Philip Michael Thomas

Last updated

Philip Michael Thomas
Philip Michael Thomas.jpg
Born (1949-05-26) May 26, 1949 (age 75)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S. [1]
Alma mater University of California, Riverside
Occupation(s)Actor, musician
Years active1972–present
SpouseKassandra Green Thomas (1986) [2] [3]

Philip Michael Thomas (born May 26, 1949) is an American actor and musician, best known for his role as detective Ricardo Tubbs on the hit 1980s TV series Miami Vice . His first notable roles were in Coonskin (1975) and opposite Irene Cara in the 1976 film Sparkle . After his success in Miami Vice, he appeared in numerous made-for-TV movies and advertisements for telephone psychic services. He served as a spokesperson for cell phone entertainment company Nextones, and also voiced the character Lance Vance in the video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006).

Contents

Early life

Thomas was born in Columbus, Ohio, but grew up in San Bernardino, California. [1] He is of African American, Native American, Irish, and German descent. [4] His father, Louis Diggs, was a foreman at a Westinghouse plant. Thomas's mother was Lulu McMorris. He and his seven half brothers and sisters had the surname Thomas, which was the last name of his mother's first husband. [5]

As a child, he acted in his church's theater group and, at age 15, while participating in the Pentecostal Delman Heights Four Square Gospel Church choir, became interested in ministry. [5] He graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1967 and briefly worked as a janitor to save money for college. [1] Thomas earned a scholarship to the historically Black Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, where he studied religion and philosophy after high school. [5] [6]

After two years at Oakwood College, Thomas transferred to the University of California, Riverside. [5] During this time, he auditioned for and won a role in the San Francisco cast of Hair , which began his acting career. [1] [7] [8] Thomas ultimately quit school to pursue acting as a profession, appearing in several features during the 1970s - including the classic musical drama Sparkle (1976). His big break came in 1984, when he landed a starring role in the popular television series Miami Vice alongside Don Johnson. [5]

Career

Acting

Miami Vice

In 1984, Thomas began playing the role of Ricardo Tubbs, an ex-NYPD police officer from the Bronx who came to Miami seeking revenge on the person who killed his brother Rafael Tubbs. In Miami he encounters another undercover cop, Sonny Crockett, who is coincidentally looking for the same person. [9]

Thomas was reportedly paid $25,000 (equivalent to $73,000 today) per episode for Seasons 1–2. In 1986, he was given an increase to $50,000 ($147,000) per episode for Seasons 3–5. Johnson was paid $30,000 ($88,000) per episode for Seasons 1-2 and $90,000 ($264,000) per episode for Seasons 3–5.

Thomas coined the acronym "EGOT", meaning "Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony", in reference to his plans for winning all four. [10] He has not, as of June 2023, been nominated for any of these awards, but has received a People's Choice Award and a Golden Globe nomination. [11]

Nash Bridges

In 1997, Thomas was reunited with Don Johnson for two appearances in the police drama Nash Bridges . He played Cedrick "Rick" Hawks, a Deputy United States Marshal from Miami visiting Bridges (Johnson) in San Francisco. His first appearance was in the episode "Wild Card", and his second and final appearance was in the episode "Out of Miami", aired in 2001 during the program's final season. [12]

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

In 2002, Thomas performed a voice-over in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City as Lance Vance, a supporting character who aids the game's protagonist, Tommy Vercetti, in several story missions, while trying to avenge his brother, Victor Vance, killed in a botched drug deal with Tommy at the beginning of the game. [13] He reprised his role in the 2006 prequel Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories , which details Lance's arrival in Vice City, the beginning of his involvement in the drug business, and his relationship with Victor. [14]

Music

In 1985, Thomas released a music album titled Living the Book of My Life under his own record label called Spaceship Records. [15] It sold poorly and failed to produce a hit single, although Thomas produced a video for the track "Just the Way I Planned It". [16]

