Heather Thomas, who celebrates her 67th birthday on September 8, is best known for her role alongside Lee Majors in the television series The Mechanic . At the age of 28, after an alarming hospital stay, her life took a dramatic turn that would change the course of her personal and professional career.
After filming the series finale, Thomas’ mother arrived on set with disturbing news about her father. She rushed to St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica and learned that her father was fine, but the visit marked the beginning of a major change for her.
A natural talent with a stunning beauty reminiscent of icons like Farrah Fawcett, Thomas began her career at the age of 14 as the host of NBC’s Talking with a Giant. She later studied film and theater at UCLA and landed her first major role in 1979 on the series Co-Ed Fever . In 1980, she played the role of stuntwoman and bounty hunter Jody Banks in The Mechanic , earning her a reputation as a sex symbol, a label she viewed with mixed feelings.
Thomas has spoken openly about the pitfalls of her early fame, including her struggle with substance abuse that began in her teens. She began using drugs to get good grades in school and later turned to cocaine while studying at UCLA. As the pressures of her role grew, so did her dependence on drugs and her dangerous obsession with weight control.
Despite her outward success, Thomas’ health deteriorated. She lost a significant amount of weight and was often exhausted on set. A fainting spell worried Majors, leading to an intervention by her family, who eventually put her in a three-week drug rehabilitation program.
“Rehab was a huge relief”, Thomas later recalled, admitting that she was struggling with serious health problems at the time. Determined to recover, she joined a support network and met Allan Rosenthal, the co-founder of Cocaine Anonymous, whom she briefly married in the 1980s.
After overcoming personal challenges, including a serious car accident, Thomas returned to acting with minor roles in film and television. In 1992, she married entertainment attorney Skip Brittenham, became a stepmother, and had her daughter India Rose in 2000.
The Fall Guy reunion (Heather Thomas and Lee Majors) at Fanboy Expo Orlando… pic.twitter.com/6BHitvP6Nz
— Stacey Adam (@oldandbitterest) September 4, 2022
Although she briefly appeared as an actress in the 2017 film Girltrash: All Night Long , Thomas shifted her focus to writing, partly due to ongoing harassment from stalkers. “My children had to come first for me and I had to create a safe environment for them”, she explained.
Thomas is a committed activist and has served on the boards of several organizations, including the Rape Foundation. She identifies as a feminist and accepts the complexity of her past. “As I grew older, I wanted power and freedom. There is nothing shameful about accepting your body”, she explained.
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Although her acting career didn’t flourish as expected, Heather Thomas’ journey of recovery and self-discovery is truly inspiring. Her legacy as Jody Banks and her resilience still resonates with fans of the ’80s. We’d love to hear your thoughts on Thomas and her remarkable story!