Michelle Thomas

Michelle Doris Thomas (September 23, 1968 – December 23, 1998) on September 23, 1968, to Phynjuar "Penwah" Thomas, a stage actress, and musician father Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas (1951–2021), a saxophonist and founding member of the band Kool & the Gang.

As a child, she would accompany her mother to her theater rehearsals and performances. Her mother was her first acting coach, and coached her throughout the course of her career.

Career In 1983, Thomas appeared in her first television commercial.

From 1988 to 1990, Thomas portrayed Justine Phillips, the girlfriend of Theo Huxtable, on The Cosby Show. She appeared on various television programs, including A Man Called Hawk in 1989 and Thea in 1994. Thomas had a role in Dream Date in 1989 and had a small role in Hangin' with the Homeboys in 1991.

Thomas appeared in music videos for Mint Condition, Chubb Rock, and Dru Hill. Her publicist was Kahdijah Bell, daughter of Ronald Bell of Kool & the Gang.

From 1993 to 1998, she portrayed the role of Myra Monkhouse, the girlfriend of Steve Urkel, on Family Matters. 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. In October 1998, Thomas took a medical leave from the series due to her ill health. Thomas had been in the studio recording music before her sudden turn in health.

Health and death

In August 1997, Thomas was diagnosed with a rare cancer, an intra-abdominal desmoplastic small-round-cell tumor (DSRCT). Thomas never smoked or drank alcohol, and was a vegetarian. 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. Her body couldn't take it." Thomas underwent surgery to remove a lemon-sized tumor in early 1998. She underwent surgery again in October 1998 after a second cancerous growth ruptured. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Thomas's longtime friend and former boyfriend, was among those at her bedside. On December 26, 1998, a Muslim funeral service was held, per her request. She was buried in New Jersey.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1991 Hangin' with the Homeboys Telemarketing Operator 1999 Unbowed Anna Released posthumously

Television Year Title Role Notes 1988–1990 The Cosby Show Justine Phillips 8 episodes1989 A Man Called Hawk Ruthie Carver Episode: "Choice of Chance" Dream Date Sally Palmer Television film 1993–1998 Family Matters Myra Monkhouse 55 episodes 1994 Thea Keanda 2 episodes 1996 Duckman (Voice role) Episode: "Exile in Guyville" 1997 Malcolm & Eddie Brooke Bellamy Episode: "Roofless People" 1998 The Young and the Restless Callie Rogers 38 episodes

Music videos Year Title Artist 1996 "What Kind of Man Would I Be" Mint Condition1997 "Beef" Chubb Rock "Never Make a Promise" Dru Hill

Honors Year Award Category Title of work Result 1999 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series The Young and the Restless