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Ernest Lee Thomas

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Ernest Lee Thomas
Thomas in 2015
Born (1949-03-26) March 26, 1949 (age 75)
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1974–present
Known forRoger "Raj" Thomas on What's Happening!! and What's Happening Now!!, and Mr. Omar on Everybody Hates Chris
From TV's What's Happening!! (1977). Seated, L-R: Fred Berry, Ernest Lee Thomas, and Haywood Nelson (back to camera). Standing: Shirley Hemphill.

Ernest Lee Thomas (born March 26, 1949) is an American actor.[1][2][3][4] He is best known for his role as Roger "Raj" Thomas on the 1970s ABC sitcom What's Happening!![1] and its 1980s syndicated sequel, What's Happening Now!!, and for his recurring role as Mr. Omar on Everybody Hates Chris.

Early career and What's Happening!!

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Thomas was born in Gary, Indiana, and began his professional acting career as a Broadway actor, appearing in the 1974 revival production of Love for Love and in the 1975 revival of The Member of the Wedding. Both shows starred actress Glenn Close. Shortly after he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a TV/film actor. In the fall of 1975 he received a role on an episode of The Jeffersons. It was during the taping of the show that he learned of an audition for a sitcom loosely based on the 1975 film Cooley High. Thomas auditioned, won the lead role, and filmed the television pilot, which tested poorly. The concept was quickly reworked into a more light-hearted approach to the source material, and became known as Central Avenue, before settling on the title What's Happening!!. Thomas was the only cast member retained from the pilot, and took the lead role of Roger "Raj" Thomas. The new "summer series" became a ratings hit, and was expanded to a full series, airing from 1976 to 1979.

During the show's run, Thomas was involved in other film and TV projects including Baretta, The Brady Bunch Hour and the film A Piece of the Action starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby. During the first season of What's Happening!!, Thomas was one of the final two actors to be considered for the lead role of Kunta Kinte in the breakthrough miniseries Roots, which eventually went to LeVar Burton. Thomas would go on to play the smaller role of Kailuba in the miniseries.

What's Happening Now!! and later career

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After a six-year hiatus from TV and film acting, Ernest resumed his role as Roger "Raj" Thomas in the sequel What's Happening Now!!. The show aired in first-run syndication from 1985 to 1988.

Since the show's cancellation Thomas has guest starred on a number of popular TV dramas and sitcoms including In the Heat of the Night (which co-starred his TV wife Anne-Marie Johnson, from What's Happening Now!!), The Parent 'Hood, Martin (which starred his What's Happening Now!! co-star Martin Lawrence), Soul Food, The Steve Harvey Show, All About the Andersons and more recently Just Jordan. He has also appeared in a number of films, including a supporting role in Malcolm X and a cameo in Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. He later had a recurring role as funeral director, Mr. Omar, on the TV sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. He had an uncredited guest spot as Ernest T "Bass" on the TV show Are We There Yet?; it was titled "The Satchel Paige Episode" and had him playing a Flavor Flav-type personality.

In 2012, Thomas was cast in rocker/horror movie director Rob Zombie's 2012 film The Lords of Salem.[5] In 2016, he was in a comedic body horror short film called Earworm.[6]

Personal life

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Thomas has stated in multiple interviews to have had a romantic relationship with actress Kim Cattrall during her time as a student at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in the 1970s.[7][8]

