However, her life took an unexpected turn. This happened after the show’s finale.
When her mother appeared on set, claiming her father was in the hospital.
Rushing to a Santa Monica hospital, Heather was met not by an emergency involving her father. But by concerned family and friends.
They revealed that the real concern was for her well-being
This moment marked the beginning of a life-changing journey for the 28-year-old, whose career and personal life took a dramatic shift from that point forward.
A natural talent with striking beauty often compared to icons like Farrah Fawcett and Heather Locklear, Thomas began her career at just 14, hosting NBC’s Talking with a Giant. Determined to pursue acting, directing, and writing, she studied film and theater at UCLA, landing her first major role in The Fall Guy in 1980. As Jody Banks, a stuntwoman and bounty hunter, she became a beloved 1980s pinup and sex symbol.
Despite her on-screen success, Heather struggled privately. She admitted her drug use began in middle school when she used substances to maintain her grades. By college, she had turned to cocaine, and during her time on The Fall Guy, her substance abuse worsened. To maintain her sex symbol image, she also took diuretics, which drained her energy, prompting her to rely on cocaine further.
“At first, I thought it was helping me—staying up all night and working the next day,” Heather confessed. But her addiction began taking a toll. She dropped to just 105 pounds, struggled to stay awake on set, and even passed out in front of co-star Lee Majors. Concerned, her mother intervened, fabricating the hospital emergency to get Heather admitted to a rehab program.
Heather entered detox with serious health issues
Including pneumonia, scarred lungs, and inflamed kidneys. “If my family hadn’t stepped in, I would’ve kept going until I lost my job—or worse,” she reflected.
After completing rehab, Heather married Allan Rosenthal, co-founder of Cocaine Anonymous, though their marriage ended in 1986. That same year, she suffered severe leg injuries after being struck by a car, but she eventually returned to work with minor roles in TV and films, including Cyclone (1987) and Red Blooded American Girl (1990).
By the 1990s, Heather shifted focus
Leaving behind her struggles and marrying entertainment lawyer Skip Brittenham in 1992. She embraced her new role as a stepmother and later welcomed her daughter, India Rose, in 2000.
Reflecting on her career, Heather revealed she left acting not for lack of roles but due to stalkers invading her privacy. “I had one guy climb my fence with a knife,” she recalled. “I had two little girls who needed me, so I stepped away.”
In recent years, Heather has focused on activism, serving on boards like the Rape Foundation and the Amazon Conservation Team. She also embraced her identity as a feminist, reconciling her past as a sex symbol with her personal values. “Being a feminist doesn’t mean you should be ashamed of your body,” she explained. “I don’t think I betrayed myself.”
Heather Thomas never fully reignited her acting career
Her journey from addiction to recovery is a testament to resilience. Fans will always remember her iconic portrayal of Jody Banks in The Fall Guy alongside Lee Majors. Today, she continues her lifelong path of recovery and personal growth, proving she is more than just a Hollywood starlet of the 1980s.
