Jay Thomas was an actor best known for his recurring roles on the comedy series Murphy Brown and Cheers. He won two Emmy Awards for his part as obnoxious TV-host Jerry Gold on Murphy Brown, and was nominated once more for the role.

Thomas also starred on his own sitcom, playing a sportswriter on CBS’s Love and War, and had parts on The Love Boat, Mork & Mindy, Family Ties, The Golden Girls, Cybill, Fantasy Island, Ed, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Joan of Arcadia, Boston Legal, Cold Case, Ray Donovan, NCIS: New Orleans and Bones.

Additionally, he had roles in the films Mr. Holland’s Opus, Dragonfly, The Santa Clause 2, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and Labor Pains.

Thomas often appeared on Late Night with David Letterman during the holiday season, where he told a story every time about Clayton Moore, star of TV's The Lone Ranger.

He got his start in radio as a high school football announcer in Panama City, Florida. After moving to New York for a radio job, he started performing stand-up comedy and acted in off-Broadway plays.

Thomas died August 24, 2017, in Santa Barbara, California. He was 69.