Byron Thames
Encyclopedia
Byron Thames is an American
television and film actor and musician.
, he relocated shortly after his birth to New Orleans, Louisiana
, he moved to Hollywood, California with his mother at age eight to pursue a career as an actor.
After meeting actor/director Michael Landon
, Thames was cast in the NBC
television network dramatic television series Father Murphy
in 1981 at the age of eleven opposite actor and former NFL
athlete Merlin Olsen
. The series ran for two seasons and ended in 1983. The following year, he was cast in the Amy Heckerling
-directed comedy film Johnny Dangerously
, playing the part of actor Michael Keaton
's character as a youngster, and appeared in the Mick Jagger
-penned dramatic film Blame It on the Night.
In 1985 he received a starring role in the Linda Feferman-directed teen comedy-drama Seven Minutes in Heaven
. The film centered on the relationships of three teenage friends, portrayed by Thames, Jennifer Connelly
and Maddie Corman
. During the 1980s, Thames also made appearances in a number of television series, including: CHiPs
, Silver Spoons
, 21 Jump Street
and Family Ties
.
In 2001, he appeared in the R.D. Robb-directed dramatic film Don's Plum
as the title character 'Don Plum'. The film starred Kevin Connolly, Leonardo DiCaprio
, Tobey Maguire
, Jeremy Sisto
and Marissa Ribisi
.
In 2004, he co-starred with James Vallo
in the independent
sci-fi comedy Space Daze
which was distributed by Troma Entertainment
in 2005 and then reprised his role in the 2009 sequel Spaced Out
.
In 2007, he teamed up again with Vallo and Space Daze writer/director John Wesley Norton playing the lead role in the then titled Working Title which was later released as Not Another B Movie
in 2011 (also distributed by Troma).
in August 2007 and resides in Hollywood, California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television and film actor and musician.
Career
Born in Jackson, MississippiJackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, he relocated shortly after his birth to New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, he moved to Hollywood, California with his mother at age eight to pursue a career as an actor.
After meeting actor/director Michael Landon
Michael Landon
Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza , Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie , and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven...
, Thames was cast in the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television network dramatic television series Father Murphy
Father Murphy
Father Murphy is an American television drama series that aired on the NBC network from November 3, 1981 to September 18, 1983. Michael Landon created the series, was the executive producer, and also directed the show in partnership with William F...
in 1981 at the age of eleven opposite actor and former NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
athlete Merlin Olsen
Merlin Olsen
Merlin Jay Olsen was an American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews...
. The series ran for two seasons and ended in 1983. The following year, he was cast in the Amy Heckerling
Amy Heckerling
Amy Heckerling is an American film director, one of the few female directors to have produced multiple box-office hits.-Early life:...
-directed comedy film Johnny Dangerously
Johnny Dangerously
Johnny Dangerously is a 1984 comedy spoof of 1930s' crime/gangster movies. It was directed by Amy Heckerling; its four screenwriters included Bernie Kukoff and Jeff Harris, both of whom previously created the hit TV series Diff'rent Strokes...
, playing the part of actor Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton
Michael John Douglas , better known by the stage name Michael Keaton, is an American actor known for his early comedic roles, most notably his performance as the title character of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice . Keaton is also famous for his dramatic portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's...
's character as a youngster, and appeared in the Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
-penned dramatic film Blame It on the Night.
In 1985 he received a starring role in the Linda Feferman-directed teen comedy-drama Seven Minutes in Heaven
Seven Minutes in Heaven (film)
Seven Minutes in Heaven is a 1985 teen film directed by Linda Feferman, starring Jennifer Connelly in one of her first roles.-Plot:Natalie allows her classmate Jeff , who ran away from home after a fight with his stepfather , to stay at her place while her father is away on a business trip...
. The film centered on the relationships of three teenage friends, portrayed by Thames, Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Lynn Connelly is an American film actress, who began her career as a child model. She appeared in magazine, newspaper and television advertising, before making her motion picture debut in the 1984 crime film Once Upon a Time in America...
and Maddie Corman
Maddie Corman
Maddie Corman is an American television and film actress.-Career:Born Madeleine Cornman in New York City, New York, she began her career as a child actress in the 1980s...
