Ralph L. Thomas
He was born in São Luís, Maranhão to Canadian Baptist missionary parents and grew up there and in Canada. He attended the University of Toronto for two years and began to write for the entertainment pages of the Toronto Star in 1963. Thomas directed his first film in 1977 for CBC Television, a made-for-TV movie called Tyler.
Ralph L. Thomas
- Name
- Ralph L.
- Born
- 8 September 1939
- Birthplace
- São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
- Died
- 4 January 2026
- Occupation
- Film director, screenwriter
- Spouse
- Vivienne Leebosh
- Nationality
- Canada
- Education
- University of Toronto
- Languages
- Portuguese · English
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He was born in São Luís, Maranhão to Canadian Baptist missionary parents and grew up there and in Canada. He attended the University of Toronto for two years and began to write for the entertainment pages of the Toronto Star in 1963. Thomas directed his first film in 1977 for CBC Television, a made-for-TV movie called Tyler.
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In this article
Biography
Biography
He continued to make film for television for a few years before he got his big break directing the feature film Ticket to Heaven. The film won Best Motion Picture at the Genie Awards and Thomas was nominated for Best Director. His follow-up film, The Terry Fox Story, also won the Genie Award for Best Motion Picture. Thomas continued to direct feature and television films until 1996, although he opted to have his name removed from his 1989 film The First Season following producer interference in the editing. Thomas was married to Vivienne Leebosh, film producer. He was earlier married to Dorothy Thomas, a Toronto City Councillor. He died from complications of heart disease on January 4, 2026, at the age of 86.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Ralph L. Thomas • Born — 8 September 1939 • Birthplace — São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil • Died — 4 January 2026 • Occupation — Film director, screenwriter • Years Active — 1977–1996 • Spouse — Vivienne Leebosh
Selected filmography
Selected filmography
• Tyler (TV movie, 1977) • Every Person Is Guilty (TV movie, 1979) • Cementhead (TV movie, 1979) • Ambush at Iriquois Point (TV movie, 1979) • A Paid Vacation (TV movie, 1980) • Ticket to Heaven (1981) • The Terry Fox Story (1983) • The Crowd (TV movie, 1984) • Apprentice to Murder (1988) • The First Season (1989) • Vendetta II: The New Mafia (TV movie, 1993) • Young Ivanhoe (TV movie, 1995) • A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1996)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1939
Ralph L. Thomas born at São Luís.
2026
Ralph L. Thomas died.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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