Thomas performed the title song of the album during the 1985 Miami Vice episode "The Maze." The episode "Trust Fund Pirates" featured another of his songs, "La Mirada". Thomas' Miami Vice co-star Don Johnson recorded an album shortly afterward titled Heartbeat . [17] In 1987 Thomas recorded a song called "Ever and Forever" with Argentine singer Lucía Galán of Pimpinela fame. [18]

Thomas followed up in 1988 with a second album, Somebody. [19] It also failed to produce a hit and sold poorly. In 1993, Thomas teamed with Kathy Rahill to compose "My, My, My, Miam...I", [20] which was chosen as the city of Miami's theme song. [21] That same year, Thomas teamed with Jamaican fitness instructor Sandi Morais to compose songs for a family-friendly musical titled Sacha, which enjoyed runs in south Florida and New York. [22] The two formed the Magic Cookie Production Company. Thomas produced the music for Morais' fitness videos in 2001 and 2006. [23]

Psychic Reader's Network

In 1994, Thomas signed an agreement with Florida-based Psychic Reader's Network (later known as Traffix, Inc.) to become the spokesman for the Philip Michael Thomas International Psychic Network. He appeared in television ads and claimed to have met the planet's premier psychics through his "world travels". He dressed similarly to his Miami Vice alter ego, even opening the ads with the phrase, "From Miami Vice to world advice!" [24] He appeared in informercials with Eileen Brennan and Todd McKee and his daughter, Sacha Nicole, to promote the psychic line. [25] Thomas released a cassette of music linked to his psychic business titled PMT Psychic Connection, Volume I. [26]

Traffix replaced Thomas with Miss Cleo. Thomas sued, alleging breach of contract, and won. In 2002, a New York arbitrator awarded Thomas $1.48 million for improper use of his name and likeness and an additional $780,000 in interest. [27]

Personal life

Thomas is a vegetarian, nonsmoker, and nondrinker. [1] [6] In 1986, he was sued for child support by Dhaima Mathews, the mother of his then 2-year-old daughter and 9-week-old son. [28] That same year, Thomas married Kassandra Green. [29] Green filed a domestic violence complaint against Thomas in 1997, during which time she was described as being the mother of 5 of his 12 children. [30]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1972 Come Back, Charleston Blue Minister
1972 Stigma Dr. Calvin Crosse
1973 Book of Numbers Dave Green
1975 Mr. Ricco Purvis Mapes
1975Black FistFletch & Boom Boom
1975 Coonskin Randy / Brother RabbitVoice of Brother Rabbit
1976 Sparkle Stix
1976 El hombre de los hongos Gaspar / Adopted boy
1978 Death Drug Jesse
1979The DarkCorn Rows
1982 Hey Good Lookin' Boogaloo Jones / ChaplinVoice
1982Stigma
1988 The Wizard of Speed and Time Policeman Mickey PolankoFeature-length version
1993Miami ShakedownFrank FergusonAlso executive producer
1994River of Stone
2003FateDetective Ciprian Raines
2009Poet, SoldierWestShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973 Griff Eddie MarshallEpisode: "The Framing of Billy the Kid"
1973–1974 Toma Bad Sam / Sam Hooper2 episodes
1974 Good Times Eddie ConroyEpisode: "Sex and the Evans Family"
1974 Police Woman SonnyEpisode: "It's Only a Game"
1975 Caribe Prince JohnEpisode: "Murder in Paradise"
1976 Movin' On BanjoEpisode: "No More Sad Songs"
1976 Medical Center Dr. Sam KarterEpisode: "If Wishes Were Horses"
1976 Sirota's Court J.V.Episode: "The Reporter"
1977 Insight LutherEpisode: "The Alleluia Kid"
1977Roosevelt and TrumanTrumanTelevision pilot
1978 The New Adventures of Wonder Woman FurstEpisode: "The Man Who Wouldn't Tell"
1978 Starsky & Hutch Kingston St. JacquesEpisode: "Quadromania"
1978 The Beasts Are on the Streets Eddie MorganTelevision film
1978 Lawman Without a Gun Rufus CartwrightTelevision film
1979 Roots: The Next Generations Eddie FranklinTelevision miniseries
1979ValentineBeanTelevision film
1981 Strike Force WesleyEpisode: "The Victims"
1982 Trapper John, M.D. Floyd WalshEpisode: "Ladies in Waiting"
1984–1989 Miami Vice Detective Ricardo Tubbs 111 episodes
1986A Fight for JennyDavid CaldwellTelevision film
1989False WitnessBobby MarshTelevision film
1990 Superboy BrimstoneEpisode: "Brimstone"
1990 Zorro Jack HoltenEpisode: "Pride of the Pueblo"
1990 A Little Piece of Sunshine TomsonTelevision film
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter Chuck GilmoreTelevision film
1991–1992 Detective Extralarge Jean Philippe Dumas6 episodes
1992 Swamp Thing Barry ScottEpisode: "Dead and Married"
1994 Fortune Hunter Gary ColtEpisode: "The Alpha Team"
1997 Noi siamo angeli (We Are Angels)Joe / Father Zaccaria6 episodes
1997–2001 Nash Bridges Cedrick Hawks2 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997We Are AngelsFather Zaccaria
2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Lance Vance
2006 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Lance Vance
2021 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Lance VanceArchival Recordings
Remaster of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City only.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Mann</span> American filmmaker (born 1943)

