Philip Michael Thomas

Infobox actor
name = Philip Michael Thomas


imagesize =
caption = Philip Michael Thomas
birthdate = birth date and age|1949|5|26
location = Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
deathdate =
birthname = Philip Michael Thomas
othername =
homepage =

Philip Michael Thomas (born May 26 1949) is an American actor.

Thomas' most famous role is that of detective Ricardo Tubbs on the hit 1980s TV series "Miami Vice". His first notable role was opposite Irene Cara in the 1976 film "Sparkle". Following his success in "Miami Vice", Thomas appeared in numerous made-for-TV movies and advertisements for telephone psychic services. He served as a spokesperson for cell phone entertainment company [http://www.Nextones.com Nextones] , and he supplied the voice for the character on the video games ' and '.

He is mixed race, being of German, Native American, African American and Irish ancestry. [cite web|author=|title= Philip Michael Thomas Biography|url=http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/artists/t/Philip-Michael-Thomas/biography-192021.html] cite journal |last=Zoglin |first=Richard |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 1985-09-16 |title=Cool Cops, Hot Show |journal=Time Magazine |publisher=Time Inc. |volume= |issue= |pages= |id= |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,959822,00.html |accessdate= 2007-11-02]

Acting

Miami Vice

Philip played the role of Ricardo Tubbs, an ex-NYPD Cop from the Bronx, who came down to Miami looking for revenge against the person who killed his brother Rafael Tubbs. There in Miami he encounters another undercover cop, Sonny Crockett, who is ironically looking for the same person as Tubbs. Tubbs got his revenge, and Crockett and Tubbs became television icons.

Thomas also invented the phrase "EGOT", meaning "Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony", in reference to his plans for winning all four. Thomas achieved a People's Choice Award and a Golden Globe nomination but lacked even a nomination for any of the aforementioned awards.

Psychic Reader's Network

In 1994, Thomas signed an agreement with Florida-based Psychic Reader's Network (later known as Traffix, Inc.) to become the spokesman for the Philip Michael Thomas Psychic Connection. He appeared in television spots and claimed to have met the planet's premier psychics through his "world travels". He dressed similarly to his "Miami Vice" alter ego, even opening the ads with the phrase, "From Miami Vice to world advice!"

Traffix replaced Thomas as spokesman in favor of Miss Cleo. Thomas sued, alleging breach of contract, and won. In 2002, a New York arbitrator awarded Thomas $1.48 million for improper use of his name and likeness, and an additional $780,000 in interest.

Nash Bridges

In 1997, Thomas reprised his role as Don Johnson's partner and friend in the police drama "Nash Bridges". He played Cedrick "Rick" Hawks, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent from Miami visiting Bridges, played by Johnson, in San Francisco. His first appearance was in the episode "Wild Card", and his second and final appearance was in the episode "Out of Miami", aired in 2001 during the program's final season.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

He performed a voice-over in (2002) (VG) as Lance Vance, a main character who is trying to avenge his brother, Victor Vance's death. He reprised the voice-over role in the prequel (2006) (VG) which details Lance's arrival in Vice City, his business with drugs, and his relationship with his brother.

Music career

In 1985, Thomas recorded a music album entitled "Living the Book of My Life". It sold poorly and failed to produce a hit single. Thomas' "Miami Vice" co-star Don Johnson recorded an album shortly afterward entitled "Heartbeat". Although Johnson's album was more successful (producing a top 5 single), both albums are considered prime examples of the hubris of successful performers. [cite web|title=Something in the Air
accessdate=2007-01-24|work=National Review Online|author=Andrew Stuttaford|url=http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTEwMmEwMWNkNWEwZTVhYTkwMjQwYmY4NDJkMmU5ZmQ]

Thomas followed up in 1988 with a second album, "Somebody". It also failed to produce a hit and sold poorly. In 1993, Thomas teamed with Kathy Rahill to compose "My, My, Miam...i", which was chosen as the city of Miami's theme song. [cite web |title=Thomas' Music Entry
accessdate=2007-04-13 |work=Sandi Morais Online |url=http://sandimorais.net/music.htm] That same year, Thomas teamed with Jamaican fitness instructor Sandi Morais to compose songs for a family-friendly musical entitled "Sacha", which enjoyed runs in south Florida and New York. [cite web|title=Sacha On Broadway|accessdate=2007-04-13|work=Sandi Morais Online|url=http://sandimorais.net/sacha.htm] The two formed the Magic Cookie Production Company. Thomas also produced the music for Morais' fitness videos in 2001 and 2006.

Thomas has announced plans to release a new CD in 2007 with music from Morais' workout video, "Tune-Up". According to Thomas, the CD "will feature an eclectic array of music from exotic Reggae sounds, Latin rhythms and sensual R & B sounds." [cite web |title=Thomas' Music Entry |accessdate=2007-04-13 |work=Sandi Morais Online |url=http://sandimorais.net/music.htm]

Filmography

*"Come Back, Charleston Blue" (1972)
*"Stigma" (1972)
*"Book of Numbers" (1973)
*"Mr. Ricco" (1975)
*"Black Fist" (1975)
*"Coonskin" (1975)
*"Sparkle" (1976)
*"Death Drug" (1978)
*"The Dark" (1979)
*"The Mushroom Eater" (1980)
*"Of Stigma" (1982)
*"Hey Good Lookin'" (1982) (voice)
*"The Wizard of Speed and Time" (1989)
*"Miami Shakedown" (1993) (also executive producer)
*"River of Stone" (1994)
* (2002)
*"Fate" (2003)
* (2006)

Television Work

*"Toma" (1973) (pilot for series)
*"The Beasts Are On the Streets" (1978)
*"" (1979) (miniseries)
*"Lawman Without a Gun" (1979)
*"Valentine" (1979)
*"Miami Vice" (1984–1990)
*"A Fight for Jenny" (1986)
*"False Witness" (1989)
*"A Little Piece of Sunshine" (1990)
*"Detective Extralarge: Moving Target" (1990)
*"Detective Extralarge: Miami Killer" (1991)
*"Detective Extralarge: Magic Power" (1991)
*"Detective Extralarge:: Jo-Jo" (1991)
*"Detective Extralarge: Cannonball" (1991)
*"Detective Extralarge: Black Magic" (1991)
*"Detective Extralarge: Black and White" (1991)
*"" (1991)
*"We Are Angels" (1997) (miniseries)

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0859365|name=Philip Michael Thomas
* [http://www.miamivice.info Interview with Philip Michael Thomas, 2006/03/12]
* [http://www.courttv.com/news/feature/cleo/thomas_ctv.html CourtTV's report of Thomas' lawsuit against Traffix, Inc.]