Pathbreakers of Arab America—Margaret Julia "Marlo" Thomas

posted on: Dec 17, 2025

By: John Mason / Arab America Contributing Writer

This is the one-hundred and second in Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series features personalities from various fields, including entertainment, business, sports, science, the arts, academia, journalism, and politics. Our one-hundred and second pathbreaker is Marlo Thomas, acclaimed actress, producer, author, and philanthropist, best known for her iconic roles in the television series ‘That Girl’ and ‘Free To Be… You and Me.’ Following in the footsteps of her father, renowned entertainer Danny Thomas, Marlo embarked on an acting career and has continued her father’s philanthropic work.

Acclaimed American Margaret Julia “Marlo” Thomas not only followed in her father, renowned entertainer Danny Thomas’ footsteps—she invented her own iconic persona

Margaret Julia “Marlo” Thomas was born on November 21, 1937, in Deerfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. She was the eldest child of Rose Marie Cassaniti and comedian Danny Thomas. She has a sister, Terre, and a brother, producer Tony Thomas. Her father was a Catholic Lebanese American, and her mother was Sicilian American. The name “Marlo” purportedly came from her childhood mispronunciation of “Margo,” as Thomas was called by her family.

Marlo was raised in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, and attended Marymount High School. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a teaching degree. She ironically characterized her degree: “I wanted a piece of paper that said I was qualified to do something in the world.” In fact, on completing her education, Thomas began pursuing a career in acting, which would ultimately lead to widespread recognition and success.

Thomas began her theater career in 1965, joining the London production of Neil Simon’s ‘Barefoot in the Park,’ which enjoyed a successful one-year run. She made her Broadway debut in 1974 in Herb Gardner’s play ‘Thieves,’ reprising her role in the 1977 film adaptation. In 1986, she returned to Broadway in the domestic comedy ‘Social Security,’ directed by Mike Nichols and co-starring Olympia Dukakis and Ron Silver. Thomas also appeared in the 2011 one-act play ‘George Is Dead.’

Beginning her television career in the 1960s, Marlo appeared on such shows as ‘77 Sunset Strip,’ ‘Bonanza,’ and ‘The Donna Reed Show.’ She also had a recurring role on the first season of The Joey Bishop Show from 1961 to 1962. Her breakout role in ‘That Girl’ not only made her a household name but also revealed her behind-the-scenes influence as an executive producer for the show. Over the years, Thomas has become a prominent figure in both the entertainment industry and charitable circles. She serves as the national outreach director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a cause close to her heart, as her father founded it.

Once ‘That Girl’ concluded in 1971, Thomas expanded her horizons as a producer and star of the children’s TV special, ‘Free to Be…You and Me’ in 1974. Based on a 1972 album that also inspired a book, the exceptional celebration of diversity, open expression, and gender equality. Featuring an all-star cast including Alan Alda, Harry Belafonte, Mel Brooks, Roberta Flack, Michael Jackson, and Kris Kristofferson, ‘Free to Be…’ became an iconic and influential program. The special won an Emmy Award, marking Thomas’s first Emmy win after several nominations for her work on ‘That Girl.’

From the 1990s into the 2000s, Thomas guest-starred on a variety of popular TV shows, including ‘Roseanne,’ ‘Frasier,’ ‘Law & Order,’ ‘SVU,’ and ‘Ugly Betty.’ In 1996, she earned an Emmy nomination for her role as the mother of Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) on the hit sitcom ‘Friends.’ In 2010, Thomas launched ‘Mondays with Marlo,’ a successful online talk show aimed at women over 35. The program featured interviews with notable celebrities like Suze Orman and Chelsea Clinton. Thomas remained active in the entertainment industry in the late 2010s, appearing in the Netflix series ‘Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later in 2017 and the heist comedy ‘Ocean’s 8’ in 2018, showcasing her enduring presence in both television and film.

In addition to her acting career, Thomas is an accomplished author. Her books include the best-selling ‘Free to Be… A Family: A Book About All Kinds of Belonging’ (1987), ‘The Right Words at the Right Time’ (2002), and her 2010 memoir, ‘Growing Up Laughing.’ In 2020, Thomas and her husband, former talk show host Phil Donahue, co-authored ‘What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life,’ which includes interviews with prominent couples such as Billy and Janice Crystal, and Elton John and David Furnish.

Thomas met Phil Donahue on his long-running talk show, ‘The Phil Donahue Show.’ They married in 1980 and shared a life for 44 years until his passing in mid-August 2024.

Marlo’s awards and honors are prolific, though her devotion and dedication to her father’s philanthropy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, are heartfelt

Thomas has been and continues to be deeply involved in charity work, particularly with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, which her late father founded in 1962. She currently serves as the hospital’s national outreach director, continuing her father’s legacy in supporting the institution’s mission. Marlo donated all royalties from her 2004 book and CD ‘Marlo Thomas and Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long’ and her two ‘Right Words at the Right Time’ books to the hospital.

In addition to her Emmys and Golden Globes, Thomas has received a Peabody Award, a Grammy, and was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame. She has also earned numerous honors for her activism, including the Helen Caldicott Award for Nuclear Disarmament, the American Women in Radio and Television Satellite Award, and the William Kunstler Racial Justice Award. In 2014, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her contributions to the arts and social causes. Thomas has also published seven best-selling books, three of which were number 1 best-sellers.

Near and dear to Marlo’s heart, however, is her devotion to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. An example is the opening on November 20, 2014, of the Marlo Thomas Center for Global Education and Collaboration, at which Hillary Clinton presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Marlo grew up from an early age supporting the mission of St. Jude.

Given the holiday season, it seems appropriate that we speak a bit more about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. First, it is a pediatric treatment and research hospital, a designated nonprofit medical corporation that focuses on children’s catastrophic diseases, particularly leukemia and other cancers. Significantly, patients are not charged for care. The hospital was founded on the premise that “no child should die in the dawn of life”. This idea reportedly resulted from a promise that Danny Thomas, a Maronite Catholic, had made to a saint years before the hospital was founded. That saint was Saint Jude Thaddeus.

The principal source of funding for St. Jude’s comes from the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), a semi-independent entity founded in 1957 by Danny Thomas. ALSAC primarily raises funds and promotes awareness for St. Jude. They mainly collect funds from independent sources, such as companies and individuals.

Today, we witness on TV, Marlo’s continuing devotion and dedication to St. Jude’s—at age 88, she continues to beseech us to follow the tradition of donating to this important cause. Marlo Thomas, what a woman, what a life!

Sources:
-“Marlo Thomas,” Wikipedia Series on Arab Americans, 2025
-“Mario Thomas: ‘My Whole Life I’ve Had My Dukes Up,” by Katie Kelly, 3/11/1073
-“St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” Wikipedia

John Mason, Ph.D., focuses on Arab culture, society, and history and is the author of LEFT-HANDED IN AN ISLAMIC WORLD: An Anthropologist’s Journey into the Middle East, New Academia Publishing, 2017 and of his new novel, WHISPERS FROM THE DESERT: Zaki, a Little Genie’s Tales of Good and Evil (2025), under his pen name, Yahia Al-Banna. He has taught at the University of Libya in Benghazi, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, and the American University in Cairo. John served with the United Nations in Tripoli, Libya, and consulted extensively on socioeconomic and political development for USAID and the World Bank in 65 countries.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Arab America. The reproduction of this article is permissible with proper credit to Arab America and the author.

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