The Life of Sitcom Star Marlo Thomas

On November 24, 2014, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House. The award is the nation’s highest civilian honor and recognized her long career across entertainment, children’s media, women’s representation, and philanthropy.

The moment placed her work in a national historical frame. It honored not only That Girl and Free to Be… You and Me, but also her decades of advocacy for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her public identity had become a blend of artist, activist, and fundraiser.