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Philip Michael Thomas

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Philip Michael Thomas
Born (1949-05-26) May 26, 1949 (age 75)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.[1]
Alma materUniversity of California, Riverside
Occupation(s)Actor, musician
Years active1972–2006
SpouseKassandra Thomas[2]

Philip Michael Thomas (born May 26, 1949) is a retired American actor and musician, best known for his role as detective Ricardo Tubbs on the hit 1980s TV series Miami Vice. His first notable roles were in Coonskin (1975) and opposite Irene Cara in the 1976 film Sparkle. After his success in Miami Vice, he appeared in numerous made-for-TV movies and advertisements for telephone psychic services. He also voiced the character Lance Vance in the video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006).

Early life

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Thomas was born in Columbus, Ohio, but grew up in San Bernardino, California.[1] He is of African American, Native American, Irish, and German descent.[3] His father, Louis Diggs, was a foreman at a Westinghouse plant. Thomas's mother was Lulu McMorris. He and his seven half brothers and sisters had the surname Thomas, which was the last name of his mother's first husband.[4]

As a child, he acted in his church's theater group and, at age 15, while participating in the Pentecostal Delman Heights Four Square Gospel Church choir, became interested in ministry.[4] He graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1967 and briefly worked as a janitor to save money for college.[1] He earned a scholarship to the historically Black Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, where he studied religion and philosophy.[4][5]

After two years at Oakwood College, Thomas transferred to the University of California, Riverside.[4] During that time, he auditioned for and was cast in the San Francisco production of Hair, beginning his acting career.[1][6][7] He quit college to pursue acting as a profession, appearing in several features during the 1970s - including the classic musical drama Sparkle (1976). His big break came in 1984, when he landed a starring role in the popular television series Miami Vice alongside Don Johnson.[4]

Career

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Acting

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Miami Vice

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In 1984, Thomas began playing the role of Ricardo Tubbs, an ex-NYPD police officer from the Bronx who came to Miami seeking revenge on the person who killed his brother Rafael Tubbs. In Miami he encounters another undercover cop, Sonny Crockett, who is coincidentally looking for the same person.[8] Thomas was reportedly paid $25,000 (equivalent to $73,000 today) per episode for Seasons 1–2. In 1986, he was given an increase to $50,000 ($147,000) per episode for Seasons 3–5. Johnson was paid $30,000 ($88,000) per episode for Seasons 1-2 and $90,000 ($264,000) per episode for Seasons 3–5.

Thomas coined the acronym "EGOT", meaning "Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony", in reference to his plans for winning all four.[9] He has not, as of June 2024, been nominated for any of these awards, but has received a People's Choice Award and a Golden Globe nomination.[10]

Extralarge & We Are Angels

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Thomas starred in the six-part television mini-series, Extralarge with Bud Spencer in 1991. Thomas was replaced by Michael Winslow for the second series. Thomas teamed up again with Spencer when they starred in another mini-series called We Are Angels released in 1997.

Nash Bridges

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In 1997, Thomas was reunited with Don Johnson for two appearances in the police drama Nash Bridges. He played Cedrick "Rick" Hawks, a Deputy United States Marshal from Miami visiting Bridges (Johnson) in San Francisco. His first appearance was in the episode "Wild Card", and his second and final appearance was in the episode "Out of Miami", which aired in 2001 during the program's final season.[11]

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

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In 2002, Thomas did a voice-over in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City as Lance Vance, a supporting character who aids the game's protagonist, Tommy Vercetti, in several story missions while trying to avenge the death of his brother, Victor Vance, who was killed in a botched drug deal with Tommy at the beginning of the game.[12] He reprised the role in the 2006 prequel Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, which is about Lance's arrival in Vice City, the beginning of his involvement in the drug business, and his relationship with Victor.[13]

Music

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In 1985, Thomas released a music album titled Living the Book of My Life under his own record label called Spaceship Records.[14] It sold poorly and failed to produce a hit single, although Thomas produced a video for the track "Just the Way I Planned It".[15] He performed the title song of the album during the 1985 Miami Vice episode "The Maze." The episode "Trust Fund Pirates" featured another song of his, "La Mirada". His Miami Vice co-star Don Johnson recorded an album shortly afterward titled Heartbeat.[16] In 1987, Thomas recorded a song called "Ever and Forever" with Argentine singer Lucía Galán of Pimpinela fame.[17]

