit, Texas, to Katherine (Guzzino),a talented tap-dancing South Louisiana belle of Italian descent, and T. Harry Terrell, Sr., an oil man. Growing up in New Orleans, he was always an energetic and active individual, engaging in various sports and performing arts. His first award was as the emcee of the Jesuit High School talent show, and he continued to excel in multiple areas, including boxing, wrestling, football, and track.
At the age of 16, Thomas began his stand-up comedy career on Bourbon Street, and later attended Gulf Coast College, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, Central Piedmont College, and Jacksonville University, graduating with an Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degree. During his college years, he worked as a sports announcer and DJ, and even found time to play small college football as a quarterback for three years.
When he moved to New York City, Thomas continued his eclectic career as a top-rated morning DJ, comedian at the Improv in NYC, and began an active off-Broadway acting career, showcasing his range in both drama and comedy. His first TV role was in the popular sitcom "Mork and Mindy," and he later became a staple on LA radio, hosting Power 106 and appearing in numerous TV shows and films.
Thomas won two Emmy awards for his portrayal of Jerry Gold on "Murphy Brown," and starred in his own TV shows, including "Married People" with Beth Armstrong and "Love and War" with Susan Dey and Annie Potts. He also appeared as a guest star in numerous sitcoms, cop shows, and made-for-TV movies, opposite notable actors such as Judith Light, John Turturro, and Christine Lahti.
On the big screen, Thomas was featured in films like "Mr. Holland's Opus," "A Smile Like Yours," and "Santa Claus" 2 and 3. Returning to the stage, he starred in plays written and directed by Wendy Wasserstein and Woody Allen. Recently, he has hosted shows at Carolines in NYC and the Bellagio in Vegas, and guest-starred in an episode of the HBO series "Hung." Thomas also won the best actor award and co-wrote the best comedy at the LA iTV Fest for "Talker," and his own talk show airs daily on SiriusXM.
