Frankie Thomas, starred in "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet," dies at 85

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 5/17/06 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

Frankie Thomas, who became famous in the 1950s for his starring role in the TV children's show "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet," has died. He was 85.

Thomas died Thursday of respiratory failure at Sherman Oaks Hospital, said his stepdaughter, Julie Alexander.

Thomas began acting on Broadway in the early 1930s and soon ventured west to Hollywood, where he appeared in films including "A Dog of Flanders," "Boys Town" and "The Major and the Minor," as well as four Nancy Drew movies.

In 1950, he beat out actors including Jack Lemmon to win the title role of Tom Corbett, a Space Academy cadet who was training to become a member of the elite Solar Guard, 400 years in the future.

"Frankie looked like the all-American boy," said Jan Merlin, who played the wisecracking cadet Roger Manning. "Everyone in the room knew immediately this was the guy we were going to get."

The show aired on CBS, ABC, NBC and the DuMont networks until 1955 and spawned popular phrases including "Blast your jets," "Don't fuse your tubes" and "Spaceman's luck."

At one point, 135 products bore the name "Tom Corbett," Thomas told the Asbury Park Press in 2000. Thomas' picture was on Kellogg's second best seller, Kellogg's Pep, the "Solar Cereal," he said.

Thomas quit acting when the series ended in 1955 and, over the years, worked as a television and radio writer, bridge instructor and author of mystery novels including "Sherlock Holmes and the Masquerade Murders."

In addition to his stepdaughter, he is survived by his stepson, James Aicholtz, and a step-grandson.

At his request, Thomas was buried Tuesday in his "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" costume.

[NormsRevenge]

Actor Frankie Thomas is at center as Mickey Rooney is in the corner and Spencer Tracy stands by him in this scene from the 1938 movie 'Boys Town.' Thomas, who became famous in the 1950s for his starring role in the TV children's show 'Tom Corbett, Space Cadet,' has died. He was 85. At his request, Thomas was buried Tuesday in his 'Tom Corbett, Space Cadet' costume. (AP Photo/FILE)

[atomicpossum]

I love Tom Corbett, Space Patrol, and the others, brave adventures from an innocent era. I only wish they were all available. I have a Space Cadet tape right next to my desk right now.

Godspeed, Frankie Thomas.

[Young Werther]

Who did't want to be Tom Corbett??? There is a picture at The Tom Corbett website that shows him fully clothed in his uniform and a recent picture where he attended a Star Trek convention, in uniform, and that old guy still looked dynamic!!!

Tom... "To Infinity and Beyond!"

[hattend]

The show was canceled a year after I was born so I missed it. I don't think they ever replayed them later ala "The Three Stooges".

[NormsRevenge]

I was a tot too and we didn't have a tv anyway. :-}

[Gay State Conservative]

I'm not old enough to remember those days,but I recall that in a Honeymooners episode Ed Norton made reference to Captain Video and His Video Rangers.

Those were,indeed,innocent times.

[RightWingAtheist]

Thomas was going to be the guest of honor at this year's World Science Fiction Convention. He and Jan Merlin were real-life pals who regularly made convention appearences, and were proud of how important they were to many a fan's childhood. Incidentally, Tom Corbett was based on Robert Heinlein's novel Space Cadet (Heinlein was so aghast at the scripts, that he had his name taken off), and the technical advisor was none other than Willy Ley.

[RadioAstronomer]

I loved the Tom Corbett show. I sure wish they were available on DVD. Sigh.

I am sorry Thomas has passed on. :-(

BTW, Space Cadet and Have Spacesuit Will Travel were two of my fav books back in grade school.

[RightWingAtheist]

I never read Space Cadet, but adored Have Spacesuit... My favorite of Heinlein's juveniles was Time for the Stars, and I also have fond memories of Starman Jones, the first one I read.