Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: THURSDAY, February 7, 1991 TAG: 9102070238 SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: Associated Press DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Short
The star of the long-running comedy series "Make Room for Daddy" died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center about 30 minutes after he was taken there from his Beverly Hills home.
Funeral services were pending.
Thomas made his last TV appearance Saturday night, playing an aging doctor on "Empty Nest," the successful comedy series co-produced by his son, Tony Thomas.
On television, Thomas is best remembered as Danny Williams, the loud but soft-hearted nightclub entertainer on "Make Room for Daddy," which ran from 1953 to 1971 on ABC and CBS.
In the 1960s, Thomas branched into production, forming partnerships with Sheldon Leonard and Aaron Spelling to create such programs as the "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Dick Van Dyke Show, "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.," and "The Mod Squad."
In addition to a nightclub, radio and television career that spanned five decades, Thomas also was loved for his devotion to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., which he opened in 1962.
Two of his real-life children enjoyed their own television successes. From 1966 to 1971, daughter Marlo starred in "That Girl," on which father Danny did several cameo appearances. Besides "Empty Nest," son Tony also is the co-executive producer of NBC's hit series "The Golden Girls."
by CNB