Thomas never hid his attachment to Saint Jude, and origins of that devotion date back to the spring of 1940 when Thomas first heard of Saint Jude from a stagehand in Detroit. A crowd of 9,000 gathered on a February day in Memphis, Tenn. to celebrate the opening of St. Jude. Companies across the U.S support Read about That's not his lips or hairline. Tony, along withPaul Junger Witt, formedWitt/Thomas Productionsin 1975, and was responsible for his fathers next three (and ultimately final) starring vehicles. Danny Thomas starred in Make Room For Daddy, one of most popular TV family comedies of the 1950s. Then and there I felt moved to make my vow. A devoutMaronite Catholic, Thomas was named a Knight Commander of theOrder of the Holy SepulchrebyPope Paul VIin recognition of his services to the church and the community. Amid this whirlwind of emotions and unsolved problems, he went to work at the Club Morocco as usual. We worked on what it was going to look like, and It's odd when you have a statue of your father. The show ran from 1953-64, but changed networks in 1957 and was titled The Danny Thomas Show for the rest of its run. By From a Times Staff Writer. This is the prayer that did it, he said, handing me one of the cards. I love that youre a Jewish organization, Thomas continued in her address to the NCJW. Thomasbig giftto St. Jude included devotion through the National Shrine of St. Jude and the Claretians in Chicago, and ultimately the world-famous St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Because of her excellent work on TV, she got an Emmy four times, a Golden Globe Award, and a George Foster Peabody Award. Note: This story is part of our Faith in Hollywood series. I moved on to New York. record label. He wanted me to know it.. Movieguide is a 501c3 non-profit and all donations are tax-deductible. If youre not a Catholic, as I am, such talk of shrines and vows and saints might sound a bit strange, but when I was growing up in a deeply religious family in Toledo, Ohio, these things were familiar matters. Danny Thomas was born on Jan. 6, 1912, on a horse farm in Deerfield, Mich., the son of Lebanese immigrants. Her big break came in 1965 when she was cast by Mike Nichols in the London production of Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park and had a role in the Nichols Broadway show, Social Security. Danny Thomas is a 79 years old Actor comedian humanitarian from . religion or worldview. Thomas and Donahue: You're talking about the F-word fighting! As Thomas wrote in 1981, I once vowed to Saint Jude that Id build a shrine in his name if hed help me through a difficult time in my life.. In addition to Thomas' wife and three children, survivors include five grandchildren. Danny Thomas said he founded St. Jude because "no child should die in the dawn . While having a child on its way, Danny was making two . Was the solution to Floridas insurance crisis found 15 years ago? Danny Thomas was born on January 6, 1912. St. Jude employees who have the unique experience of calling their fathers colleagues. Maronite Church. Thats what were here to do. On Tuesday night a man came into the Club Morocco. Danny Thomas (born Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz; January 6, 1912 - February 6, 1991) was an American actor, singer, nightclub comedian, producer, and philanthropist. Thomas was best known for starring in the televisionsitcomMake Room for Daddy(also known asThe Danny Thomas Show). He came from the same Mid East, and he also grew up with being an outsider, and being fearful and being maligned. From what I understand, former television star Danny Thomas used to enjoy the company of prostitutes. Thomas was raised inToledo, Ohio, attending St. Francis de Sales Church (Roman Catholic),Woodward High School, and finallythe University of Toledo, where he was a member ofTau Kappa Epsilonfraternity. Danny Thomas(bornAmos Muzyad Yakhoob Kairouz; January 6, 1912 February 6, 1991) was an American nightclubcomedianand television and film actor and producer, whose career spanned five decades. In reading about the Shrine he realized, in the midst of his newly-found professional success, he had completely forgotten his earlier prayers and promises to Saint Jude. One of his other commercials was actually a public-service message, with fund-raising goals, for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. St. Jude opened in 1962. Eventually I went to Detroit and sang for a while on a radio program. Danny Thomas died on February 6, 1991, and is buried on the grounds of St. Jude Hospital. During May 1985, he was made a 32 Mason and also a Noble in Al Malaikah Shrine located at Los Angeles, CA. He founded the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, which opened February 4, 1962. Thomas died in California of a heart attack at age 78 in 1991. Treatments invented at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since it opened 50 years ago. But that evening there was a good deal of happy commotion. Thomas was best known for starring in the