The actress is Heather Thomas.
She is best known for playing Jody Banks on The Fall Guy, the action-adventure series starring Lee Majors. Thomas joined the show in 1982, the same year she appeared as Jane Mitchell in the teen comedy Zapped!.
Heather Thomas: From Zapped! to The Fall Guy
Born in Greenwich, Connecticut, Heather Thomas developed an interest in acting early in life. After studying theater at UCLA, she began building a career in television and film, appearing in guest roles before landing the part that would make her a recognizable face of 1980s television.
In Zapped!, Thomas played Jane Mitchell, a popular cheerleader caught up in the story of a high-school student who accidentally develops telekinetic powers following a laboratory accident. The film became a cult favorite among viewers who remember the era’s distinctive blend of teen comedy, fantasy and outrageous situations.
But 1982 proved to be an especially important year for Thomas because she also became part of The Fall Guy.
As Jody Banks, Thomas played a stuntwoman who worked alongside Colt Seavers, the stuntman and bounty hunter portrayed by Lee Majors. The character gave Thomas an opportunity to combine glamour with action, and she quickly became one of the show’s most memorable performers.
The Fall Guy was built around the unusual world of Hollywood stunt work. Each episode mixed stunt sequences, comedy and bounty-hunting adventures, giving Thomas plenty of opportunities to participate in the show’s energetic style. Her role as Jody helped establish her as one of the recognizable female stars of the early-to-mid-1980s television landscape.
Thomas remained associated with the series throughout much of its run, becoming particularly identified with the confident, capable image of Jody Banks. Her popularity during this period reflected the appeal of 1980s action television, when performers who could project both personality and physical confidence often became household names.
Although The Fall Guy remains her signature television role, Thomas continued working in entertainment after the series. She appeared in additional television projects and films and eventually moved increasingly toward writing and other creative pursuits.
Today, Thomas is remembered especially fondly by fans of 1980s television. For viewers who remember The Fall Guy, seeing her as Jody Banks immediately brings back an era of television filled with stunt sequences, muscle cars, dramatic rescues and larger-than-life characters.
So the answer to the mystery is Heather Thomas — Jane Mitchell in Zapped! and Jody Banks in The Fall Guy.
