- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMuzyad Yakhoob
- Nicknames
- Muzzy
- Jake
- Height5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
- Known primarily as a TV actor, he starred as a nightclub singer on the popular The Danny Thomas Show (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, The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961), The Andy Griffith Show (1960) and 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
- SpouseRose Marie Mantell Thomas(January 15, 1936 - February 6, 1991) (his death, 3 children)
- Children
- ParentsCharles Yakhoob KairouzMargaret Christen Kairouz
- His eagle beak nose
- He, Sheldon Leonard, and son Tony Thomas, each produced several long-running sitcoms and/or dramas.
- A couple of his characters were entertainment performers.
- Frequently played characters that were gruff in tone
- His loud, nasal voice
- Founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
- Child of Lebanese immigrants.
- 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 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 minutes later.
- Pictured on a nondenominated ("forever") USA commemorative postage stamp issued in his honor 16 February 2012. It also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which Thomas founded in February 1962. Price of the stamp on day of issue was 45¢.
- Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others.
- Then a fellow whose wife had just been cured of cancer of the womb came into this little night club where I was playing and told me about St. Jude, the patron of the hopeless. So I went around to church and told him.
- [In 1957]: I understand you're the patron of the hopeless. Well, that's me. I want to know whether I should stay in showbusiness. If I shouldn't, please make me a sign. If I do stay and if I make good in a big way, I'll build you a shrine.
- [When he moved to Chicago, where he worked at a small night club, where he was paid $50 a week, before he made $500]: I got through my act at 4:30 A.M. and I went to a 5 A.M. mass to thank God. As I knelt, I saw in the pew in front of me a huge pamphlet with St. Jude's picture mentioning a novena in honor of a national shrine. I remembered the vow I'd made and I saw why I come there. This was St. Jude's hometown.
- [When in 1945 his career began to escalate]: By 1946, I could have built an altar and fulfilled my obligation. By 1948, I could have built a small chapel. By 1950, I could have built a larger one.
- I'll See You in My Dreams (1952) - $50 .000
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