Michael Kenneth Mann is an American film director, screenwriter, author, and producer, best known for his stylized crime dramas. Mann has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards as well as nominations for four Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. His most acclaimed works include the films Thief (1981), Manhunter (1986), The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Heat (1995), The Insider (1999), Ali (2001), Collateral (2004), Public Enemies (2009), and Ferrari (2023). He is also known for his role as executive producer on the popular TV series Miami Vice (1984–90), which he adapted into a 2006 feature film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Johnson</span> American actor and singer (born 1949)

Donald Wayne Johnson is an American actor, producer and singer. He played the role of James "Sonny" Crockett in the 1980s television series Miami Vice, for which he won a Golden Globe, and received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He also played the titular character in the 1990s series Nash Bridges. Johnson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996.

<i>Grand Theft Auto: Vice City</i> 2002 video game

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is a 2002 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the fourth main game in the Grand Theft Auto series, following 2001's Grand Theft Auto III, and the sixth entry overall. Set in 1986 within the fictional Vice City, the single-player story follows mobster Tommy Vercetti's rise to power after being released from prison and becoming caught up in an ambushed drug deal. While seeking out those responsible, Tommy gradually builds a criminal empire by seizing power from other criminal organisations in the city.

<i>Miami Vice</i> American crime drama television series (1984–1990)

Miami Vice is an American crime drama television series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series stars Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. The series ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984 to 1989. The USA Network began airing reruns in 1988 and broadcast a previously unaired episode during its syndication run of the series on January 25, 1990.

<i>Nash Bridges</i> American police drama television series

Nash Bridges is an American police procedural television series created by Carlton Cuse. The show stars Don Johnson and Cheech Marin as two Inspectors with the San Francisco Police Department's Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Lopez</span> American songwriter of musicals (born 1975)

Robert Lopez is an American songwriter for musicals and playwright, best known for co-creating The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q, and for co-writing the songs featured in the Disney animated films Frozen, its sequel Frozen II, and Coco, with his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

<i>Miami Vice</i> (film) 2006 film by Michael Mann

Miami Vice is a 2006 action crime film written, directed, and co-produced by Michael Mann. An adaptation of the 1980s television series of the same name, of which Mann was an executive producer, it stars Colin Farrell as James "Sonny" Crockett and Jamie Foxx as Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, MDPD detectives who go undercover to fight drug trafficking operations. The ensemble supporting cast includes Gong Li, Naomie Harris, Barry Shabaka Henley, John Ortiz, Luis Tosar, Ciarán Hinds, Elizabeth Rodriguez, John Hawkes, Justin Theroux, Isaach De Bankolé, Eddie Marsan, and Tom Towles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James "Sonny" Crockett</span> Miami Vice fictional character

