Marlo Thomas has been a prominent figure in the American entertainment industry for over 60 years, with numerous roles in both television and film. She is best known for her portrayal of the lead character in the sitcom That Girl, which aired from 1966 to 1971. Additionally, she created the children’s franchise Free to Be… You and Me, which earned her widespread recognition. Her contributions to the industry have earned her several awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
Marlo Thomas has been married to Phil Donahue, an American media personality, writer, and film producer since 1980. Although they did not have any children together, she became a stepmother to his children from his previous marriage.
Marlo Thomas Is The First Of Three Children Born To Danny Thomas And Rose Marie Cassaniti
Marlo Thomas is a star who was born to shine. Her real name is Margaret Julia Thomas, and she was born on November 21, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan. She is 86 years old now, and she has a rich and diverse heritage. Her father was Danny Thomas, a legendary actor, singer, and comedian, who was of Lebanese descent. Her mother was Rose Marie Cassaniti, a beautiful and elegant woman, who was of Sicilian origin.
She is the eldest of her parents’ three children; she has a younger sister, Theresa, and a younger brother, Tony, who became a successful film producer and director.
Marlo grew up in Beverly Hills, California, where she was surrounded by glamour and fame. She went to Marymount High School in Los Angeles, where she excelled in academics and extracurricular activities. She then attended the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, where she earned a teaching degree. But she had a passion for acting, and she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a star.
A Look At Her Career Since 1960
Marlo Thomas is a versatile and talented actress who has starred in many TV shows and movies. She started her acting career in 1960, when she landed several TV roles on shows such as The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1960), 77 Sunset Strip (1960), Zane Grey Theater (1961), Wendy and Me (1964), and Ben Casey (1965).
She became famous for playing Ann Marie, a young aspiring actress, in the popular sitcom That Girl, which ran from 1966 to 1971. She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress on TV in 1967 for her performance.
She continued to impress audiences with her TV roles in the 1980s and beyond. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her role in Nobody’s Child (1986), a TV drama about a woman who struggles with mental illness. She also appeared in other shows such as Frasier (1999), Two Against Time (2002), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2004), The New Normal (2012), and A Magical Christmas Village (2022).
Marlo also made her mark on the big screen. She made her film debut in Jenny (1970), where she played the titular role of a pregnant woman who falls in love with a married man. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year-Actress for her role. She also starred in other movies such as Thieves (1977), Falling Down (1993), The Real Blonde (1997), Playing Mona Lisa (2000), The Female Brain (2017) and Ocean’s 8 (2018).
Marlo is not only an actress, but also an author who has written several books. She has a passion for empowering people, especially children and women, with her words. She wrote:
- Free to Be… You and Me
- Free to Be… A Family
- The Right Words at The Right Time
- The Right Words at The Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn
- Marlo Thomas and Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long
- Growing Up Laughing
- It Ain’t Over…Till It’s Over: Reinventing Your Life and Realizing Your Dreams Anytime, At Any Age
She is not just an author, but also a Grammy Award winner. She won the award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children in 2006 for the CD version of Marlo Thomas and Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long.
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She Has Been Married To Phil Donahue For 44 Years
Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue are a Hollywood couple who have been married for over 40 years. They met in 1977, when Marlo was a guest on Phil’s talk show, The Phil Donahue Show.
The two felt an instant attraction, and they started dating soon after. Marlo was hesitant to get married, as she valued her independence and career. But Phil changed her mind, and they tied the knot on May 21, 1980, in a small and intimate ceremony.
They became a blended family, as Phil had five children (Michael, Kelvin, Daniel, Mary Rose, and James) from his previous marriage, and she became their stepmother. They have supported each other through their ups and downs, and they have learned to respect and appreciate their differences.
Before marrying Phil, Marlo had a long-term relationship with playwright Herb Gardner.
Here Are Some Fast Facts About Her
- Marlo is the National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which was founded by her father in 1962
- Her father Danny Thomas died in 1991, at the age of 79, from a heart attack at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles
- Her mother Rose Marie Cassaniti died in July 2000, at the age of 86
- She has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom From Barak Obama in 2014
- Marlo has an estimated net worth of $150 million, as reported by celebritynetworth.com
