Who is Philip Michael Thomas?
Philip Michael Thomas (born May 26, 1949) is an American actor and musician best known for his role as Detective Ricardo Tubbs on the hit 1980s television series Miami Vice. His first notable roles were opposite Irene Cara in Coonskin (1975) and the 1976 film Sparkle.
He has appeared in commercials for the service.He has been a spokesperson for mobile entertainment company Nextones and has voiced Lance Vance in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006).
In 1984, Thomas began playing Ricardo Tubbs, a former NYPD cop from the Bronx who comes to Miami to take revenge on the man who killed his brother Rafael Tubbs. In Miami, he meets another undercover cop, Sonny Crockett, who is casually searching for the same person.
Thomas is said to have been paid $25,000 (equivalent to $65,000 today) per episode for seasons 1–2. In 1986, he was given a raise to $50,000 ($130,000) per episode for seasons 3-5. Johnson was paid $30,000 ($78,000) per episode for season 1-2 and $90,000 ($235,000) per episode for season 3-5.
Thomas coined the acronym “EGOT,” which stands for “Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony,” referring to his plan to win all four. As of April 2022, he has not been nominated for any of these awards, but has received a People’s Choice Award and a Golden Globe nomination.
Though world-famous as a stage and film actor, music is PMT’s greatest passion. He wrote his first song at the age of 11, and for the next four decades wrote, composed, and sang everything from gospel to his R&B, pop standards, and rock. A longtime friend of his recently called PMT’s musical side an “undiscovered diamond”.
What is Miami Vice?
Miami Vice is a 1984 television series produced by Michael Mann for the NBC network. The show has become known for its extensive integration of pop music and visual effects to tell its story.
The series saw Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as his two detective assistants at Metro-Dade (now known as Miami-Dade), going undercover in Miami’s drug and prostitution underworld. From September 1984 he ran on NBC for five seasons until June 1989.
The USA Network then aired his January 1990 unaired episode. The entire series was released on DVD between February 8, 2005 and June 26, 2007. A film adaptation, directed by Michael Mann and starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, was released in July 2006 to mixed reviews. It announced that the reboot was in development, but as of 2022 it will begin airing.
The show was conceived by then-NBC program director Brandon Tartikoff, who, according to the caption, wrote a note on a napkin that read simply “MTV Cops” (a reference to the unprecedented success of the Music Television network).
He presented the letter to Anthony Yerkovich, formerly the writer and producer of another NBC crime series, Hill Street Blues. Yerkovich said the idea arose when they learned of a recently passed law that would allow law enforcement to seize the assets and illicit proceeds of criminals they are pursuing and using. them in series operations (this rule is even mentioned in the episode “Golden Triangle (Part II)”).
Yerkovich created his storyline, originally titled Gold Coast, about two Miami-based police deputies working undercover in an effort to stem the flow of drugs into the city. Later in production, the title was changed to Miami Vice, and the legendary series was born.
What is Philip Michael Thomas Famous for?
Philip Michael Thomas was born on May 26, 1949 in Columbus, Ohio. He is an American actor best known for his role as Detective Ricardo He Tubbs in the hit 1980s television series Miami Vice. He has also appeared in numerous movies and TV shows such as The Last Dragon, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He has won multiple awards for his work, including a Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance in Miami Vice.
Philip Michael Thomas is best known for his iconic role as Detective Ricardo Tubbs in the hit 1980s TV series Miami Vice. However, his career started much earlier with popular roles, such as in the 1975 animated film Coonskin and the 1976 musical film Sparkle. His role as Tubbs, a New York City street detective, earned him a Golden Globe nomination and made him a familiar name.
After his breakthrough role in the hit series Miami Vice, Philip Michael Thomas has appeared in various TV movies and commercials. He also appeared in a series of psychiatric phone service ads, further cementing his status as a pop culture icon. His career has spanned decades and continues to be a recognizable face in the entertainment industry.
Why Philip Michael Thomas Vanished after Miami Vice?
Thirty-six years after Miami Vice premiered, fans of the classic NBC show still appreciate it. The attention to detail in Michael Mann’s work is a big part. There are also appearances by Thomas (Tubbs) and series star Don Johnson (Sonny Crockett).
The two actors have great on-screen chemistry and the soulful atmosphere that Thomas brings to the work, and Tubbs continues to captivate audiences.
Thomas released two solo albums in the ’80s, and you can hear him perform songs in episodes of “The Maze” and “Trust Fund Pirates” by Miami Vice. He also composed music for a family musical in the ’90s. But Thomas’ acting career didn’t take off after the Miami Vice hiatus.
After appearing in television series in the late 80s and early 90s, Thomas had a role in the Italian television series Detective Extralarge (1991). After appearing in small films, Thomas joined another Italian TV show (We Are Angels, 1997).
Aside from two appearances (four years apart) with Johnson in Nash Bridges, Thomas’ steady acting career ended in 1997. However, he kept showing up; you might have surprised him as a spokesperson for the Psychic Readers Network at the turn of the century.
It might be influenced by the fierce competition back then, which made Thomas have difficulty getting back into the movie industry.