. During the 1980s, Thames also made appearances in a number of television series, including: CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
, Silver Spoons
Silver Spoons
Silver Spoons is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 25, 1982 to May 11, 1986 and in first-run syndication from September 15, 1986 to March 4, 1987...
, 21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street is an American police procedural crime drama television series that aired on the Fox Network from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 103 episodes. The series focused on a squad of youthful-looking undercover police officers investigating crimes in high schools,...
and Family Ties
Family Ties
Family Ties is an American sitcom that aired on NBC for seven seasons, from 1982 to 1989. The sitcom reflected the move in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s to the conservatism of the 1980s. This was particularly expressed through the relationship between young...
.
In 2001, he appeared in the R.D. Robb-directed dramatic film Don's Plum
Don's Plum
Don's Plum is a 2001 low-budget black and white drama film directed by R.D. Robb. Robb co-wrote it with Bethany Ashton, Tawd Hackman, David Stutman, and Dale Wheatley. The film features Leonardo DiCaprio, Kevin Connolly and Tobey Maguire, who make crude jokes while hanging out in a Los Angeles diner...
as the title character 'Don Plum'. The film starred Kevin Connolly, Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor and film producer. He has received many awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Aviator , and has been nominated by the Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild and the British Academy of Film and Television...
, Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire
Tobias Vincent "Tobey" Maguire is an American actor and producer. He began his career in the 1980s, and has achieved his greatest fame for his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films.-Early life:...
, Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Merton Sisto is an American actor. Sisto has had recurring roles as Billy Chenowith on the HBO series Six Feet Under and Detective Cyrus Lupo on Law & Order on television and also starred in the films Jesus, Clueless and Thirteen.-Early life:Sisto was born in Grass Valley, California, the...
and Marissa Ribisi
Marissa Ribisi
Marissa Ribisi is an American actress. She has performed in the films Dazed and Confused, True Crime, The Brady Bunch Movie, Pleasantville, and Don's Plum and television shows such as Felicity, Friends, Grace Under Fire, Watching Ellie, and Tales of the City.-Early life:Ribisi was born Santina...
.
In 2004, he co-starred with James Vallo
James Vallo
James Vallo is an American producer and actor best known for his role as Al Manac in Space Daze and its sequel Spaced Out. His recent productions include the upcoming Sister Mary, Not Another B Movie and Chasing Hollywood as well as the award winning Paranormal Calamity...
in the independent
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
sci-fi comedy Space Daze
Space Daze
Space Daze is a 2005 sci-fi comedy film written and directed by J.W. Norton and distributed by Troma Entertainment. It stars James Vallo, Byron Thames and features a cameo from Corey Feldman.-Plot:...
which was distributed by Troma Entertainment
Troma Entertainment
Troma Entertainment is an American independent film production and distribution company founded by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz in 1974.The company produces low-budget independent movies that play on 1950s horror with elements of farce...
in 2005 and then reprised his role in the 2009 sequel Spaced Out
Spaced Out (film)
Spaced Out is a sci-fi comedy feature directed by Scott Grenke. It was premiered in Chicago in 2006 and distributed by Ariztical Entertainment in 2009. It stars James Vallo and features appearances by Babette Bombshell, Butch Patrick, Robert Z'Dar, Fred Williamson, Larry Thomas, and many others...
.
In 2007, he teamed up again with Vallo and Space Daze writer/director John Wesley Norton playing the lead role in the then titled Working Title which was later released as Not Another B Movie
Not Another B Movie
Not Another B Movie is a satirical comedy film written and directed by John Wesley Norton which peers into the process of making a low-budget horror film. It was premiered in 2008 under the original title Working Title in Woodridge, Illinois...
in 2011 (also distributed by Troma).
Personal
Byron Thames married actress Tricia Leigh FisherTricia Leigh Fisher
Tricia Leigh Fisher is an American actress and singer.- Early life :Fisher was born in Burbank, California to singer Eddie Fisher and actress Connie Stevens. Her older sister is actress Joely Fisher. Other siblings include half brother Todd Fisher and half-sister actress Carrie Fisher of Star Wars...
in August 2007 and resides in Hollywood, California.