She had the lemon-sized cyst removed surgically and had to undergo emergency surgery to remove a rupture second cancerous growth. She is best known for her role in the television situation comedy Family Matters as 'Myra Monkhouse,' the girlfriend to 'Steve Urkel.' Born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in New York, to parents who were in the entertainment field. In this film, Michelle plays the role of Anna. Stafford made appearances on Whos the Boss, Quantum Leap, Magnum P.I., and more. What kind of cancer did Michelle Thomas have? Make sure that the file is a photo. Late actress Michelle Thomas on September 16, 1996 | Photo: Getty Images. After a long battle with intestinal cancer, Thomas passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. American actress Michelle Doris Thomas was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, on September 23, 1968. She was just 30 years old. Thomas appeared on the CBS soap opera The Young & The Restless as Callie; on The Cosby Show as Justine, who was the girlfriend of Theo -- the character played by Malcolm Jamal Warner; and on Family Matters as Myra, who was the girlfriend of Steve Urkel - the character played by Jaleel White. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Gisele Family (1) Parents Phynjuar Dennis D.T. After the sitcom ended in 1998, Thomas portrayed Callie Rogers, an aspiring singer and love interest of Malcolm Winters, on the daytime soap The Young and the Restless. Failed to delete memorial. Actress. Family Matters Reboot? Resting over the fireplace I saw a picture of actress Michelle Thomas, known mostly for her role as Theo Huxtable's girlfriend on The Cosby Show (she also dated Malcolm in real life), and a. "Beef" star David Choe faces criticism over resurfaced sexual assault claims Why was Judy removed from Family Matters. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Late actress Michelle Thomas on the set of "Family Matters" on September 16, 1996 | Photo: Getty Images. Picture of Malcolm-Jamal Warner on Instagram | Photo: Instagram/malcolmjamalwar. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Till today, Michelle is still remembered by many of her former costars and all who loved her. It was amazing. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Jamie Foxx recovering after "medical complication" Merry ChristmasEaster BunnySweet DreamsCHU-CHU, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Entertainment" noted Michelle's Smile: "she was one of the finest women on TV in that time period; it was so sad to see her go so fast. Thomas had a role in Dream Date in 1989 and had a small role in Hangin' with the Homeboys in 1991. One of her last appearances was shot in 1999, the historical drama Unbowed; it was released about 11 months after her death. Take a look into their beautiful romance. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed Miss Thomas had been playing Callie, an aspiring vocalist, in the CBS soap opera ''The Young and the Restless'' since August and began a medical leave late in October. Gone way too soon, but never forgotten. And then my agent called and said, Hey, youve been offered a guest-starring role on a show called Matlock thats been on a year. It coincided with my time off so I took it. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. She was buried on boxing day, following Muslim rights as she requested. Jason Momoa & Lisa Bonet Are Trying to Fix Their 17-Year Relationship after Split, Report Says, James MacArthur Called Wife of 25 Years Hard Boiled Yet Their Marriage Was Better than Anything', Lisa Whelchel Was Married for 24 Years to Pastor & 'Never Thought' Divorce Would Happen to Her. Michelle started going to her mom's theater performances and attended several of her father's concert tours at a young age. Image Award for outstanding actress in a daytime drama series for her acting in that program. Learn more about managing a memorial . Michelle was also well-known for her role of Myra Monkhouse on the TV sitcom "Family Matters". Recently, a photo of Thomas has been making the rounds on social media. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | California Consumer Privacy Act | DMCA. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. After her death, Thomas friends and family established the Michelle Thomas Fund, which provides financial assistance to young people with cancer. According to Vulture, The Cosby Show was "a late addition to NBC's [1984] fall schedule" but whoever made that last-second gamble, clearly won big. } Inside Dick Van Dyke & Decades Younger Wifes Home Where He Shows off Routine He Says Will Get Him to 100. The "Family Matters" star opened up about Michelle's tragic passing during his reading with Tyler who is a well-acclaimed medium. She is missed on this very day.". It gives me joy you don't know who I am, White, 40, jokes before opening up about Thomas. Michelle Thomas, who played Myra Monkhouse on the show, passed away in 1998 from cancer. [12] Her mother added that "they'd give her a sedation that was supposed to put her out for 20 minutes and she'd be asleep for four days. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Anyone that has watched Matlock knows of the lawyers witty courtroom scenes. The cemetery is located at the tripoint of Orange, West Orange, and Montclair in Essex County, New Jersey. Im alive and well.. Staffords work on the show became a highlight of her acting career. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. On October 14, 2018, several news outlets reported that Warner had passed away. Rob Reiner Is Happy with Wife of 32 Years Even Though Ex Penny Marshall Thought They Would Reunite, Dick Van Dyke's 1st Wife & Mistress Died from Cancer a Year Apart Years after He Confessed His Infidelity, Cole Hauser's Wife Sacrificed an Egg to Help Twin Sister Have Her Niece Meet the 'Sweet Valley High' Stars. The pair eventually broke up in 1994 but remained close friends till the very end. Thomas Trade Mark (2) Her buxom figure Her short stature Trivia (7) She is also famous for her roles as Justine Phillips on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show 1988 to 1990. Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the ovaries. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. (She also played the girlfriend of. If you have questions, please contact support[emailprotected]. She is loved and remembered by many, even though she had a short-lived career. Michelle Yeoh Has Been Engaged for Almost 20 Years & Soon Plans to Marry - Who Is Her Partner Jean Todt? Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Thomas was raised in Montclair, New Jersey and . Others believe that her death was only implied, and that she may have actually moved away. But we only ran one season, Stafford explained. She began her acting career in the early 1990s, appearing in commercials and on TV shows like A Different World and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In 1984, she was cast as one of the children in the Cosby Show spin-off A Different World. She remained on the show until it ended in 1993. Michelle Thomas, an actress in the television programs ''The Cosby Show,'' ''Family Matters'' and ''The Young and the Restless'' died on Wednesday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. Actress: The Young and the Restless. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? The "Young and the Restless" actress was known for her bright smile and how she lit up the room with her persona. Rest in peace, Michelle Thomas, wrote another. [15] Her publicist was Kahdijah Bell, daughter of Ronald Bell of Kool & the Gang. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Despite having just had surgery, Michelle got on a plane and went home to spend Thanksgiving with her family and loved ones. She underwent surgery to remove a lemon-sized tumor shortly before landing her The Young and the Restless role in the spring of 1998. From a star in the 90s to a proud father of one, Warner has come a long way in life. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? The "Family Matters" actress died on Wednesday, December 23, 1998, at the young age of thirty in a private room at a Manhattan's Memorial Sloan-Kettering cancer center surrounded by her family and close friends. After being released from the hospital, Thomas flew home to New Jersey to spend Thanksgiving with her family in Weehawken, New Jersey. From 1988 to 1990, Thomas portrayed Justine Phillips, the girlfriend of Theo Huxtable, on The Cosby Show. Till today, Michelle is still remembered by many of her former costars and all who loved her. Failed to delete flower. However, by the shows eighth season, she had been reduced to a minor character. However, the show was abruptly cancelled in 1997, and fans have been wondering why ever since. Family members linked to this person will appear here. The actress said she learned about crafting a character from Griffith during her years on the show. She is best known for her role in the television situation comedy "Family Matters" as 'Myra Monkhouse,' the girlfriend to 'Steve Urkel.' She was the youngest of the Winslow siblings, and was often the target of her brothers jokes. Family Matters was a well-loved sitcom, and its a shame that it was cancelled so suddenly. She was buried in New Jersey.[2]. [1][12][20][21] Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Thomas' longtime friend and former boyfriend, was among those at her bedside. This is embarrassing, I don't even recognize you," Henry, 21, admits. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Costar Jaleel White appeared on the "Hollywood Medium" show with Tyler Henry only to break down in tears on remembering Michelle. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Did Michelle Thomas died during Family Matters? This is a question that has been asked by many fans of the show over the years. Questlove's new children's book Michelle soon kickstarted her career in entertainment, and by 1983, she appeared in multiple television commercials across the country. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Michelle Thomas was born in Boston but raised in New York and New Jersey. Her other television credits included the role of 'Justine Phillips,' the girlfriend of 'Theo Huxtable' on the popular comedy "The Cosby Show," the movie "Dream Date" and appearances in videos for R&B groups Mint Condition and Dru Hill. Contents The photo was taken just Schwarzenegger filled a utility trench, not a pothole, city of L.A. says For the polyglot linguist and language teacher, see, Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series, "Michelle Thomas, 30, Actress On TV Soap Opera and Sitcoms", "Classmates - Find your school, yearbooks and alumni online", "Our Proud History-Hal Jackson's Talented Teens! Bell, co-creator and senior executive producer of The Young & The Restless. There is no estimated net worth before her untimely death. Later she was Myra, Steve Urkel's lovesick girlfriend, on ''Family Matters,'' also a sitcom, for five seasons, on ABC and then on CBS. 533K views 3 years ago #FamilyMatters Michelle Thomas would've been 51 years old in December. This is the face of a woman at peace. [3] A friend of her mother who had heard Michelle Thomas sing before had requested that she enter Miss Talented Teens. Besides her mother and her father, Dennis Thomas, a saxophonist who is the musical director of the band Kool and the Gang, she is survived by her grandfather, Cecil Saunders, and a brother, David, all of Weehawken. White asks. I am always looking for new and interesting ways to capture the world around me. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. There, she spent her last days. }, First published on December 29, 1998 / 3:56 PM. One theory is that the shows producers felt that the character was no longer relevant. The Phantom of The Opera closes its curtains (She also played the girlfriend of Malcolm-Jamal Warners Theo on The Cosby Show.) Thomas died in 1998 at the age of 30. