"I'm sure I fantasized that my dad was Burt Reynolds or Tom Hanks or somebody," he tells "The Insider." "But I never had any idea my real father was a world-wide celebrity."
"I was always curious where I came from," he continues. "I saw a commercial on television about an adoption service. I called them …and gave them the information and she said, 'Your biological father is not like the rest of us.'"
It turns out that J.T.'s dad is none other than Emmy-winning actor Jay Thomas, famous for roles in such TV favorites as "Murphy Brown," "Cheers" and "Mork & Mindy." Thomas had put J.T. up for adoption more than two decades ago when he wasn't quite ready for the responsibility of fatherhood. Now, reunited, their resemblance is undeniable -- and it's just an incredible coincidence that their initials are both J.T.
Jay's wife Sally recalls, "When Jay went and met him, he said, 'I know he's mine. I don't have to have a DNA test. That's my child.'"
"It was strange for us at first," recalls J.T., "but I was honest with him and I said, 'I don't need any money and I have a great life, but it's exciting to meet you,' and we just kind of hit it off."
"You look like I did 27 years ago," Jay tells J.T. "And you're gonna look like [me] one day."
"Balding?" responds J.T.
Now, father and son are making up for lost time. J.T. has become part of Jay's family, along with two sons from his current marriage, and Jay even spoke at the funeral of J.T.'s adoptive father when he passed away.
These days, J.T. is the frontman for the band JTX, featuring the single "(I'm Gonna) Party Like a Rock Star," and dad Jay is appearing on "Boston Legal" and starring in the upcoming Lindsay Lohan movie 'Labor Pains,' alongside his Sirius Satellite Radio program "The Jay Thomas Show."
Watch "The Insider" for more with Jay and J.T.!
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