Heather Thomas is an American actress, author, and political activist born on September 8, 1957, in Greenwich, Connecticut. She is best known for her role as Jody Banks on the television series The Fall Guy, which aired from 1981 to 1986.

Her parents are Gladdy Lou Ryder, a special education teacher, and Leon Thomas, a university dean. She graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1975 and later attended the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, graduating in 1980.

She began her acting career at the age of 14 when she hosted the NBC series Talking with a Giant. She made her acting debut in 1978 with small television roles and gained fame with her role in The Fall Guy.

She also appeared in several movies, including Zapped! in 1982, Cyclone in 1987, and Ford: The Man and the Machine in 1987. She retired from acting in 1998 to focus on her family and pursue writing. She returned to acting in 2013 with minor film appearances and has been involved in political activism.

Heather Thomas has been married twice. She first married Allan Rosenthal in August 1985, but they divorced in September 1986. In October 1992, she married entertainment attorney Harry Marcus "Skip" Brittenham, and they have a daughter named India Rose, born on June 19, 2000.

Heather Thomas also has two stepdaughters, Shauna and Kristina, from Skip's previous marriage. Heather's personal life has been marked by challenges, including a battle with cocaine addiction during the mid-1980s, for which she entered rehabilitation.

She was also struck by a car in 1986, sustaining serious injuries to her legs. Despite these challenges, Heather has remained resilient and focused on her family and career.

Her career has been diverse and successful. In addition to her role in The Fall Guy, she appeared in various television series and movies throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She also wrote a screenplay called School Slut, which she sold to Touchstone Pictures, and published her first novel, Trophies, in 2008.

She has received several awards and nominations for her work, including the Bravo Otto Germany Award for Best Female TV Star in 1985 and a Gemini Award nomination for Best Performance by a Supporting Actress for her role in Ford: The Man and the Machine in 1987.