Ralph L. Thomas, ‘The Terry Fox Story’ Director and Journalist, Dies at 86
The Genie Award-winning filmmaker was also known for projects like “Ticket to Heaven” and “For the Record”
He was not on the list.
Ralph L. Thomas, the Brazilian-born Canadian filmmaker behind “The Terry Fox Story” and journalist, has died. He was 86.
Born on Sept. 8, 1939, in the Brazilian Amazon, Thomas died peacefully with his family by his side on Jan. 4 due to complications of heart disease, his loved ones announced on Sunday.
“He will be remembered for his integrity, intelligence, breadth of knowledge and his singular commitment to craft. He leaves behind a body of articles and films that endure, a family he loved and a reminder that cinema must be predicated upon ethics as well as entertainment,” they shared. “Most of all, Ralph will be remembered for his love of Vivienne, his partner for more than 50 years.”
After moving to rural Alberta at age 13, Thomas went on to attend the University of Toronto before dropping out to become a journalist for the Toronto Star. In 1975, he produced docudrama series “For the Record” for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, earning him an Award of Distinction from the Canadian Film Awards.
Then moving into narrative pieces, his filmography includes “Ticket to Heaven,” “Apprentice to Murder,” “Young Ivanhoe,” “A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” and, most notably, “The Terry Fox Story.” His family eventually wound up in Montecito, where beloved community member Thomas helped mentor students in screenwriting with the SB Film Festival.
Thomas is survived by his wife Vivienne, son Nye, stepsons
Jon and Derek, brothers Paul and Ivor, and grandchildren Mei, Eli and Nate.
Director
Young Ivanhoe (1995)
Young Ivanhoe
4.8
TV Movie
Director (as R.L. Thomas)
1995
A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1995)
A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
4.8
Director (as R.L. Thomas)
1995
Vendetta II: The New Mafia (1993)
Vendetta II: The New Mafia
6.6
TV Movie
Director
1993
The First Season
6.6
Director
1989
Mia Sara, Donald Sutherland, and Chad Lowe in Apprentice to
Murder (1988)
Apprentice to Murder
5.0
Director
1988
The Twilight Zone (1985)
The Twilight Zone
7.7
TV Series
directed by (segment "The Elevator", as R.L.
Thomas)
1986
1 episode
The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985)
The Ray Bradbury Theater
7.3
TV Series
directed by
1985
1 episode
The Terry Fox Story (1983)
The Terry Fox Story
6.8
TV Movie
Director (as R.L. Thomas)
1983
Ticket to Heaven (1981)
Ticket to Heaven
6.9
Director (as R.L. Thomas)
1981
A Paid Vacation
TV Movie
Director
1979
Deepa Mehta, Pawanjit Bains, and Sushma Sardana in For the
Record (1976)
For the Record
7.2
TV Series
Director
1979
1 episode
Tyler (1978)
Tyler
Director
1978
Sidestreet
6.0
TV Series
Director
1977
1 episode
Writer
Daniel Goddard in BeastMaster (1999)
BeastMaster
6.2
TV Series
excerpts written bywritten by
1999–2002
4 episodes
Young Ivanhoe (1995)
Young Ivanhoe
4.8
TV Movie
Writer (as R.L. Thomas)
1995
A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1995)
A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
4.8
Writer (as R.L. Thomas)
1995
Vendetta II: The New Mafia (1993)
Vendetta II: The New Mafia
6.6
TV Movie
teleplay
1993
Ticket to Heaven (1981)
Ticket to Heaven
6.9
written by (as R.L. Thomas)
1981
Deepa Mehta, Pawanjit Bains, and Sushma Sardana in For the
Record (1976)
For the Record
7.2
TV Series
Writer
1976–1979
4 episodes
Tyler (1978)
Tyler
writer
1978
Producer
Deepa Mehta, Pawanjit Bains, and Sushma Sardana in For the
Record (1976)
For the Record
7.2
TV Series
executive producerproducer
1976–1978
7 episodes
Drying Up the Streets (1978)
Drying Up the Streets
6.4
executive producerproducer
1978
Someday Soon
TV Movie
executive producer
1977
Jayne Eastwood in Ada (1976)
Ada
TV Series
producer
1976
Dreamspeaker (1976)
Dreamspeaker
7.2
TV Movie
producer
1976
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