Dave Thomas(I)
- Writer
- Actor
- Producer
Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Dave was the eldest son of
John and Moreen Thomas. John Thomas (deceased) was a PHD in Philosophy
(Duke), noted medical ethicist, head of Philosophy Department at
McMaster University, and author of several books including: "Matters of
Life and Death," "Well and Good," "Medical Ethic and Human Life."
Moreen Thomas (living) was a church organist for 30 years and noted
composer of church music. Brother,
Ian Thomas is a noted Canadian
musician and composer whose songs have been covered by bands like
America,
Chicago, Air Supply
(Russell Hitchcock &
Graham Russell),
Bette Midler, and
Manfred Mann.
Starting his career at ad agency McCann Erickson, after one year, Dave
became the head writer of the Coca-Cola account. He then moved from the
Toronto office to New York at the request of agency client Coca-Cola.
Dave left advertising after three years to work at Second City Company
in Toronto with Dan Aykroyd,
John Candy,
Gilda Radner, and
Eugene Levy. He subsequently co-founded
NBC's critically acclaimed comedy series
SCTV (1976), along
with co-stars Harold Ramis, Catherine
O'Hara (I), Eugene Levy,
Andrea Martin, and
John Candy. During the show's five-year run,
Dave won an Emmy Award, 4 Emmy nominations for his comedy writing, an
ACTRA Award for Best Variety Performer and the Earl Grey Award in 1993.
With Rick Moranis, Dave co-created the
infamous McKenzie Brothers and co-starred in the cult hit comedy film
Strange Brew (1983)
(MGM). Strange Brew won the Golden Reel Award for the highest box
office grossing movie in Canada in 1983. The duo won Gold and Platinum
Albums and a Grammy nomination. Since the film's release in 1982, the
McKenzie Brothers have become a 20-year-plus enduring franchise, and
Thomas and Moranis have licensed the characters to the following
companies -- NBC, CBC, Polygram, MGM, Pizza Hut, Mr. Lubbe, Miller
Brewing, Molsons Brewing, Todd McFarlane Toys and Disney.
Dave has written, directed, produced, and co-starred in television
shows for all the major networks -- most notably
The Dave Thomas Comedy Show (1990)
(CBS) and
Grace Under Fire (1993)
(ABC). He was co-creator and co-executive producer of
America's Funniest People (1990)
(ABC). He wrote and directed the M.O.W.
Ghost Mom (1993) (Fox)
starring Jean Stapleton and
Geraint Wyn Davies and starred in the
M.O.W.'s Kids in the Woods (Disney) and
Picture Perfect (1995)
(ABC). He has voiced animated shows like
The Simpsons (1989), Duckman,
Catdog, Dilbert, Animaniacs, Justice League of America for Warners and
Tarzan for Disney. He has appeared in numerous feature films, including
Stripes with Bill Murray and
Harold Ramis,
Spies Like Us (1985) (Dave was also
co-writer with Aykroyd) with Chevy Chase and
Dan Aykroyd,
The Experts (1989) (Dave directed)
starring John Travolta and Kelly Preston,
Boris & Natasha with Sally Kellerman, Coneheads with Dan Aykroyd, and
most recently Rat Race with John Cleese,
Whoopi Goldberg, and
Cuba Gooding Jr.. In 2001, Dave played
a featured role in the theatrical features Who's Your Daddy and Call Me
Irresponsible (Norstar). Dave is currently voicing a major role along
with Joaquin Phoenix and Rick Moranis in
the upcoming full-length Disney animated feature Bears due for
theatrical release in 2004. In 1996, Mr. Thomas wrote a book, "SCTV
Behind the Scenes". It is currently in its second printing. Mr. Thomas'
production company, Maple Palm Productions, produced an Ace nominated
comedy special for Showtime entitled The Time Travels of Henry Osgood
starring Bronson Pinchot, Catherine
O'Hara (I), John Candy,
Martin Short, and
Joe Flaherty, a special for CBS in
1990 entitled "Standup at Forty" starring Gary Shandling, Bonnie Hunt,
Martin Short, George Plimpton and
Richard Belzer. In 1992 Maple Palm
produced another comedy special, this time for ABC entitled "Inside
American's Unsolved Mysteries". In 1994, Maple Palm produced a reality
pilot for ABC entitled
Family Challenge (1995). ABC
elected not to pick up the series, so Maple Palm produced 130 hour-long
episodes of
Family Challenge (1995) for
the Family Channel with Woody Fraser. In
1999, Maple Palm Productions and Dave Thomas produced
Ambushed (1998) a movie for HBO,
starring Courtney B. Vance,
Virginia Madsen, and
David Keith, directed by
Ernest R. Dickerson.
Ambushed (1998) was the highest rated
television show in its time slot when it first aired in 1999.
Currently, Dave is a partner in Animax Interactive, an online
production company creating sponsored interactive content and designing
Web Pages for such companies as Ford, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner
Brothers and Verizon. Dave lives in Malibu, California with his wife
Kim and four children John, Emily, Harry and Charlie.