Detective James "Sonny" Crockett is a fictional character in the NBC television series Miami Vice. Crockett was originally portrayed by Don Johnson in the television series from 1984 to 1990, and later by Colin Farrell in the feature film in 2006. Crockett appeared in every episode of Miami Vice except the fifth season episode "Borrasca". He has also appeared in video games and various popular culture references of the show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gina Marks</span> American psychic and convicted fraudster (born 1973)

Gina Marie Marks is an American psychic and convicted fraudster. Using the pseudonym of Regina Milbourne, she co-authored Miami Psychic: Confessions of a Confidante, a memoir published by HarperCollins in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricardo Tubbs</span> Miami Vice fictional character

Detective Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs is a fictional character from the Miami Vice television series. Tubbs was originally portrayed by Philip Michael Thomas in the television series from 1984 to 1990, and later by Jamie Foxx in the feature film in 2006. Tubbs is an undercover detective for the Metro-Dade Police Department's Organized Crime Bureau, having relocated to Miami from New York City in order to track down his brother's murderer. For the duration of the series, Tubbs is partnered with fellow undercover detective James "Sonny" Crockett.

Brothers Keeper (<i>Miami Vice</i>) 1984 pilot episode of American TV series

"Brother's Keeper" is the pilot episode of the American television series Miami Vice. The episode premiered on September 16, 1984, with a two-hour season premiere. The episode was received well critically, winning two out of three Emmy Awards for which it was nominated.

"'No Exit" is the seventh episode of the first season of the American police procedural television series Miami Vice. It premiered on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) on November 9, 1984. The episode was written by Charles R. Leinenweber and Maurice Hurley, and directed by David Soul. "No Exit" featured guest appearances by Bruce Willis, Katherine Borowitz and Vinnie Curto.

In the television series, Miami Vice, firearms took a key role. Episodes such as "Evan" revolved around them, while the characters themselves also used several firearms during the series. Sonny Crockett was to have used a SIG Sauer P220, but this was replaced by the then more modern Bren Ten. The importance of the firearms in Miami Vice is demonstrated by Galco International, which provided the holster used by Don Johnson on the show, naming its holster the Miami Classic. Another example of a iconic firearm is Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs' sawed-off double-barred shotgun which is prominent in Rockstar Games's landmark video-game GTA Vice City as the inspiration for the Stubby Gun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miami Hurricanes men's basketball</span> College mens basketball team representing University of Miami

The Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team is the college basketball team of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The team competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

"Out Where the Buses Don't Run" is the third episode of the second season of the American crime drama television series Miami Vice. The episode first aired on NBC on October 18, 1985, and It featured guest star Bruce McGill as an eccentric retired police officer attempting to aid Metro-Dade detectives James "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs in the search for a missing drug lord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Nygaard</span> Private detective specializing in psychic fraud

Bob Nygaard is an American private investigator (PI) specializing in the investigation of confidence crimes, most notably psychic fraud. He has been instrumental in the arrest and conviction of numerous psychics, helping their victims obtain justice including financial restitution amounting to millions of dollars. He has consulted for ABC News and 20/20 as a specialist in psychic fraud. Nygaard previously was a member of the New York City Transit Police and Nassau County Police Department, retiring from service in 2008.