television sitcom Make Room for Daddy (also known as The Danny Thomas Show).He was also the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Danny Thomas (1912 - 1991), a member of Gothic Lodge 270 in Hamilton Square, New Jersey, was an American nightclub entertainer, television star, and producer. Gradually, Danny Thomas' idea of the St. Jude shrine took shape as a children's hospital. Thomas earned a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University in 2000. Where the survival rate for ALL was once only 4%, today it is 94% and more kids are living longer to realize their own dreams. Best known for starring in the sitcom, Make Room for Daddy, he is also the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. I thought he was Jewish because of his nose. St. Jude is honoring 15 students as part of its annual high school commencement. Danny Thomas was born in MI. Start today with book # 1 Highly Favored: Marys Story. Today, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is the largest childhood cancer research hospital in the world, in terms of numbers of patients and treatment successes. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a not-for-profit, section 501(c)(3). What a plot for a movie! If Movieguide is useful to you, please take one minute to keep it online and growing. Danny met Rose while performing on the radio show "The Happy Hour Club." His children continued to work as actors and producers. His presence even graced a few classic Hollywood features such as ILL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS (. There is not so much information available about her but we will update . In the early 1970s, Thomas reunited most of his secondDaddycast (Marjorie Lord,Rusty Hamer, andAngela Cartwright) for a short-lived update of the show,Make Room for Granddaddy. Theres something there. While renewing his devotion to the forgotten apostle, he planned on somehow showing the church appreciation for his prayers being answered. Time went by. My mothers faith in God was so strong that she could not possibly give in to fear or hopelessness. One of 10 children, Danny Thomas was born on January 6, 1912, inDeerfield, Michigan, to Charles Yakhoob Kairouz and his wife Margaret Taouk. Danny Thomas was born Amos Alphonsus Muzyad Yakhoob on Jan. 6, 1914 in Deerfield, MI. Jude Childrens Research Hospital; Dr. William E. Evans, director and chief executive officer, St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital; and Stephen Kearney, manager, Stamp Services, U.S. Thomas returned to series TV in the NBC sitcom,The Practice, from January 1976 to January 1977, and after thatIm a Big Girl Now, which aired on ABC from 1980 to 1981. Phil Donahue is the greatest husband in the history of the Western world, she told the crowd to ringing applause. More than 40 years ago, she created the book and television special Free to BeYou and Me, which celebrates the individuality of children, and which was adopted into the public school curriculum in 35 states. Thomas was born in Detroit and raised in Beverly Hills, California, the eldest child of Rose Marie Cassaniti and comedian Danny Thomas. My mother did not hesitate to make her own spiritual vows. His nickname was Amos Alphonsus Muzyad Yaqoob, Amos Jacobs. A park in Toledo, Ohio bears his name and a monument. Repair the world. I was so busy that for two years I had forgotten about it. "So, all in all, when I reflect on what I have accomplished in life, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital always comes in first," Thomas wrote in his recently released autobiography, Make Room for Danny. Free Sign Up. Then and there I felt moved to make my vow. Though an apostle of Jesus, Jude was not one of the saints whom many Catholics turned to, probably because of his name, which was really Judas Thaddeus, far too similar to that of the hated Judas Iscariot. It was one of television's most durable and popular situation comedies. Marlo Thomas was born on the 21st of November 1937 in Detroit, Michigan, the U.S. Danny Thomas, American actor, comedian, and humanitarian of Lebanese parentage. Thomas was aposthumousrecipient of the 2004Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. ALSAC (American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities), the fund-raising arm of St. Jude, was incorporated in 1957, and the hospital's groundbreaking took place in 1958. In 1961, Carl Reiner cast her inThe Dick Van Dyke Showafter Thomas personally recommended Moore. What was once the family home of Danny Thomas for more than 30 years is now on the market for a staggering $135 million. Danny Thomas was an American nightclub comedian and television and film actor and producer, whose career spanned five decades. The actor relates that, for him, turning to the saints for aid was only natural since from an early age, his family had taught him the values of his faith. By Birth Year | By Birth Month | By Death Year | By Death Month | Random, Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright. Danny Thomas (born Amos Muzyad Yakhoob Kairouz; January 6, 1912 February 6, 1991) was an American nightclub comedian and television and film actor and producer, whose career spanned five decades. St. Judes Immunology Chair won the 1996 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. In 1966, Danny Thomas and Edward Barry burned the mortgage on St. Jude Hospital before ALSAC members' meeting in convention. I would never have talked to my real parents that way, but in the make-believe world of the Williams family I got away with that. Cartwright also added by the time Thomas show had ended, if she wanted to join the cast ofThe Sound of Music: I went on an interview for the part of Brigitta. The Hagen character died in 1956, replaced byMarjorie Lord. His wife was in a hospital where shed been facing an operation for a deadly cancer. Answer (1 of 8): Freemasonry is a social fraternity - not a religion. St. Jude League205 W. Monroe St.Chicago, IL 60606Phone: 312-544-8230Email: stjudeleague@claretians.org, St. Jude League is a 501(c)(3) EIN: 45-3052833. He was working as a nightclub entertainer and had only managed to land some minor roles on radio. Stritch, a native of Tennessee, was a lifelong spiritual advisor for Thomas, and advised him to locate the St. Jude Hospital in Memphis. Thomas was responsible forMary Tyler Moores first big break in acting. She is the eldest child of comedian Danny Thomas and his wife, Rose Marie Cassaniti. Marlo Thomas. "Thomas began talking about his devotion to Saint Jude and how he believed the saint had helped lift him to prominence in his career. Actor and comedian Danny Thomas, remembered for his role in "Make Room for Daddy," passed away in 1991 at age 79 after a heart attack at his Beverly Hills home. Danny Thomas. Season 1 begins with Danny and Kathy's honeymoon. I think the Jewish people have hung on to their heritage like the Lebanese have, and I think the Irish have. 1991 He passed away on February 6, 1991, just prior to the release of his autobiography and a few days after he guest-starred on Empty Nest (1988). It was almost as though I was being drawn there. Thomas also took up producing programs like THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and RANGO. He created and starred in one of the most successful and long running situation comedies in the history of American network television. He was of Lebanese Roman Catholic. Thank you. The stagehand told him his wife had made a seemingly miraculous recovery from cancer, and that recovery, he insisted, came through his prayers to Saint Jude. Turning ideals into action is something Thomas knows a thing or two about. I think that its no accident that most of the great comedians were Jewish, Thomas told the Chronicle in an interview just prior to the NCJW event. Danny Thomas (left) with Donald Pinkel, the first medical director of St. Jude. Thomas was the son of Lebanese migrants to the United States who had a total of ten children. Every time we saw the drawings, we would say, "Oh, that's not his nose. And, although he had his audience laughing uproariously, he never resorted to using vulgar language. It is the only institution on this earth dedicated solely to the conquest of catastrophic diseases. Jordan Watson and Kelly Quiroz met at Since its inception, St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and around the world, continuing the mission of finding cures and saving children. Maybe she was right, maybe I could never make my wayand oursas an entertainer. While he did no longer neglected his vow to St. Jude, Danny struggled with a deep feeling of uncertainty about just what sort of shrine he was called to construct. Diego Hijano, MD, explains why in this Q&A. Thomas was the son of Lebanese migrants to the United States who had a total of ten children. Before Danny Thomas became a successful star of the 1950s he was just a struggling artist trying to support his family. The actor noted that there was perhaps a bit of comforting irony in the fact that St. Jude, patron of hopeless causes, should be the namesake of an institution where children with "incurable" diseases could come with hope for healing. Marlo had a great childhood growing up in the state of California. She said she wanted a piece of paper that said she was qualified to do something in the world. I did not forget Saint Jude again. On behalf of all of us at ALSAC and St. Jude and from kids and families around the world thank you for your love, your compassion and your support. He married Rose Marie Cassaniti in 1936, a week after his 24th birthday. She has also worked as a teacher for a short time. In 1932, Thomas began performing on radio in Detroit atWMBConThe Happy Hour Club. She recounted her fathers honorary admission to the Hillcrest Country Club, which at the time was restricted to only allow Jewish members, and which was the stomping ground of the comedian pals of Danny Thomas, including Danny Kaye, Milton Berle and George Burns. Marlo Thomas American actress, producer, and social activist. Wiki User. He later