Heather Thomas: From ‘The Fall Guy’ to Finding Strength in Recovery
Heather Thomas, who turned 66 on September 8, once had a promising Hollywood career, co-starring with Lee Majors in the hit TV show The Fall Guy. Her future seemed bright, but a series of life-altering events changed her path dramatically.
After The Fall Guy ended, Thomas received distressing news from her mother, who appeared on set. Fearing an emergency involving her father, she rushed to the hospital. Although her family assured her that her dad was okay, they were there for her, not him. That hospital visit marked a turning point in her life, forever changing both her career and personal journey.
Early Beginnings and Stardom
Born with the talent and looks to rival 1980s icons like Farrah Fawcett and Heather Locklear, Heather Thomas seemed destined for the spotlight. At just 14, she hosted Talking with a Giant, an NBC show where teenagers interviewed celebrities. By the time she graduated from UCLA, she had already appeared in the short-lived comedy series Co-Ed Fever (1979). But her big break came in 1980 when she landed the role of Jody Banks in The Fall Guy, playing a stuntwoman-bounty hunter alongside Lee Majors.
Although she became a household name and sex symbol, Thomas had mixed feelings about the latter label. “There’s obligatory condescension that goes with that,” she admitted in an interview with People. “You fit the blonde bimbo stereotype. At that time, I was having fun.”
But the fun wasn’t all innocent. Heather’s struggles with substance abuse began long before The Fall Guy. She confessed to starting drugs in sixth grade to maintain high academic performance, admitting, “I was taking acid and getting straight A’s. I thought it was mentally stimulating.” As she grew older, her drug of choice shifted, and during her time at UCLA, she developed a cocaine habit that worsened while she was filming The Fall Guy.
The Downward Spiral
At the height of her career, Heather felt the pressure to maintain her image as a sex symbol. Standing 5-foot-7, she became obsessed with her weight and turned to Lasix, a diuretic, which only exacerbated her exhaustion. To keep up her energy, she relied on cocaine. “I honeymooned with the medication,” she said. “It let me stay up all night and work the next day.”
Despite her attempts to keep her drug use private, the toll it was taking on her career was becoming evident. “Word was out on Heather,” a close source revealed to People. “People knew she was troubled.” Her health suffered, and her weight dropped from 125 to 105 pounds. On set, she would often fall asleep between takes, leading to concerning moments like fainting in front of co-star Lee Majors.
It was during this difficult time that her mother, Gladdy Ryder, intervened. After The Fall Guy ended, Thomas was taken to St. John’s Hospital, where her family convinced her to enter a three-week drug treatment program. It was a lifesaving decision. “It was a big relief to me,” Heather reflected. “Without my family’s intervention, I probably would have continued until I lost my job or died.”
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Road to Recovery
Entering treatment wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. Heather checked into rehab with pneumonia, scarred lungs, and swollen kidneys. “The doctors said I should have been dead three years ago,” she remarked. After completing her program, she found support through Cocaine Anonymous, where she met Allan Rosenthal, one of the organization’s co-founders. The two married, but divorced in 1986, the same year Heather was hit by a car, sustaining injuries to both legs.
Despite her personal and professional setbacks, Thomas wasn’t ready to give up on her acting career. She returned to the screen with smaller roles, appearing in films like Cyclone (1987) and Red Blooded American Girl (1990) alongside Christopher Plummer.
In 1992, Heather married entertainment lawyer Skip Brittenham, and the couple welcomed their daughter, India Rose, in 2000. With her stepdaughters, Kristina and Shauna, Heather embraced her new role as a mother. It was this phase of her life that encouraged her to step away from acting. “When I had about 45 restraining orders out, and I was on everything from a toilet seat cover to an ashtray, I decided to give it up and write,” she shared.https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw79fWLr_eh/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=675&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fyalmiornew.xyz&rp=%2Fthe-sultry-heather-thomas-of-the-fall-guy-struggled-with-addiction-but-look-at-her-now-at-66%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawFlFlJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcetRvvFOAmNMYW0xCw2kmVA2TeDCECz_jqgAPpU8_ooFwynCef03hM9fQ_aem_d9Vrs#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1401.9000000953674%2C%22ls%22%3A1070.6000001430511%2C%22le%22%3A1395.1000001430511%7D
Life After Hollywood
Although she has made brief returns to acting, such as in Girltrash: All Night Long (2017), Heather has largely stepped out of the spotlight. The reason? Stalkers. “I was stalked,” she revealed. “One man climbed the barrier with a knife. I had two tiny children that required raising, so that was it.”
Now, Heather Thomas is an activist, serving on the boards of the Rape Foundation and the Amazon Conservation Team. While her early career as a sex symbol might seem at odds with her current feminist stance, Heather sees it differently. “When I was young, I did what others told me, but as I got older, I didn’t compromise. Showing your body is fine. Feminists shouldn’t be ashamed of their bodies.”
Heather’s journey has been one of resilience, transforming personal struggles into a story of strength and recovery. Although she didn’t continue acting as many fans had hoped, her contributions to activism and her recovery from addiction are inspiring. Heather Thomas remains a beloved figure, remembered not just for her role in The Fall Guy but for her ability to overcome adversity.
What are your thoughts on Heather Thomas’ incredible journey? Let us know!