Thomas has an eye condition called amblyopia.[9] He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.[10]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1977 A Piece of the Action John
1986 That's My Mama Now! Roger 'Raj' Thomas TV movie
1991 Kiss and Be Killed Det. Ross
1992 Malcolm X Sidney
2003 The Watermelon Heist Jailer
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Ernest Thomas
2007 Paroled Royce Henderson
2009 Funny People Yo Teach Principal
2012 The Lords of Salem Chip McDonald
2013 Ms. 3pm Roger Omar (voice) Short
The Pastor and Mrs. Jones Pastor
Foreclosed Martin Coughlin Video
2014 The Great Central Valley Taco Tour Roger Omar Short
Basketball Girlfriend Lenny
Revenge Neville
The Slimbones Uncle AB
2015 Mega Shark vs. Kolossus Admiral Titus Jackson
Chocolate City Diner Manager
The Family Joseph Jesús
2016 Stop Bullying Now: Live from the Big House Himself
79 Parts Priore
Earworm [11] Short
2017 The Gods Olympus
The Lost Souls Cafe Hobbi TV movie
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip Mr. Williams
2018 Two Wolves Olivier
2019 79 Parts: Director's Cut Bank Teller
Malcolm Malcolm Head Assistant Short
Loved To Death Pastor
Pawn Brad Short
John Wynn's Mirror Mirror Pastor Ron Johnson
2020 Persuasive Officer Devash Short
2021 John Wynn's Playhouse Ernie
Tales of a 5th Grade Robin Hood Principal Richards
2022 Chocolate City 3: Live Tour Mr. Williams
John Wynn's One Hour Doctor Thomas
69 Parts Bank

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1975 The Jeffersons Ronnie Walker Episode: "George Won't Talk"
1976 Insight Tony Lanier Episode: "Juvie"
Baretta Lew Episode: "Under the City"
1976–79 What's Happening!! Roger "Raj" Thomas Main cast
1977 Roots Kailuba Episode: "Part I"
The Brady Bunch Variety Hour Raj Episode: "Episode #1.7"
1980 The Righteous Apples Winston Episode: "Point of View"
1985–88 What's Happening Now!! Roger "Raj" Thomas Main cast
1990 In the Heat of the Night Off. Parker Episode: "Brotherly Love: Part 1 & 2"
1996 The Parent 'Hood Waiter Episode: "Clothes Call"
Martin Prince Uche Episode: "The Life You Save Might Make You Rich"
1999 Linc's Ernest Thomas Episode: "Real Time"
2000 Soul Food Det. Craig Quinn Episode: "Man Trouble"
The Steve Harvey Show Rev. Franklin/Rev. Charles Episode: "Wedlocked" & "Love, Death and Basketball"
2004 All About the Andersons Mr. Johnson Episode: "Get Out of Dodge... Ball"
2005–09 Everybody Hates Chris Mr. Omar Recurring cast
2007 Just Jordan Minister Episode: "Practice What You Preach"
2009 Yo Teach...! Principal Andrews Episode: "EPK" & "MC Shakespeare"
2012 Are We There Yet? Ernest T "Bass" Episode: "The Satchel Paige Episode"
2014 Anonymous Olivier Episode: "Anonymous"
2016 Presence Chuck Panama Episode: "Pilot"
In the Cut Landlord Episode: "One Night Only"
2017 Workaholics Albert Episode: "Faux Chella"
Veep Omar al-Saleh Episode: "Qatar"
2018 The Chosen Ones Ray Episode: "Pilot"
2024–present Everybody Still Hates Chris Mr. Omar (voice) Recurring cast

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ernest Lee Thomas is what's happenin'!". October 14, 2010.
  2. ^ "Ernest Thomas". TMZ.
  3. ^ "Starpulse.com". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  4. ^ "Splitsider.com". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  5. ^ "Ernest Thomas joins The Lords of Salem". Daily Dead. 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  6. ^ "Actor Ernest Thomas Discusses His Career And The 40th Anniversary of The Doobie Brothers Appearance on 'What's Happening!!'". go.Jimmy.go. 2018-01-21. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  7. ^ "Ernest Lee Thomas Prt 2 | Dating and becoming desirable after being on TV". YouTube. c. 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  8. ^ Breaking It Down (2014-07-16). Ernest Thomas interview - Breaking It Down with Frank MacKay. Retrieved 2024-06-21 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ Rivas, Aby. "Remember Raj in 'What's Happening!!'? He Reportedly Had an Eye Condition since Childhood". AmoMama. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  10. ^ List of Famous Members of Kappa Alpha Psi in Entertainment
  11. ^ "Earworm" – via IMDb.
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