Thomas released a second album, Somebody, in 1988.[18] It also failed to produce a hit and sold poorly. In 1993, Thomas teamed with Kathy Rahill to compose "My, My, My, Miam...I",[19] which was chosen to be the city of Miami's theme song.[20] That same year, Thomas teamed with Jamaican fitness instructor Sandi Morais to compose songs for a family-friendly musical titled Sacha, which enjoyed runs in south Florida and New York.[21] The two formed the Magic Cookie Production Company. Thomas produced the music for Morais' fitness videos in 2001 and 2006.[22]

Psychic Reader's Network

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In 1994, Thomas signed an agreement with Psychic Reader's Network (later known as Traffix, Inc.) based in Melbourne, Florida, becoming the spokesman for the Philip Michael Thomas International Psychic Network. He appeared in television ads and claimed to have met the planet's premier psychics through his "world travels". He dressed similarly to his Miami Vice alter ego, even opening the ads with the phrase, "From Miami Vice to world advice!"[23] He appeared in informercials with Eileen Brennan and Todd McKee along with his daughter, Sacha Nicole, promoting the psychic line.[24] Thomas released a cassette of music linked to his psychic business titled PMT Psychic Connection, Volume I.[25]

Traffix replaced Thomas with Miss Cleo. He sued, alleging breach of contract, and won. In 2002, a New York arbitrator awarded Thomas $1.48 million for the improper use of his name and likeness and an additional $780,000 in interest.[26]

Personal life

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Thomas is a vegetarian, nonsmoker, and nondrinker.[1][5] In 1986, he was sued for child support by Dhaima Mathews, the mother of his then 2-year-old daughter and 9-week-old son.[27] Thomas later married model Kassandra Green. Green filed a domestic violence complaint against Thomas in 1997, during which time she was described as being the mother of 5 of his 12 children. Thomas dismissed the complaint as "an absolute, blatant lie".[28][29]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1972 Come Back, Charleston Blue Minister
Stigma Dr. Calvin Crosse
1973 Book of Numbers Dave Green
1975 Mr. Ricco Purvis Mapes
Black Fist Fletch / Boom Boom
Coonskin Randy / Brother Rabbit Voice of Brother Rabbit
1976 Sparkle Stix
El hombre de los hongos Gaspar / Adopted boy
1978 Death Drug Jesse
1979 The Dark Corn Rows
1982 Hey Good Lookin' Boogaloo Jones / Chaplin Voice
Stigma
1988 The Wizard of Speed and Time Policeman Mickey Polanko Feature-length version
1993 Miami Shakedown Frank Ferguson Also executive producer
1994 River of Stone
2003 Fate Detective Ciprian Raines

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1973 Griff Eddie Marshall Episode: "The Framing of Billy the Kid"
1973–1974 Toma Bad Sam / Sam Hooper 2 episodes
1974 Good Times Eddie Conroy Episode: "Sex and the Evans Family"
Police Woman Sonny Episode: "It's Only a Game"
1975 Caribe Prince John Episode: "Murder in Paradise"
1976 Movin' On Banjo Episode: "No More Sad Songs"
Medical Center Dr. Sam Karter Episode: "If Wishes Were Horses"
Sirota's Court J.V. Episode: "The Reporter"
1977 Insight Luther Episode: "The Alleluia Kid"
Roosevelt and Truman Truman Television pilot
1978 The New Adventures of Wonder Woman Furst Episode: "The Man Who Wouldn't Tell"
Starsky & Hutch Kingston St. Jacques Episode: "Quadromania"
The Beasts Are on the Streets Eddie Morgan Television film
Lawman Without a Gun Rufus Cartwright
1979 Roots: The Next Generations Eddie Franklin Television miniseries
Valentine Bean Television film
1981 Strike Force Wesley Episode: "The Victims"
1982 Trapper John, M.D. Floyd Walsh Episode: "Ladies in Waiting"
1984–1989 Miami Vice Detective Ricardo Tubbs 111 episodes
1986 A Fight for Jenny David Caldwell Television film
1989 False Witness Bobby Marsh
1990 Superboy Brimstone Episode: "Brimstone"
Zorro Jack Holten Episode: "Pride of the Pueblo"
A Little Piece of Sunshine Tomson Television film
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter Chuck Gilmore
1991–1992 Detective Extralarge Jean Philippe Dumas 6 episodes
1992 Swamp Thing Barry Scott Episode: "Dead and Married"
1994 Fortune Hunter Gary Colt Episode: "The Alpha Team"
1997 Noi siamo angeli (We Are Angels) Joe / Father Zaccaria 6 episodes
1997–2001 Nash Bridges Cedrick Hawks 2 episodes

