Danny Thomas

 Danny Thomas, born Amos Muzyad Yakhoob Kairouz (January 6, 1912 – February 6, 1991)

Thomas's long career began in films in 1947, playing opposite child actor Margaret O'Brien in both movies: The Unfinished Dance (1947) and Big City (1948). He then achieved continuing success starring in the long-running television sitcom Make Room for Daddy (also known as The Danny Thomas Show) (1953–1964), in which Thomas played the lead role of Danny Williams. He was also the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He was the father of Marlo Thomas, Terre Thomas, and Tony Thomas. As a "starving actor", Thomas had made a vow: If he found success, he would open a shrine dedicated to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Thomas never forgot his promise to St. Jude, and after becoming a successful actor in the early 1950s, his wife joined him and began traveling the United States to help raise funds to build his dream - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Since its inception in 1962, St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and around the world, continuing the mission of finding cures and saving children.

Danny Thomas died on February 6, 1991, of heart failure at age 79, in Los Angeles, California. He is interred in a mausoleum on the grounds of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.