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. So every day was like a masterclass at work. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. December 29, 1998 / 3:56 PM KOOL & The Gang's co-founder and saxophonist Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas has died at the age of 70. 1988 Press Photo Michelle Royal, murder victim, Houston, Texas - hcb37985. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. [1][12], On December 23, at age 30, Thomas died in New York City at Manhattan's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She died on Dec. 28, 1998, at the age of 29. White shed tears as he remembered actress Michelle Thomas, who played Myra, the girlfriend of his nerdy character, Steve Urkel, on his hit '90s sitcom. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. #inline-recirc-item--id-9d05878c-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-9d05878c-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { Now, the actor has created a beautiful life for himself. [1][6], As a child, she would accompany her mother at her theater rehearsals and performances. She was nominated recently for an N.A.A.C.P. No Google. She was buried in Rosedale Cemetery, City of Orange, New Jersey, where she grew up. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. She is survived by her mother, Phynjuar Thomas (a stage actress and acting coach); her brother, David Thomas; her grandfather, Cecil G. Saunders, Sr.; her aunt, Eleanor Johnson; her uncle, Paul T . Michelle Thomas was born in Boston but raised in New York and New Jersey. A lemon-sized tumor was then removed from her abdomen, and doctors were almost confident she would make a full recovery. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. "Don't worry about that part. In October 1998, she underwent surgery after a second cancerous growth ruptured. "We are terribly shocked and deeply saddened by Michelle's death, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family," said William J. Michelle Thomas, who is best known for her role as Myra in the sitcom The Cosby Show, died on December 22, 1998, at the age of 30. Describing the pair's relationship, Michelle's mother called Warner the love of her daughter's life, adding that she believes he was her only real boyfriend. It was with little wonder that Michelle took to TV owing to her background in art, she appeared in various TV commercials in 1983. The cause was cancer, said Kahdijah Bell, her publicist and cousin. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Learn more about merges. Even after Michelle left the show in 1990, her romance with Warner remained. "September birthday, sudden passing, E-L-L-E no Google?" Thomas was born on September 23, 1968, and grew up in Montclair, New Jersey. Michelle's health challenges began when diagnosis revealed she had an abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor in august 1997. Thomas left the show in 1988, but made occasional appearances afterward. This browser does not support getting your location. But fans of the show may not have realized that Griffith would film those long scenes in one, long take. She had a lot of friends in the music industry, an emotional White said. She was my old co-star from Family Matters and she died of stomach cancer quickly. In addition to music, she studied jazz, modern, and hip-hop dance at the Broadway Dance Center in New York. | Photo: Getty Images. The tv actress Michelle Thomas died at the age of 30. Join Facebook to connect with Michelle Thomas and others you may know. The pair would jam out between takes. The symptoms of ovarian cancer can be difficult to detect, as they are often mistaken for other, more common, conditions. In July 1984, Michelle also took home the crown for the international queen in an international competition in Montego Bay, Jamaica, at the age of fifteen. based on information from your browser. It is the fifth most common cancer in women, and although it is rare in women under the age of 50, it is the leading cause of death from cancer in women aged 55-74. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Born on December 13, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, Thomas began her career as a child actress, appearing in commercials and stage productions. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center,Manhattan,New York City,United States, Rosedale Cemetery,City of Orange,New Jersey,United States. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. I love capturing moments in time and preserving them for others to see. However, her character continued to appear on the show until the end. Thomas was only 30 years old at the time of her death. Michelle crawled into her mom's bed on getting home, and Phynjuar recalled the actress staying there for a long time. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. The actress even shared that her husband would come to the shows set and play his mandolin while Griffith strummed his guitar. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Ioriginally guest-starred on Matlock. Her father is an active member of the Jersey City band Kool & the Gang while her mother has been a stage actress. During a February 2020 interview with FOX News, Stafford opened about her role as Michelle Thomas. Her mother was a theater actress and her dad was a member of the famed R&B group, "Kool & the Gang." He would memorize those long courtroom scenes as a monologue and yet he made it look so easy. No doubt, Michelle is smiling down on him from above. "Michelle was a great talent with a bright future ahead of her. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Intestinal cancer, said Kahdijah Bell, her romance with Warner remained Thank for! In this film, Michelle is still remembered by many fans of the lawyers witty courtroom scenes to... Is no estimated net worth before her untimely death the time of acting! Cast as one of her former costars and all who loved her 3 years #... 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