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 We Are Angels Father Zaccaria
2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Lance Vance
2006 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
2021 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Archival Recordings
Remaster of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City only.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Randolph, Laura (April 1988). "The Philip Michael Thomas even his 'Miami Vice' Fans Don't Know". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Co. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  2. ^ Tarradell, Mario (December 17, 2012). "Singer-songwriter Imaj blends bluegrass, rock, tribal vocalizations". res.dallasnews.com.
  3. ^ Porter, Charlotte (July 6, 1985). "PHILIP MICHAEL THOMAS : MULTIDIMENSIONAL MAN OF TV'S 'MIAMI VICE'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Philip Michael Thomas Biography". Biography.com. A&E Television Networks. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Wallace, Carol (December 9, 1985). "The Ego Has Landed". People (archive). Time, Inc. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  6. ^ "Philip Michael Thomas Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on May 1, 2007.
  7. ^ Zoglin, Richard (September 16, 1985). "Cool Cops, Hot Show". Time. Time Inc. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
  8. ^ Smith, Sally Bedell (January 3, 1985). "'MIAMI VICE': ACTION TV WITH SOME NEW TWISTS". The New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  9. ^ Long, Tim (February 26, 2008). "The Oscars: Where Is the Love for Philip Michael Thomas?". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on July 18, 2016.
  10. ^ "Thomas' nomination page at the Golden Globes website". Golden Globes.
  11. ^ "Philip Michael Thomas Revisited". The Malta Independent. December 16, 2006. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  12. ^ "Grand Theft Radar: Is GTA as clever as it thinks it is?". GamesRadar+. April 23, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  13. ^ Thorsen, Tor (October 30, 2006). "Phil Collins cameos, Thomas returns in VCS?". GameSpot. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  14. ^ Philip Michael Thomas (November 24, 1985). "Living the Book of my Life". Discogs. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  15. ^ Philip Michael Thomas. "Just the Way I Planned it". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  16. ^ Andrew Stuttaford (August 16, 2006). "Something in the Air". National Review. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  17. ^ Cordova, Randy (August 9, 2014). "8/15: Latin duo Pimpinela on fame, fans". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  18. ^ Philip Michael Thomas (November 24, 1988). "Somebody". Discogs. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  19. ^ Philip Michael Thomas (July 7, 2015). "My, My, My Miam...I". Vimeo. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  20. ^ "Thomas' Music Entry". Sandi Morais Online. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  21. ^ "Sacha on Broadway". Sandi Morais Online. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  22. ^ "Philip Michael Thomas' Resume". Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  23. ^ "1994 Commercial for Philip Michael Thomas International Psychic Network". YouTube. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  24. ^ "Infomercial for Philip Michael Thomas International Psychic Network". YouTube. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  25. ^ Philip Michael Thomas (November 24, 1994). "PMT Psychic Connection, Volume I". Discogs. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  26. ^ Matt Bean (June 6, 2002). "Ex-'Miami Vice' star wins first round against psychic network". CNN.
  27. ^ "VICE STAR FACES LAWSUIT". Sun Sentinel. December 5, 1986. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  28. ^ "Former 'Miami Vice' star denies violence incident". Deseret News. November 14, 1997. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  29. ^ Marr, Madeleine (September 16, 2016). "Singer Imaj has ties to 'Miami Vice' — her dad was Tubbs". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  30. ^ Long, Tim (February 26, 2008). "The Oscars: Where Is the Love for Philip Michael Thomas?" Vanity Fair. "...Thomas took to wearing a gold medallion emblazoned with the letters "EGOT", which stood for "Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony." As Thomas told an interviewer in 1984, "Hopefully in the next five years I will win all of those awards." As of February 2008, ... only twelve people in history have ever won all four – among them, Mike Nichols, Audrey Hepburn, Rita Moreno, and Marvin Hamlisch.
  31. ^ Mifflin, Lawrie (May 22, 1995). "More Awards Programs, More Winners, More Money". The New York Times.
  32. ^ McIntee, Michael (January 12, 2010). "Wahoo Gazette. Show #3244". CBS. Archived from the original on May 7, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
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