<i>Living the Book of My Life</i> 1985 studio album by Philip Michael Thomas

Living the Book of My Life is the debut album of actor Philip Michael Thomas, released in 1985. Written and produced by Thomas himself, the album was one stage of his intention to win the "EGOT" combination of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards. Despite his ambitions, and the involvement of several noted reggae session musicians, the album has been described as a "bomb", and has received negative reviews from music critics both upon release and in retrospect.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Randolph, Laura (April 1988). "The Philip Michael Thomas even his 'Miami Vice' Fans Don't Know". Ebony . Johnson Publishing Co. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  2. ↑ https://www.deseret.com/1997/11/14/19345886/former-miami-vice-star-denies-violence-incident/
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq5L8QQPdsY
  4. ↑ Porter, Charlotte (July 6, 1985). "PHILIP MICHAEL THOMAS : MULTIDIMENSIONAL MAN OF TV'S 'MIAMI VICE'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Philip Michael Thomas Biography". Biography.com. A&E Television Networks. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Wallace, Carol (December 9, 1985). "The Ego Has Landed". People (archive). Time, Inc. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Philip Michael Thomas Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on May 1, 2007.
  8. ↑ Zoglin, Richard (September 16, 1985). "Cool Cops, Hot Show". Time . Time Inc. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
  9. ↑ Smith, Sally Bedell (January 3, 1985). "'MIAMI VICE': ACTION TV WITH SOME NEW TWISTS". The New York Times . Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  10. ↑ Long, Tim (February 26, 2008). "The Oscars: Where Is the Love for Philip Michael Thomas?". Vanity Fair . Archived from the original on July 18, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Thomas' nomination page at the Golden Globes website". Golden Globes .
  12. ↑ "Philip Michael Thomas Revisited". The Malta Independent . December 16, 2006. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Grand Theft Radar: Is GTA as clever as it thinks it is?". GamesRadar+ . April 23, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  14. ↑ Thorsen, Tor (October 30, 2006). "Phil Collins cameos, Thomas returns in VCS?". GameSpot . Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  15. ↑ Philip Michael Thomas (November 24, 1985). "Living the Book of my Life". Discogs. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  16. ↑ Philip Michael Thomas. "Just the Way I Planned it". YouTube . Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  17. ↑ Andrew Stuttaford (August 16, 2006). "Something in the Air". National Review . Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  18. ↑ Cordova, Randy (August 9, 2014). "8/15: Latin duo Pimpinela on fame, fans". The Arizona Republic . Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  19. ↑ Philip Michael Thomas (November 24, 1988). "Somebody". Discogs. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  20. ↑ Philip Michael Thomas (July 7, 2015). "My, My, My Miam...I". Vimeo . Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Thomas' Music Entry". Sandi Morais Online. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Sacha on Broadway". Sandi Morais Online. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Philip Michael Thomas' Resume". Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  24. ↑ "1994 Commercial for Philip Michael Thomas International Psychic Network". YouTube. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Infomercial for Philip Michael Thomas International Psychic Network". YouTube. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  26. ↑ Philip Michael Thomas (November 24, 1994). "PMT Psychic Connection, Volume I". Discogs. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  27. ↑ Matt Bean (June 6, 2002). "Ex-'Miami Vice' star wins first round against psychic network". CNN .
  28. ↑ "VICE STAR FACES LAWSUIT". Sun Sentinel . December 5, 1986. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  29. ↑ Marr, Madeleine (September 16, 2016). "Singer Imaj has ties to 'Miami Vice' — her dad was Tubbs". Miami Herald . Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Former 'Miami Vice' star denies violence incident". Deseret News . November 14, 1997. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  31. ↑ Long, Tim (February 26, 2008). "The Oscars: Where Is the Love for Philip Michael Thomas?" Vanity Fair. "...Thomas took to wearing a gold medallion emblazoned with the letters "EGOT", which stood for "Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony." As Thomas told an interviewer in 1984, "Hopefully in the next five years I will win all of those awards." As of February 2008, ... only twelve people in history have ever won all four – among them, Mike Nichols, Audrey Hepburn, Rita Moreno, and Marvin Hamlisch.
  32. ↑ Mifflin, Lawrie (May 22, 1995). "More Awards Programs, More Winners, More Money". The New York Times.
  33. ↑ McIntee, Michael (January 12, 2010). "Wahoo Gazette. Show #3244". CBS. Archived from the original on May 7, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.