Career

Acting

Thomas began acting at age eight. While filming E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, he suffered with mental trauma after his pet dog was killed by a neighbor's. He was troubled by the public reaction.[2]

Music

Thomas wrote songs and played guitar for the San Antonio band, The Blue Heelers (named for the breed of dog), in the 1990s. Although the band was not signed to a record label, its self-produced album Twister was warmly received and enjoyed statewide radio play. Thomas continued to write and record songs. In 1998, his song "Truckstop Coffee" (recorded with the Blue Heelers) appeared on V2's soundtrack for Niagara, Niagara.[3] In 2003, Thomas and Nikki Sudden collaborated on the music for Mika Kaurismäki's film Honey Baby, which featured four original songs written and performed by Thomas as the fictional musician Tom Brackett.[4] An album was in the works, but Sudden died suddenly in 2006.[5]

Filmography

Accolades

Other honors

• VH1's "100 Greatest Kid Stars"
• 2005, ranked #4, E!'s "50 Cutest Child Stars All Grown-up"
• 2013, inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame.