Actors - Richard Thomas

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	Actors - Richard Thomas

Richard Thomas is a Canadian actor, broadcaster, environmentalist and politician.

Though a "tee-totaller", Thomas made national news in the late 1970s by breaking Canada's bootlegging laws in order to make alcohol as environmentally friendly fuel for his converted Volvo. He was subsequently charged with bootlegging, but was vindicated when the government dropped the charges rather than prosecute the environmentalist. A commanding speaker, he attained further fame through a memorable vocal part in a television commercial for Canada Packers as the bacon loving "Gentle Ben" and has provided voice-over narration for a number of documentaries such as the early 1980's TV Ontario technology series Fast Forward.

Thomas entered politics as a candidate for the Ontario Liberal Party in the 1981 provincial election, losing in the riding of Parry Sound by only six votes to Progressive Conservative newcomer Ernie Eves. Though he had never been elected to public office, he surprised the 1982 Ontario Liberal Party leadership convention by placing a credible third on the first ballot, coming ahead of two veteran Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) by running on a strong environmentalist platform. He ran for the Liberal Party again in the 1985 provincial election, and this time lost to Eves by 1,440 votes.

In 1984, some members of the newly-formed Green Party of Canada wanted to draft Thomas as their first leader. This plan was abandoned due to the party's egalitarianism in this period -- having a "celebrity" as leader would have nullified their intentions on this front.

Thomas eventually left the Liberals for the Green Party, however, and was the star candidate of the Green Party of Ontario in the 1990 provincial election. Once again running in Parry Sound, he placed a strong third with 17% of the vote, ahead of the New Democratic Party's 13% despite the fact that the NDP swept the rest of the province that year.

In the federal election of 2000, Thomas ran in Parry Sound--Muskoka for the Green Party and received 1495 votes, finishing in fifth place.

He has remained active in the provincial Green Party, and ran under its banner again in a 2001 by-election in Parry Sound--Muskoka. This by-election was held when the sitting MPP, Provincial Treasurer Ernie Eves resigned. Thomas garnered 12% of the vote for the Greens, once again placing ahead of the NDP candidate.

In the 2003 Ontario municipal elections, Thomas was elected reeve of Armour Township in the Parry Sound District.

Richard died this February 22rd, 2006 at 10am at St Micheals Hospital in Toronto Ontario. He had been hit by a tractor trailer December 27,2005 while making a turn from Hwy 11 into Burks Falls Ontario around 9:30am. Richard had made some progress toward recovery including 4 major successful surgeries.On February 19,2006, Richard choked in the night and suffered a massive stroke and heart attack which caused major irreversable brain damage. Richards family decided to remove him from life support as recovery was now immpossible. Richard lived 3 more days and passed quietly and peacefully in the company of his wife Jenny. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

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