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Margaret Julia "Marlo" Thomas, who has owned a home in Westport, turns 78 on Saturday. The actress, producer and social activist was born Nov. 21, 1937, in Detroit.
Thomas appeared in many TV shows, including "Bonanza," "Ben Casey," "Arrest and Trial," "The Joey Bishop Show," "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," "77 Sunset Strip," and "The Donna Reed Show."
Her big break came in 1965 when she was cast for "Barefoot in The Park." She is best known for her starring role on the TV series "That Girl" from 1966 to 1971 and her award-winning feminist children's franchise, "Free to Be... You and Me."
For her television work, she has received four Emmys, a Golden Globe and the George Foster Peabody Award and has been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. She has also received a Grammy Award for her children’s album "Thanks & Giving All Year Long."
She has appeared in many films, including "Jenny" (1970), "The Real Blonde" (1997), "Playing Mona Lisa" (2000), "LOL" (2012) and "Cardboard Boxer" (2014).
Her Broadway theater credits include "Thieves" (1974), "Social Security" (1986) and "The Shadow Box" (1994), and in 2011 she starred as Doreen in Elaine May's comedy "George Is Dead."
She also appeared in the television movies "It Happened One Christmas" (1977), "Consenting Adult" (1985), Nobody's Child (1986), "The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck" (1984), "Reunion" (1994), "Deceit" (2004) and "Ultimate Betrayal" (1994).
She serves as national outreach director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and currently narrates the series "Happily Never After" on Investigation Discovery.
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