Michelle Thomas was born in Boston but raised in New York. She attended the Montclair School of Arts and the Broadway Dance Center. She is survived by her parents, Phynjuar Thomas, a stage actress, and Dennis Thomas, who was a member of the 1970s funk band Kool & the Gang, of Weekhawken, N.J. Miss Thomas appeared on the CBS soap opera "The Young & The Restless" as Callie; on "The Cosby Show" as Justine, who was the girlfriend of Theo, the character played by Malcolm Jamal Warner; and on "Family Matters" as Myra, who was the girlfriend of Steve Urkel, the character played by Jaleel White. She had guest appearances in a number of other TV shows, including "Roseanne," and also performed in music videos, Los Angeles theater productions and several movies, including "Hangin' with the Homeboys." Just prior to her death, Michelle Thomas had received an NAACP Image Award nomination for outstanding actress in a daytime drama series.



Dated Malcolm-Jamal Warner, whom she met while playing his girlfriend, Justine, on "The Cosby Show" (1984). Once diagnosed with cancer, she refused treatments for her condition because she was afraid that they would interfere with her chances of conceiving children. Ironically, she passed away before she could have any children. Daughter of Dennis D.T. Thomas.