Ross Thomas
Born (1981-08-21) August 21, 1981
Stockton, California, United States
Years active2002–2017
Spouse
Jolene Rust-Thomas
​
(m. 2015)​
Children1

Ross Thomas (born August 21, 1981) is an American actor, filmmaker, philanthropist and adventurer.

Early life

Ross Thomas was born in Stockton, California and raised in both Stockton and Woodbridge, California. His mother Catherine Schuler is a computer science professor and author,[1] and his father, Randy Thomas, is a trial attorney, poet and adventurer.[2] He has three sisters and one brother. He attended St. Mary's High School[3] and subsequently attended Arizona State University and The University of Southern California.[4] He played left wing for the Arizona State University rugby team. He studied anthropology, broadcasting and theatre arts. He graduated from The University of Southern California in the winter of 2004.[5]

In 2005, Thomas played the title role in What's Bugging Seth as a deaf man determined to find love and career success despite his handicap. The film won awards at the DancesWithFilms Festival, the Santa Cruz Film Festival and the Empire Film Festival

Other film credits include starring roles in films such as The Cutting Edge 2: Going for the Gold,[6] American Pie: The Naked Mile,[7] the Wayans’ Brothers comedy Dance Flick, in which he spoofed Channing Tatum's character in Step Up, "Burning Palms",[8] and the indie flick Shelter, which went on to win the GLAAD Outstanding Film Award in 2009.[9]

On the small screen, Thomas was a series regular on the Nickelodeon original teen series Beyond the Break. Thomas played ‘Bailey,’ a stellar surfer who had a reputation for being a playboy. The show aired from 2006 to 2009.[10] He also had a recurring role on General Hospital as 'Brandon,' a hardened criminal just released from jail.[11] Thomas has also appeared on NCIS[12] Lie to Me[13] CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,[14] CSI: NY,[15] Cold Case,[16]& Living with Fran[17]

Thomas had a starring role in the film Soul Surfer, based on the true story of shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton. Thomas played Bethany's older brother, Noah.[18] He is also the passenger in the Cadillac ATS television commercials. In 2012, Ross was selected amongst fierce competition to host the Cadillac ATS vs. The World campaign, one of the largest productions in the history of General Motors.[19] Cadillac ATS vs. The World was created to break the mold of automotive advertising to connect with a new generation of customers. Set in four countries around the world, the campaign consists of spectacular demonstrations of the nimble, quick and fun driving dynamics of the Cadillac ATS. In addition to the commercials, Ross hosted 20 mini-documentaries centered around the car, the task of filming the campaign and various cultural segues. Directed by racing legend Jeff Zwart and award-winning documentary filmmaker, Joe Berlinger, Ross and his crew embarked on a rugged adventure that bridged continents in search of some of the most technically challenging segments of road around. Highlighted locations include Patagonia, Monaco, Morocco and China. Ross had once in a lifetime interviews with the last native speaker of the Yaghan language in Puerto Williams to members of the Shao Lin Kung Fu academy in China.[20][21][22]

In 2013, Ross was chosen to host and produce the new CBS Sports Docu-Series, Game Changers. The show celebrates athletes and fans who reach out in their communities to make life better for so many. Game Changers, also featuring omg! Insider's Kevin Frazier, highlights professional athletes who use their public image to make positive changes in the lives of fans in need. Whether on or off the field, Game Changers takes an inspirational look at how sports positively impacts individuals and the communities they serve.[23][24] Ross also guest starred opposite Ramon Rodriguez, Terry O'Quinn and RZA in the pilot episode of the 2013 FOX TV show, Gang Related, directed by renowned film director, Allen Hughes and produced by Brian Grazer and Imagine Entertainment. Ross plays rookie LAPD officer, James Tanner.[25][26]

On June 6, 2020 Ross Thomas won an Emmy® Award in the category "Talent-Program Host/Moderator/Reporter" for his work as a co-host on NBC's California Live.[27]

Personal life

Thomas is an extreme sports enthusiast and avid adventure traveller. He recently summited Huayna Potossi in Bolivia at 19,974 ft. He surfs and snowboards[28] and performed many of his own stunts for his role as an extreme sports professional turned figure skater in ABC Family channel movie The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold.[29] Ross is a team rider and ambassador for Glide SUP.[30][31]

Ross is a supporter of tribal peoples rights.[32] He has made a short documentary film about the plight of the Harakmbut tribe in the Madre De Dios region of Peru, and has visited Brazil to support the tribes against the Belo Monte Dam.[33] Ross has worked with indigenous rights organizations Survival International and Amazon Watch.[34][35] In 2010, Ross spent months in the Southern Peruvian Amazon shooting and producing the documentary Extraction: The Plundering of the Amarakaeri Reserve.[34] He also spent time with the Secoya tribe along the Shushufindi and Aguarico River in the Ecuadorian Amazon. He is interested in anthropology, ethnobotany and alternative medicine.