John and Moreen Thomas. John Thomas (deceased) was a PHD in Philosophy
(Duke), noted medical ethicist, head of Philosophy Department at
McMaster University, and author of several books including: "Matters of
Life and Death," "Well and Good," "Medical Ethic and Human Life."
Moreen Thomas (living) was a church organist for 30 years and noted
composer of church music. Brother,
Ian Thomas is a noted Canadian
musician and composer whose songs have been covered by bands like
America,
Chicago, Air Supply
(Russell Hitchcock &
Graham Russell),
Bette Midler, and
Manfred Mann.
Starting his career at ad agency McCann Erickson, after one year, Dave
became the head writer of the Coca-Cola account. He then moved from the
Toronto office to New York at the request of agency client Coca-Cola.
Dave left advertising after three years to work at Second City Company
in Toronto with Dan Aykroyd,
John Candy,
Gilda Radner, and
Eugene Levy. He subsequently co-founded
NBC's critically acclaimed comedy series
SCTV (1976), along
with co-stars Harold Ramis, Catherine
O'Hara (I), Eugene Levy,
Andrea Martin, and
John Candy. During the show's five-year run,
Dave won an Emmy Award, 4 Emmy nominations for his comedy writing, an
ACTRA Award for Best Variety Performer and the Earl Grey Award in 1993.
With Rick Moranis, Dave co-created the
infamous McKenzie Brothers and co-starred in the cult hit comedy film
Strange Brew (1983)
(MGM). Strange Brew won the Golden Reel Award for the highest box
office grossing movie in Canada in 1983. The duo won Gold and Platinum
Albums and a Grammy nomination. Since the film's release in 1982, the
McKenzie Brothers have become a 20-year-plus enduring franchise, and
Thomas and Moranis have licensed the characters to the following
companies -- NBC, CBC, Polygram, MGM, Pizza Hut, Mr. Lubbe, Miller
Brewing, Molsons Brewing, Todd McFarlane Toys and Disney.
Dave has written, directed, produced, and co-starred in television
shows for all the major networks -- most notably
The Dave Thomas Comedy Show (1990)
(CBS) and
Grace Under Fire (1993)
(ABC). He was co-creator and co-executive producer of
America's Funniest People (1990)
(ABC). He wrote and directed the M.O.W.
Ghost Mom (1993) (Fox)
starring Jean Stapleton and
Geraint Wyn Davies and starred in the
M.O.W.'s Kids in the Woods (Disney) and
Picture Perfect (1995)
(ABC). He has voiced animated shows like
The Simpsons (1989), Duckman,
Catdog, Dilbert, Animaniacs, Justice League of America for Warners and
Tarzan for Disney. He has appeared in numerous feature films, including
Stripes with Bill Murray and
Harold Ramis,
Spies Like Us (1985) (Dave was also
co-writer with Aykroyd) with Chevy Chase and
Dan Aykroyd,
The Experts (1989) (Dave directed)
starring John Travolta and Kelly Preston,
Boris & Natasha with Sally Kellerman, Coneheads with Dan Aykroyd, and
most recently Rat Race with John Cleese,
Whoopi Goldberg, and
Cuba Gooding Jr.. In 2001, Dave played
a featured role in the theatrical features Who's Your Daddy and Call Me
Irresponsible (Norstar). Dave is currently voicing a major role along
with Joaquin Phoenix and Rick Moranis in
the upcoming full-length Disney animated feature Bears due for
theatrical release in 2004. In 1996, Mr. Thomas wrote a book, "SCTV
Behind the Scenes". It is currently in its second printing. Mr. Thomas'
production company, Maple Palm Productions, produced an Ace nominated
comedy special for Showtime entitled The Time Travels of Henry Osgood
starring Bronson Pinchot, Catherine
O'Hara (I), John Candy,
Martin Short, and
Joe Flaherty, a special for CBS in
1990 entitled "Standup at Forty" starring Gary Shandling, Bonnie Hunt,
Martin Short, George Plimpton and
Richard Belzer. In 1992 Maple Palm
produced another comedy special, this time for ABC entitled "Inside
American's Unsolved Mysteries". In 1994, Maple Palm produced a reality
pilot for ABC entitled
Family Challenge (1995). ABC
elected not to pick up the series, so Maple Palm produced 130 hour-long
episodes of
Family Challenge (1995) for
the Family Channel with Woody Fraser. In
1999, Maple Palm Productions and Dave Thomas produced
Ambushed (1998) a movie for HBO,
starring Courtney B. Vance,
Virginia Madsen, and
David Keith, directed by
Ernest R. Dickerson.
Ambushed (1998) was the highest rated
television show in its time slot when it first aired in 1999.
Currently, Dave is a partner in Animax Interactive, an online
production company creating sponsored interactive content and designing
Web Pages for such companies as Ford, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner
Brothers and Verizon. Dave lives in Malibu, California with his wife
Kim and four children John, Emily, Harry and Charlie.