Michelle Thomas

Biography

Michelle Thomas is an American TV & Movie Actress & Comedian. She made her debut with Dream Date(1989) as Sally Palmer. She is popular for her roles of Justine Phillips [The Cosby Show (1988–90), and Myra Monkhouse [Family Matters(1993–98)]

Michelle Doris Thomas was born on 23rd September 1968 in Boston, Massachusetts, United states to Dennis Thomas (father)- a musician who played for "Kool & the Gang" and stage actress Phynjuar Thomas(Mother). she grew up in Montclair, New Jersey.

She has a brother named David Thomas. 

Education

• West Essex High School: Michelle graduated from the 'West Essex High School'- a public High school located in the North Caldwell in the year 1987
• Broadway Dance Center: She studied Jazz, hip-hop, Modern music at the 'Broadway Dance Center' in New York

Cancer & Death

She was diagnosed with Stomach Cancer in 1997, She had a tumor (intra-abdominal desmoplastic small-round-cell tumor), she underwent surgery twice in 1998, but it wasn't successful. She died at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on December 26th 1998. Her former boyfriend Malcolm-Jamal Warner stayed at her bedside at the time of her death. She was buried at the Rosedale Cemetery, Orange, New Jersey.

Funeral service: She died with her family & friends surrounding her, a funeral service according to Muslim rites was conducted as she had requested.

Her grave has the inscriptions- Merry Christmas, Easter Bunny, Sweet Dreams, CHU-CHU

[Michelle Thomas with boyfriend Malcolm-Jamal Warner]

Trivia & Interesting Facts

• Vegetarian: Michelle was a vegetarian
• Smoking & Alcohol free: She never smoked or drank alcohol.
• Cancer: She died at the young age of 30 because of Cancer.
• Acting training: She was trained by her mother in acting, who worked as a acting coach.
• Her father Dennis Thomas was member of the funk music group Kool & the Gang. The band was popular in the 1970s.
• Teen pregnancy: Her mother Phynjuar Thomas was a stage artist. Phynjuar was only 17 years old when she gave birth to Michelle.
• Miss Talented Teen New Jersey: In 1984, Michelle was adjudged Miss Talented Teen at the Hal Jackson's Talent Competition.
• International Queen: At the age of 15 she became the international queen at the Montego Bay international competitions.
• She was a guest host at the music series Soul Train.
• Recording contract: At the age of 16 she received a recording contract, she however made a move to Los Angeles, to seek a career in acting.
• National commercial: Soon after moving to Los Angeles she landed in a National commercial.
• Malcolm & Eddie(1997) was her last TV series, Unbowed(1999) was her last movie.
• Michelle Thomas played "Betsy Brown" on stage.
• Loved Children: She did not want to chemically treat her illness, she feared it would reduce her chance of becoming a mother, she unfortunately died before conceiving a baby.
• Michelle studied acting with Flo Greenberg & Tony Abeson.
• Music: She had studied Jazz, Modern, Hip-hop forms of Music.
• Kahdijah Bell was her publicist till her death.
• She wanted to build her career all by herself, she did not tell anyone about her famous father.

Career

Movies List

• Unbowed(1999)- Anna
• Hangin' with the Homeboys(1991)- Telemarketing Operator
• Dream Date(1989) (TV)- Sally Palmer

TV Series List

• The Young and the Restless(1998)- Callie Rogers Stark
• Family Matters(199301998)- Myra Monkhouse
• Malcolm & Eddie(19970- Brooke Bellamy
• Duckman: Private Dick(1996)- (voice)
• Thea (1994)- Kendea
• The Cosby Show(1988-1990)- Justine Phillips
• A Man Called Hawk(1989)- Ruthie Carver

Music Videos

• Boyz II Men
• Chubb Rock
• Dru Hill
• Mint Condition

She is mostly known for her acting roles, however she has also performed in various soundtracks, especially for the episodes of "The Young and the Restless" & "Family Matters"

Soundtrack performances

• When Sunny Gets Blue (The Young and the Restless)
• Forever More (The Young and the Restless)
• You've Got Friend (The Young and the Restless)
• In My Solitude (The Young and the Restless)
• I Can't Help Myself (Family Matters)

Awards

• 1999: Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series- NAACP Image Awards- WON for her work in "The Young and the Restless"

Sources

• Michelle Thomas Wiki
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