Ernest Lee Thomas was born in a low-income neighborhood in Gary, Indiana, where he initially sought to break free from his humble beginnings by pursuing a career as a Broadway actor in New York City. Thomas made his professional debut in the 1974 revival production of "Love For Love" and later appeared in the 1975 revival production of "The Member Of The Wedding".
Thomas further honed his craft by graduating from the prestigious American Academy Of Dramatic Arts in New York City, before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue roles in television and film. Shortly after his move, he landed a role on the popular sitcom "The Jeffersons" (1975) as Ronnie Walker, and also made guest appearances on shows such as "Baretta" (1975) and "The Brady Bunch" (1969).
Thomas's breakthrough role came when he was cast as Roger "Raj" Thomas in the hit sitcom "What's Happening!!" (1976) at the age of 26, beating out 200 other talented actors for the part. The show's cancellation in 1979, despite its high ratings, did not deter Thomas from his pursuit of success in Hollywood.
Thomas went on to star in the comedy crime film "A Piece of the Action" (1977) alongside comedic legend Bill Cosby and Academy Award winners Sidney Poitier and James Earl Jones. He played the character John, and the movie received widespread critical acclaim.
Thomas was also part of the successful mini-series "Roots" (1977),playing the role of Kailubu, a character that resonated with audiences worldwide. The show went on to win numerous awards and inspired millions of people to explore their ancestral heritage.
The sequel to "What's Happening!!", "What's Happening Now!" (1985),saw Thomas reprise his role as Raj, now a more mature and well-developed character, with a wife played by Anne-Marie Johnson and a successful writing career. The show was in syndication for three years.
Thomas continued to make guest appearances on various shows, including "The Parent 'Hood" (1995),"Martin" (1992),"Soul Food" (2000),"The Steve Harvey Show" (1996),"All About the Andersons" (2003),and "Just Jordan" (2007).
Thomas also starred alongside renowned actors Denzel Washington in the biographical film "Malcolm X" (1992),playing the character Sidney. The movie received widespread critical acclaim and was recently selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library Of Congress.
Thomas has also been involved in various stage productions, including a sold-out tour of "He Say, She Say, But What Does God Say" alongside gospel singer Kirk Franklin in 1996. In 2005, he made his comeback as a sitcom star with a recurring role in the period sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris" (2005),playing the character Mr. Omar.
Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Psychology from Indiana State University and has never been married, but has a daughter, whom he mentioned in an interview with VladTV.