On August 29, 2015, Thomas married Jolene Rust.[36] They have one child, a son.[37]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005Cold CasePeteTV
Living with FranKurtTV
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationTrip WilmontTV
Sissy FrenchfryBodey McDodeyFilm
CSI: NYSamTV
2006Lipshitz Saves the WorldMark ShermanTV
American Pie Presents: The Naked MileRyan GrimmFilm
Beyond The BreakBailey ReeseTV
The Cutting Edge: Going for the GoldAlex HarrisonFilm
2007ShelterGabeFilm
2009Dance FlickTylerFilm
Lie to MeDoug DonovanTV
The Haunting of Molly HartleyJockFilm
2010Burning PalmsLukasFilm
2011Pop StarEddie MarzFilm
Soul SurferNoah HamiltonFilm
NCISCoast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Kyle SterlingTV
General HospitalBrandon LowellTV
2012Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop DistanceSam FlynnVideo game[38]
2014Gang RelatedJames TannerTV
2015Disney Infinity 3.0Sam FlynnVideo game[39]

References

  1. ↑ "CeePrompt! Catherine Schuler Sawyer". www.ceeprompt.com.
  2. ↑ "Lawyer, hunter, poet: Acampo's Randy Thomas is 'Hemingway-esque'".
  3. ↑ "Class Notes". www.saintmaryshighschool.org.
  4. ↑ "Campus Circle - Soul Surfer". Campus Circle.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-21. Retrieved 2012-03-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ↑ "The Cutting Edge - Going for the Gold". 28 March 2006 – via Amazon.
  7. ↑ "Ross Thomas in American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile". www.hotflick.net.
  8. ↑ "Burning Palms". 23 April 2010 – via www.imdb.com.
  9. ↑ "Here! - press - here! Original film ?shelter?". Archived from the original on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  10. ↑ "Soul Surfer, the movie: Actor, Ross Thomas Talks". 7 April 2011.
  11. ↑ "Sacramento and Company - ABC10.com". KXTV.
  12. ↑ "NCIS". TVGuide.com.
  13. ↑ "Ross Thomas from 'Soul Surfer'". BlogTalkRadio.
  14. ↑ "Crimelab.NL - CSI - Transcripts - Season 5 - Iced". Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  15. ↑ "CSI Guide - CSI: NY Episode 203: Zoo York". Archived from the original on 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  16. ↑ TV.com. "Ross Thomas". TV.com.
  17. ↑ "Surfers « Celebrity Expression Session – Surfrider Foundation". Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  18. ↑ "Dailystoke Interview with Ross Thomas Star of SOUL SURFER MOVIE - DailyStoke". www.dailystoke.com.
  19. ↑ "2013 Cadillac ATS Takes on the World (Video) - The Torque Report". 18 July 2012.
  20. ↑ Elliott, Stuart (18 July 2012). "New Cadillac Says, 'My World, and Welcome to It'".
  21. ↑ Krebs, Michelle. "Cadillac ATS Wins Gold in Olympics Advertising". Forbes.
  22. ↑ "Cadillac Launches New ATS Ads".
  23. ↑ "News – CBS Corporation". www.cbscorporation.com.
  24. ↑ "Host Bio – CBS Dreamteam". cbsdreamteam.com.
  25. ↑ "FOX Broadcasting Company - Programming". Archived from the original on 2014-01-22. Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  26. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (19 February 2013). "Allen Hughes To Direct Fox's Drama Pilot 'Gang Related'".
  27. ↑ https://emmysf.tv/files/2020/06/Emmy20-Recipient-Press-Release.pdf page 6
  28. ↑ "Archived copy". seavoices.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. ↑ "Ross Thomas Surfing Big Wave | DailyStoke". www.dailystoke.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  30. ↑ glidesup.com
  31. ↑ "Log into Facebook - Facebook". Facebook. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  32. ↑ "Ross Thomas: Charity Work & Causes". Look to the Stars.
  33. ↑ "Ross Thomas models for Survival". Survival International. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  34. 1 2 "'Soul Surfer's' Ross Thomas shines a light on Peru's indigenous people". Zap2it.com. 2011-04-08. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  35. ↑ "Riding a wave of success". Recordnet.com. 2011-04-07. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  36. ↑ "Ross Thomas on Instagram: "Married the woman of my dreams last night @jolenerust 💏❤️⚡️🎉💍 #weremarryingadventure #joleneandross 📷 @rgaiphone"".
  37. ↑ "Ross Thomas on Instagram: "Welcome to the world Taj Zealand Thomas 👑🌊 My heart is full 🙏🏻❤ #TajZealand @jolenerust"".
  38. ↑ Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. Scene: The Grid world.
  39. ↑ Avalanche Software. Disney Infinity 3.0. Scene: Closing credits, 5:39 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of.
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