Actor, Comedian Jay Thomas Dead at 69

A publicist for Jay Thomas says the actor and radio host has died. Thomas was 69. In a statement Thursday, publicist Tom Estey said his longtime friend and client will be dearly missed by many, the AP reports. Thomas' longtime agent tells the New York Daily News the comedian died of cancer. Thomas played Eddie LeBac, the former-hockey-player husband of barmaid Carla on Cheers. He played tabloid TV show host Jerry Gold on Murphy Brown, for which he won two Emmys. He also starred in the sitcom Love & War as a sports writer romancing the woman who owned his favorite sports bar. His film roles include Mr. Holland's Opus and the second and third Santa Clause films. Thomas started out as a DJ in college and in recent years hosted a talk show on SiriusXM Radio. (More celebrity death stories.)