performed in the most popular nightclubs from coast to coast, broke into movies, playing in Ill See You in My Dreams and The Jazz Singer and finally, starting in 1953, he achieved his greatest fame through his starring role in the long-running television comedy series Make Room for Daddy.. He was rushed to the hospital, but for some reason the doctors were reluctant to treat him and the boy bled to death. See how Brett got his company involved - and how you can too! Years later, the entertainer fulfills his vow by becoming the founder of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital where miracles happen everyday. In 1990, Danny Thomas was inducted into theTelevision Hall of Fame. I knew I had to do something about fulfilling my vow, but I couldnt make up my mind what kind of a shrine I should build. Marlo had a great childhood growing up in the state of California. While Thomas is a true believer in women finding and fulfilling their personal dreams, she is also a living example of the impact that one person can have on the world around her. Often the characters are markedly different types thrown together by circumstance and occupying a shared environment such as an apartment building or workplace. Actor Gary Sinise Reflects on Hollywood Career: Life is About, Elisabeth Hasselbeck Asks for Forgiveness for Being a 'Right'-aholic By, How to Watch the 30th Annual Movieguide Awards Broadcast on, How Golden Age Actress June Lockhart Learned to Pray Anywhere, Jeremy Renner Will Do Whatever it Takes to Recover From, Movieguide is a 501c3 non-profit. Mark Wahlberg: Its Not Popular In My Industry, But I, Pat Boone Talks Faith and Family Values on the Movieguide, How Dave and Jenny Marrs Use FIXER TO FABULOUS to, Original HALLOWEEN Actor Left the Industry to Pursue Ministry By, Western Star Clint Walker Shares the Prayer that Saved His, Media Giants Battle Significant Debt Following Pandemic Expansion By Movieguide, TikTok to Add One-Hour Default Time Limit for Minors By, Peyton Hillis Thanks God After Recovering From Near-Drowning: 'Yahweh has, 8-Year-Old Girl Amazes With 'Star-Spangled Banner' Ahead of NBA Game, Lori Loughlin Signs on For Second Great American Family Christmas, Former Maxim Model Finds Identity in Christ: 'I Felt Like, Actor Stephen Baldwin Shares How He First Encountered Christ By, Premiere Family Friendly Streaming From Movieguide, Actor Danny Trejo Vows to Serve Others: 'Jesus Is Everything', Chrissy Metz Shares Heart Behind New Album, Childrens Book at, Erin Napier Shares Personal Reason Behind Why Her Daughters Don't, James Earl Jones of His Mentor: He 'Helped Guide Me, How God Sustained Courtney B. Vance Through His Mother's Terminal, Trevor Donovan Slated for Two New Movies with Great American, Actor Gary Sinise Reflects on Hollywood Career: Life is About Giving Back, Serving, Elisabeth Hasselbeck Asks for Forgiveness for Being a Right-aholic, How to Watch the 30th Annual Movieguide Awards Broadcast on UPtv, Feb. 26, How Golden Age Actress June Lockhart Learned to Pray Anywhere and Everywhere, Jeremy Renner Will Do Whatever it Takes to Recover From Snowplow Accident, NASCARs Michael McDowell On Daytona 500 Win: God Was Walking With Me Through The Valleys, Tom Selleck and Larry Manetti Share Mini MAGNUM P.I. See how All night long this man had knelt on the cold marble floor of the hospital and prayed the same prayer over and over again. He wanted me to know it. He became a multimillionaire. See also: Texas' 4th Congressional District election, 2022 But as he continued engaging the Catholic culture at various Chicagoan venues, it dawned on him that Jude was following him. Patriotism and Sticking Up For Your Fellow Man Are What Matter In Devotion, Finding Romance in Italy | A Chance Encounter Review, Is Disneys Legacy In Jeopardy? This was while growing up in Toledo, Ohio with his whole family. Danny Thomas was a Maronite Catholic entertainer. In this exciting ALL NEW historical biblical fiction series, you can shed new light on the stories of the most extraordinary women such as Ruth, Elizabeth, Deborah, Rahab, Bathsheba, Mary, and many more. For a while Thomas forgot his promise to the Patron Saint of Lost Causes, he did eventually remember his promise while he was living in Chicago. His presence even graced a few classic Hollywood features such as ILL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS (1951), where he starred alongside Doris Day. Danny got well, and every day for 12 months my mother, herself one of the poorest of the poor, living in shabby, cramped quarters over a pool hall, went out and begged pennies from door to door. The day after the Club Morocco closed, I drove my old Buick down to Toledo and left Rosemarie with my parents while I took one last stab at looking for work in show business. Jobs came few and far between and his desired success was looking out of reach. In 1968 he was Interviewed in "The Great Comedians Talk About Comedy" by Larry Wilde. As a starving actor, Thomas had made a vow: If he found success, he would open a shrine dedicated toSt. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes. To mark National Hispanic Heritage Month, If everyone reading this right now gave $7, our fundraiser would be done within an hour. The mission of St. Jude has become a unifying force, growing to bring millions of supporters from all walks of life together in the effort to eradicate suffering on a global scale. Thomas was a well known actor-comedian, prod. She is a big proponent of encouraging women to pursue their dreams, despite their age, or where they are on their lifes journey. During the past year, Danny Thomas was a young, down-on-his-luck act. ALSAC was also Dannys way of thanking the United States for the good fortune found here by his parents and the community of Arab immigrants he would rally to see his dream come to life. Thomas was also the son-in-law of Marie Mary Cassaniti (18961972), a drummer and percussionist for Maries Merry Music Makers. Gradually, Danny Thomas idea of the St. Jude shrine took shape as a childrens hospital. Thomas had many famous friends, and they sometimes joined the comedian in his charity efforts. Marlo's father, Danny, was famous for being a comedian who laughed at everyone he interacted. [19]In 1983, PresidentRonald Reaganpresented Thomas with aCongressional Gold Medalhonoring him for his work with St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. They were the first hospital to take leukemia patients off of therapy based on research indicating remission is sustainable. In particular, two companies that featured him in their advertising wereMaxwell House, whose instant coffee he endorsed (though it had no decaffeinated variant at the time, he later claimed he had been endorsing a decaffeinated instant coffee and the coffee he actually drank had a high caffeine content), andPhilipsNorelcos Dial-A-Brew version of its short-lived Better Cup Of Coffee line of electric drip coffee-makers. In a memoir called Growing Up Laughing, released in September 2010, Marlo wrote about how she was raised by such a great and funny man. His lengthy night shows on Saturdays ran far into the morning hours, and when he was finished, he went to 6 a.m. Mass at St. Clement Church on his way home. In the 1970s, the program was revived, but had a short run, under the titleMake Room for Granddaddy. Thomas was best known for starring in the television sitcom Make Room for Daddy (also known . So it was that he worked with Dr. Lemuel Diggs to raise funds to build a Childrens Hospital. Its such a great concept. Best Known For: Dave Thomas is best known . "Danny was one of the giants of the industry," Bob Hope said. But couldnt we at least pick someone who doesnt look Jewish? . "March 12 was the . Thomas had flown home Tuesday from Memphis, where he signed copies of his autobiography. A destitute comedic actor and night club singer prays to the saint of hopeless causes and makes a vow to build a shrine to St. Jude if he should be blessed with success. The Williams family moves into a brand new apartment and Angela Cartwright joined the cast as Kathy's daughter Linda, who was then adopted by Danny. They were married on January 15, 1936, and had three children, Margaret Julia (Marlo), Theresa (Terre), and Charles Anthony (Tony) Thomas. In this story from May 1981,actor and comedian Danny Thomas recalls how an answered prayer led him to found Saint Judes Childrens Research Hospital. Thomas also had his own radio program,The Danny Thomas Show. I thought of my infant brother Danny grabbing hold of life just when the doctors said he was dying, and slowly I began to see Saint Judes shrine as a hospital. St. Jude's first director, Donald Pinkel, MD, who revolutionized pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment. He was a member of the Good Shepherd Parish and theCatholic Motion Picture GuildinBeverly Hills, California. Thats where Margaret Simon and Shaheed Yakhoob lived before moving separately to America in the late 1800s. They had a dream and maybe it didnt happen, or they had a dream and maybe its kind of gone over. His dream of building a career in entertainment began to appear less and less viable, and he needed to bring in money in order to provide for his family. On January 1, 1959, Thomas appeared with hisMake Room For Daddychild stars,Angela CartwrightandRusty Hamer, in an episode ofNBCsThe Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford. Nobody joked about that physical characteristic more than Thomas. To learn more, visit www.stjude.org or following St. Chicago was Saint Judes town, too! Thomas writes. By BURT A. FOLKART. And coming back from it. She is a founding director of the Ms. Foundation for Women, and recently launched a nationwide antibullying campaign in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, among others. _ Information from the New York Times was used in this report. Danny Kaye. I wasnt in despairmy mother had taught me too well for thatbut the time had come when I had to choose a realistic career, for me and for my family. Thomas also produced