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)]

Childhood- Family

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.

Mother

Her mother Phynjuar Thomas was a stage artist.  Phynjuar has appeared in works such as "Where's the Love" as Magdelena, as Principal Athena Lockett in ElemenTory(2024), Doctor Oconnor in Uncle Rufus' Last Request(2023), Claire in Steps(2021). Phynjuar is a two-time AUDELCO award winner.

Phynjuar was only 17 years old when she gave birth to Michelle.

Father

Her father Dennis Thomas was member of the funk music group Kool & the Gang ("Celebration" ,  "Get Down On It"). The band was popular in the 1970s. He passed away on August 7, 2021 at the age of 70, he died peacefully in his sleep. [2]

She has brothers named David Thomas and Devin Thomas and a sister named Tuesday Rankin. [2] 

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
• Montclair School of Arts: She attended the Montclair School of Arts, affiliated to Montclair State University
• Broadway Dance Center: She studied Jazz, hip-hop, Modern music at the 'Broadway Dance Center' in New York

Career

Michelle started appearing in ads in 1983

Acting training: She was trained by her mother in acting, who worked as a acting coach. To be put in the right sense, she actually trained with her mother. Whatever acting classes her mother Phynjuar took, both Michelle and David also attended those, Michelle more so. [3]

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.

The Cosby Show

Michelle played Justine Phillips, the girlfriend of Theo Huxtable (played by Malcom Jamal Warner, who became her boyfriend in real life)

Betwen 1988-1990, she appeared on and off in 8 episodes of season 4, 5 and 6.

In the series 'A Man Called Hawk' she played Ruthie Carver in the episode "Choice of Chance (S1E7)"

In the 1989 comedy TV Movie "Dream Date", she played Sally Palmer, it was directed by Anson Williams.

In the 1991 comedy drama "Hangin' with the Homeboys" directed by Joseph B. Vasquez, she played a minor role of a telephone operator. 

Family Matters

She played Myra Monkhouse, the girlfriend of Steve Urkel (played by Jaleel White). Initially she was cast in small role, she became a regular member of the cast in 1994-1995 season. 

Myra Boutros Monkhouse is a young and attractive girl attracted to nerdy boys and polka music. Myra is a persistent character, she often finds herself competing with Laura for Steve's affection, and often spying and stalking. 

Her mother also appeared in a couple of episodes as the mother- Mitzi Monkhouse. Michelle had a Yorkshire terrier named Mitzy, named after the character her mother played in the series. [4]

During the latter episodes, the cancer was getting worse and her screen time was consistently reduced, and finally stopped. She appeared in a total of 55 episodes in the series.

In the comedy series "Thea", she appeared in two episodes S1E16-S1E17 as Kaenda.

She voiced Sister Emily (Voice) in the snimation series Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man.

She played Brooke Bellamy in the series "Malcom and Eddie" in the episode "Roofless People".

The Young and the Restless

In the romantic drama The Young and the Restless created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS, she played Callie Rogers (later Callie Rogers Stark)

 Callie Rogers is the love interest of Malcolm Winters and an aspiring singer.

She had to leave the series because of medical emergency and the character was replaced with Siena Goines, she played the role of Callie until 2000.

Unbowed (1999) was release after her death, it was her last movie, she played Anna in this Nanci Rossov directed romantic movie.

Trivia & Interesting Facts

• Vegetarian: Michelle was a vegetarian
• Smoking & Alcohol free: She never smoked or drank alcohol. [4]
• Cancer: She died at the young age of 30 because of Cancer.
• Miss Talented Teen New Jersey: In 1984, Michelle was adjudged Miss Talented Teen at the Hal Jackson's Talent Competition. A  friend of her mother had heard her sing and suggested that she enter the competition.
• International Queen: At the age of 15 she became the international queen at the Montego Bay, Jamaica international pageant from among 35 contestants.
• She was a guest host at the music series Soul Train.
• 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 (daughter of Ronald Bell of 'Kool & the Gang') was her publicist till her death.
• She wanted to build her career all by herself, she did not tell anyone about her famous father.
• She was a friend of Jon B (Actor and Composer)

Filmography

Movies

Series

Music Videos

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"

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 mouthed her last words, and whispered something in his ears, he looked at her puzzled and asked "Elephant Juice?", she smiled and said "Elephant Juice" (It was "I Love you")

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]

Sources

1. Michelle Thomas Wiki
2. Phynjuar's bio on imdb
3. Me & Michelle by Phynjuar
4. Forever young on people
5.