Philip Michael Thomas

Philip Michael Thomas (born May 26, 1949) is an American retired actor, musician and composer best known for his role as detective Ricardo Tubbs on the hit 1980s TV series Miami Vice. His first notable roles were in Coonskin and opposite Irene Cara in the 1976 film Sparkle. After his success in Miami Vice, he appeared in numerous made-for-TV movies and advertisements for telephone psychic services. He also voiced the character Lance Vance in the video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006).

Early life Thomas was born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in San Bernardino, California. He is of African American, Native American, Irish, and German descent. His father, Louis Diggs, was a foreman at a Westinghouse plant. Thomas's mother was Lulu McMorris. He and his seven half brothers and sisters had the surname Thomas, which was the last name of his mother's first husband. His siblings are Marcus, Michelle, Karen, Anita, Carol, Crystal and George. He graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1967 and briefly worked as a janitor to save money for college.

After two years at Oakwood College, Thomas transferred to the University of California, Riverside. He quit college to pursue acting as a profession, appearing in several features during the 1970s, including the classic musical drama Sparkle (1976). His big break came in 1984, when he landed a starring role in the popular television series Miami Vice alongside Don Johnson. Thomas was reportedly paid $25,000 (equivalent to $ today) per episode for Seasons 1–2. In 1986, he was given an increase to $50,000 ($) per episode for Seasons 3–5. Johnson was paid $30,000 ($) per episode for Seasons 1–2, and $90,000 ($) per episode for Seasons 3–5.

Thomas coined the acronym "EGOT" (meaning "Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony"), in reference to his plans for winning all four awards. He has not, , been nominated for any of these awards, but has received a People's Choice Award and a Golden Globe Award nomination.

Extralarge & We Are Angels Thomas starred in the six-part television miniseries Extralarge with Bud Spencer in 1991. Thomas was replaced by Michael Winslow for the second series. Thomas and Spencer were later cast together again in the miniseries We Are Angels, released in 1997.

Nash Bridges In 1997, Thomas was reunited with Don Johnson for two appearances in the police drama Nash Bridges. He played Cedrick "Rick" Hawks, a Deputy United States Marshal from Miami visiting Nash Bridges (Johnson) in San Francisco. His first appearance was in the second-season episode "Wild Card", and his second and final appearance was in the episode "Out of Miami", which aired in 2001 during the program's final season.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City In 2002, Thomas did voice-over work for the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City; he portrayed Lance Vance, a supporting character who aids the game's protagonist, Tommy Vercetti, in several story missions while trying to avenge the death of his brother, Victor Vance. Thomas reprised the role in the 2006 prequel Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, which details Lance's arrival in Vice City, the beginning of his involvement in the drug trade, and his relationship with Victor.

Music In 1985, Thomas released a music album titled Living the Book of My Life under his own record label called Spaceship Records. It sold poorly and failed to produce a hit single, although Thomas produced a video for the track "Just the Way I Planned It"; the song reached #75 on the Billboard R&B chart. He performed the title song of the album during the 1985 Miami Vice episode "The Maze". The 1986 episode "Trust Fund Pirates" featured another song of his, "La Mirada". His Miami Vice co-star Don Johnson recorded an album shortly afterward, titled Heartbeat. In 1987, Thomas recorded a song called "Ever and Forever" with Argentine singer Lucía Galán of Pimpinela fame.

Thomas released a second album, Somebody, in 1988. It also failed to produce a hit and sold poorly, though its single "Don't Make Promises" did best the prior single, reaching #56 on the Billboard R&B chart. In 1993, Thomas teamed with Kathy Rahill to compose "My, My, My, Miam...I", which was chosen to be the city of Miami's theme song. That same year, Thomas and Jamaican fitness instructor Sandi Morais composed songs for Sacha, a family-friendly musical that enjoyed runs in south Florida and New York. The two formed the Magic Cookie Production Company. Thomas produced the music for Morais' fitness videos in 2001 and 2006.

Psychic Reader's Network In 1994, Thomas signed an agreement with Psychic Reader's Network (later known as Traffix, Inc.) based in Melbourne, Florida, becoming the spokesman for the Philip Michael Thomas International Psychic Network. He appeared in television ads 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!" He appeared in informercials with Eileen Brennan and Todd McKee along with his daughter, Sacha Nicole, promoting the psychic line. Thomas released a cassette of music linked to his psychic business titled PMT Psychic Connection, Volume I.

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

Personal life Thomas is a vegetarian, non-smoker, and non-drinker, all of which were also incorporated into his Miami Vice character. Thomas later married model Kassandra Green. Green filed a domestic violence complaint against Thomas in 1997, during which time she was described as being the mother of five of his 12 children. Thomas dismissed the complaint as "an absolute, blatant lie".

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1972 Come Back, Charleston Blue Minister Stigma Dr. Calvin Crosse 1973 Book of Numbers Dave Green 1975 Mr. Ricco Purvis Mapes Black Fist Fletch / Boom Boom Coonskin Randy / Brother Rabbit Voice of Brother Rabbit 1976 Sparkle Stix El hombre de los hongos Gaspar / Adopted boy 1978 Death Drug Jesse 1979 The Dark Corn Rows 1982 Hey Good Lookin' Boogaloo Jones / Chaplin Voice Stigma 1988 The Wizard of Speed and Time Policeman Mickey Polanko Feature-length version 1993 Miami Shakedown Frank Ferguson Also executive producer 1994 River of Stone 2003 Fate Detective Ciprian Raines

Television Year Title Role Notes 1973 Griff Eddie Marshall Episode: "The Framing of Billy the Kid" 1973–1974 Toma Bad Sam / Sam Hooper 2 episodes 1974 Good Times Eddie Conroy Episode: "Sex and the Evans Family" Police Woman Sonny Episode: "It's Only a Game" 1975 Caribe Prince John Episode: "Murder in Paradise" 1976 Movin' On Banjo Episode: "No More Sad Songs" Medical Center Dr. Sam Karter Episode: "If Wishes Were Horses" Sirota's Court J.V. Episode: "The Reporter" 1977 Insight Luther Episode: "The Alleluia Kid" Roosevelt and Truman Truman Television pilot 1978 The New Adventures of Wonder Woman Furst Episode: "The Man Who Wouldn't Tell" Starsky & Hutch Kingston St. Jacques Episode: "Quadromania" The Beasts Are on the Streets Eddie Morgan Television film Lawman Without a Gun Rufus Cartwright 1979 Roots: The Next Generations Eddie Franklin Television miniseries Valentine Bean Television film 1981 Strike Force Wesley Episode: "The Victims" 1982 Trapper John, M.D. Floyd Walsh Episode: "Ladies in Waiting" 1984–1989 Miami Vice Detective Ricardo Tubbs 111 episodes 1986 A Fight for Jenny David Caldwell Television film 1989 False Witness Bobby Marsh 1990 Superboy Brimstone Episode: "Brimstone" Zorro Jack Holten Episode: "Pride of the Pueblo" A Little Piece of Sunshine Tomson Television film 1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter Chuck Gilmore 1991–1992 Detective Extralarge Jean Philippe Dumas 6 episodes 1992 Swamp Thing Barry Scott Episode: "Dead and Married" 1994 Fortune Hunter Gary Colt Episode: "The Alpha Team" 1997 Noi siamo angeli (We Are Angels) Joe / Father Zaccaria 6 episodes 1997–2001 Nash Bridges Cedrick Hawks 2 episodes

Video games Year Title Role Notes 1997 We Are Angels Father Zaccaria 2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Lance Vance 2006 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories 2021 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive EditionArchival recordingsRemaster of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City only.