three series forWalter Brennan:The Real McCoys,The Tycoon, andThe Guns of Will Sonnetton ABC during the late 1950s and 1960s. Award-winning actress Marlo Thomas starred in the TV hits 'That Girl' and 'Free to Be. In an interview with Smashing Interviews Magazine, Marlo was asked about how she felt about the figure, "I was surprised that it touched me because my brother, sister, and I had worked on it for two years. He felt no child should die at the beginning of life. Simply put, St. Jude has become "America's hospital," in the words of Tony Thomas, producer of numerous TV hits including "The Golden Girls" and the son of Danny Thomas. Finding cures. When we recount how St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was born, we often tell the story of how our founder, Danny Thomas, walked into a Detroit church and asked St. Jude Thaddeus to show him his way in life.. What followed, Thomas recalls, prompted him to ask the patron saint of impossible cases for his help: The next day I went into a church to pray, and when I reached into my pocket for a coin, I found the card the man had given me. I had no job to go to, and no prospects. Jan. 20, 1990 12 AM PT. His career experience includes working as a local evening news anchor. Thomas first visited Memphis in 1955. On February 16, 2012, theUnited States Postal Serviceissued a first-classforever stamphonoring Thomas as an entertainer and humanitarian. The hospital that today has a global network of institutions striving to improve the health of children battling cancer resulted from the strong Catholic faith of its founder. She is most famous for her role as Ann Marie on the sitcom called That Girl. It was the first he knew that St. Judes home was in Chicago. In films, Thomas starred inThe Jazz Singeropposite the popular contemporary vocalist Peggy Lee, a 1952 remake ofthe 1927 original, and played songwriterGus KahnoppositeDoris Dayin the1951film biographyIll See You in My Dreams. It was the amount he needed for his family. Thomas never forgot his promise to St. Jude, and after becoming a successful actor in the early 1950s, his wife joined him and began traveling the United States to help raise funds to build his dream St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. Danny Thomas was a struggling young comic when he met Rose Marie Mantell (born Rose Marie Cassaniti), who had a singing career with her own radio show in Detroit, Michigan. I did not ask for anything specific like money or fame, but I promised Saint Jude that if he would help me find some clear course for my life, I would build him a shrine. Offscreen, Thomas was a proud promoter of his Lebanese heritage, a devout Catholic and a devoted family man. All that night I thought about this man and his appeal to a saint whom I knew only slightly as Patron of the Hopeless or The Forgotten Saint.. Ive given him into the care of the Blessed Mother. She knew that I was in good hands, and so did L. I always had my heart set on being an entertainer, and during the seven years I spent at the burlesque theater I studied some of the best comedians in the business and grew all the more determined to be one too. St. Jude while volunteering and recently got engaged to marry. At that time my name was AmosAmos Jacobsbut early in my show business career I took the names of my youngest and oldest brothers and became Danny Thomas. On the way home after a night at the 5100 Club, I used to go to the 5:00 a.m. mass at St. Clements Church. Then he took seven of the 10 dollars in his pocket and put it in the collection basket, and said to St. Jude, I need 10 times that amount to get my family out of the hospital.. Along with partner Sheldon Leonard, he produced such landmark television series as The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and many others.However, his most enduring contribution was the time . The Catholic Church, on the other hand, had a hell of a grudge against Freemasonry. William J. Glicker served as art director. His parents were Maronite Christians which is a sect within the Catholic religion and Thomas attended the St. Francis de Sales Church. His other network radio work included a stint as Jerry Dingle the postman onFanny BricesThe Baby Snooks Show, and appearances on the popular NBC variety program,The Big Show, hosted by stage legendTallulah Bankhead. At the hospital the doctors told my mother that Danny was dying, but she wouldnt accept that. Her godmother was Loretta Young. If you speak another language, assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. If everyone reading this right now gave $7, our fundraiser would be done within an hour. And what better way to honor the Patron Saint of the Hopeless than with a place where dying children, children with incurable diseases could come to be healed? He was known for being a TV Actor. She attended the Actors Studio and studied with Lee Strasberg and Sandra Seacat when she won her Best Dramatic Actress Emmy in 1986 for the TV movie Nobody's Child. Danny Thomas was born on January 6, 1912.