Biography for
Danny Thomas (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

6 January 1914, Deerfield, Michigan, USA

Date of Death

6 February 1991, Los Angeles, California, USA (heart attack)

Birth Name

Amos Muzyad Jahoob

Mini Biography

Known primarily as a TV actor, he starred as a nightclub singer on the popular "Make Room for Daddy" (1953).

He also served TV behind the cameras partnering with Sheldon Leonard and Aaron Spelling to create such shows as 'Dick van Dyke''s show, "Dick Van Dyke Show, The" (1961)_, _Andy Griffith Show, The (1960)_, and "The Mod Squad" (1968).

He was also dedicated to building the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, which he founded in 1962.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Ray Hamel

Spouse

Rose Marie Mantell Thomas

(15 January 1936 - 6 February 1991) (his death) 3 children

Trivia

Father of Tony Thomas, Marlo Thomas, and Terre Thomas.

He took his stage name from his eldest brother Thomas and his youngest brother Danny. Most of his friends called him "Jake."

Though he was a spokesman for Sanka brand Decaffeinated Coffee, he later confessed that he never drank it. He claimed he could drink cup after cup of Maxwell House Coffee and still fall asleep mere minutes later.

Child of Lebanese immigrants.

Danny Thomas was a founding minority owner of the NFL team "Miami Dolphins."

Co-starred on NBC Radio's "Drene Time" (1946-1947).

Danny Williams, Thomas's character on "Make Room for Daddy" (1953), was ranked #5 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue].

Founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Guest speaker at the 1973 National Boy Scout Jamboree in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Was offered the lead role in The Al Jolson Story after James Cagney turned it down. He also turned it down.

Godmother of his daughter Marlo Thomas was Loretta Young.

Personal Quotes

"Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others."

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