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Thomas Kinkade, born January 19, 1958, was an American producer and actor best known for the 2008 film Christmas Cottage. He also appeared in Fire and Ice 1983 and Christmas Miracle 2012. Kinkade died on April 6, 2012 in Monte Sereno, California at age 54.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Thomas Kinkade — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Thomas Kinkade by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Thomas Kinkade — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Raised in Placerville, California by a single mother in poverty, Thomas Kinkade attended El Dorado High School. He briefly studied at the University of California, Berkeley and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. His childhood environment, marked by financial struggle, shaped his later focus on creating idyllic, comforting scenes in his art and films.
Thomas Kinkade moved from painting to film production, headlining the 2008 feature Christmas Cottage, in which he played himself. He also acted in the 1983 fantasy film Fire and Ice and the 2012 television movie Christmas Miracle. In cinema, he carried the nickname Painter of Light, where he sought to bring his signature luminous landscapes to the screen.
Kinkade married Nanette Willey on May 2, 1982, and the couple had four daughters: Merrit, Chandler, Winsor, and Everett. Kinkade and his wife named all four daughters after famous artists and gave them the middle name Christian. He and his wife separated two years before his death. He was left-handed and struggled with alcohol and drug addiction, which contributed to his death from acute intoxication.
Thomas Kinkade’s popular, commercially successful landscape paintings, which adorned millions of homes, earned him the nickname Painter of Light. His foray into film, especially Christmas Cottage, allowed him to share his optimistic vision with a broader audience. Posthumously, his work continues to sell, and his brand endures through licensed products and collectibles.
The complete filmography of Thomas Kinkade — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Thomas Kinkade's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.
A wall of memorable lines from Thomas Kinkade — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
On Opening Thomas Kinkade Community in Vallejo, California: When Walt Looked Out Over His Citrus Grove and Envisioned Disneyland, It Wasn’t Real to Him Yet. When He Walked Down Main Street, It Became Real. so Is This Moment for Me.
I View Art as an Inspirational Tool. People Who Put My Paintings on Their Walls Are Putting Their Values on Their Walls; Faith, Family, Home, a Simpler Way of Living, the Beauty of Nature, Quiet Tranquility, Peace, Joy Hope. They Beckon You into This World That Provides an Alternative to Your Nightly News Broadcast.
Little-known facts about Thomas Kinkade — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
He and his wife Nanette had separated two years before he died.
His four daughters are named Merrit, Chandler, Winsor, and Everett, all with the middle name Christian after famous artists.
He grew up in Placerville, California in poverty with a single mother, and attended the University of California at Berkeley and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
He was survived by his wife and four children.
All of his daughters’ first names were chosen to honor famous artists.
He was left-handed.
The cause of his death was acute drug and alcohol intoxication.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Thomas Kinkade.
Celebrities similar to Thomas Kinkade — same craft, ranked by reach.
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