Thomas James Burris became known to the world through his marriage to Karen Carpenter, one of the most loved singers in American music history. While Karen’s beautiful voice touched millions of hearts, her personal life with Thomas brought sadness and pain. Their short marriage became one of the most talked-about relationships in music history. Today, many people still wonder about the man who was married to this music legend.
Quick Bio
| Full Name | Thomas James Burris |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 30, 1940 |
| Age | 85 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Profession | Real Estate Developer |
| Known For | Marriage to singer Karen Carpenter |
| Marriage Date | August 31, 1980 |
| Marriage Duration | 14 months |
| Current Status | Living privately, away from public eye |
Early Life and Career
Thomas James Burris was born on November 30, 1940, in the United States. Not much information is available about his childhood or family background. He kept his personal life very private, even before meeting Karen Carpenter.
Thomas worked as a real estate developer. He dealt with property buying, selling, and development. Before meeting Karen, he was already divorced and had an 18-year-old son from his previous marriage. At the time he met Karen, Thomas was 39 years old and living a comfortable life in California.
Unlike his famous wife, Thomas never worked in entertainment or music. He was a regular businessman who stayed away from cameras and public attention. His life was simple and private until he met the famous singer in 1980.
Meeting Karen Carpenter
Thomas met Karen Carpenter at Ma Maison, a fancy restaurant in Los Angeles, in early 1980. Karen was already a huge star at this time. She and her brother Richard formed The Carpenters, a music group that sold over 100 million records worldwide. Their songs like “Close to You” and “Yesterday Once More” were loved by millions.
Karen had always said she would never marry while touring and making music. She dated several famous men, including actor Steve Martin and Tony Danza. However, when she met Thomas, something changed in her mind.
The couple started dating quickly. After only two months together, Thomas asked Karen to marry him in June 1980. Their friends and family worried about how fast everything was moving. Some people felt something was not right about this quick romance.
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The Wedding and Marriage Problems
Karen and Thomas got married on August 31, 1980. The wedding took place in the Crystal Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel in California. It was a beautiful and expensive ceremony. Richard Carpenter, Karen’s brother, attended the wedding even though he had concerns about the marriage.
Just days before their wedding rehearsal dinner, Thomas told Karen something shocking. He revealed that he had a vasectomy operation years before they met. This meant he could not have children naturally. Thomas offered to reverse the surgery, but the chances of having babies would be very low.
Karen felt deeply hurt and betrayed. She desperately wanted to become a mother, and having children was very important to her. She knew about this dream, yet he kept this secret from her during their entire time dating. Karen wanted to cancel the wedding immediately.
However, Karen’s mother, Agnes, refused to let her back out. Agnes had already spent a lot of money on wedding preparations. All the invitations were sent to guests. She told Karen she had to go through with the marriage. This decision would later prove to be a terrible mistake.
Life After Marriage
Once married, things became worse for Karen. Thomas started asking his wife for large amounts of money. He liked living an expensive lifestyle with fancy cars and nice things. However, he could not afford these things with his own money.
According to family friend Evelyn Wallace, Thomas would ask Karen for $35,000 or $50,000 at a time. He always had some reason why he needed the money. Karen kept giving him money because she loved him and wanted their marriage to work.
Friends and family members said Thomas was cruel to Karen. He made mean comments about her body and called her hurtful names. Some reports suggest he told her she looked like “a bag of bones” and said no man would want to have a child with her. This emotional abuse deeply hurt Karen, who was already dealing with serious health problems.
Karen struggled with anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder that made her lose dangerous amounts of weight. Instead of supporting his wife, Thomas made her feel worse about herself. His behavior pushed Karen deeper into her illness.
The Divorce
After 14 terrible months of marriage, Karen decided she could not continue. In November 1981, the couple separated after a big argument at a family dinner. Karen filed for divorce on October 28, 1982, while she was a patient at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
Before filing for divorce, Karen changed her will in September 1981. She left her house to Thomas, but everything else went to her parents and brother Richard. Her fortune was worth between $5 million and $10 million. This showed that Karen did not trust Thomas with her money.
Sadly, Karen died on February 4, 1983, before the divorce could be finalized. She was only 32 years old. Her death was caused by heart failure related to her long battle with anorexia nervosa. Many people believe her painful marriage to Thomas made her eating disorder much worse.
Karen’s Funeral
About 1,000 people attended Karen’s funeral on February 8, 1983, at Downey United Methodist Church. Famous friends like Dionne Warwick, Olivia Newton-John, and Petula Clark came to say goodbye. Despite their troubled marriage, Thomas did attend the funeral. He placed his wedding ring into Karen’s casket as a final gesture.
Where Is Thomas James Burris Today?
After Karen’s death, Thomas James Burris disappeared from public view. He chose to live a very private life away from media attention. The last time he was seen publicly was at Karen’s funeral in 1983.
Some sources suggest that Thomas remarried and lived in Lincoln, California, before moving to Sedona, Arizona. However, this information cannot be confirmed. He does not use social media or give interviews to reporters.
Thomas is now 85 years old. Nobody knows if he is still working, if he remarried, or what his life looks like today. He successfully kept his privacy for over 40 years since Karen’s death.
Many of Karen’s fans still have angry feelings toward Thomas. They believe he hurt Karen and made her short life more difficult. Some people blame him for her death, though he was not directly responsible for her eating disorder.
Thomas’s Net Worth
Information about Thomas James Burris’s current net worth is not available. When he was married to Karen, she paid for everything. He could not afford the expensive lifestyle he wanted without her money.
Karen did not leave him her fortune when she died. She left most of her wealth to her family. Thomas only received the house they lived in together. Today, nobody knows how much money he has or what happened to his real estate business.
Conclusion
Thomas James Burris remains a mysterious figure in music history. His short marriage to Karen Carpenter brought pain to one of the greatest singers of all time. While we cannot know everything that happened in their private life, the facts show a troubled relationship that hurt Karen deeply.
Karen Carpenter’s music continues to bring joy to people around the world. Her legacy as a talented singer will never fade. As for Thomas James Burris, he chose to live quietly away from the spotlight, leaving many questions unanswered about his life and his time with the beloved singer.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Thomas James Burris? Thomas James Burris is an American real estate developer best known as the ex-husband of famous singer Karen Carpenter. He married her in 1980.
2. How old is Thomas James Burris? Thomas James Burris was born on November 30, 1940, making him 85 years old as of 2025.
3. How long were Karen Carpenter and Thomas Burris married? They were married for only 14 months, from August 31, 1980, until they separated in November 1981.
4. Did Thomas Burris and Karen Carpenter have children? No, they did not have any children together. Thomas had a vasectomy before meeting Karen, which he kept secret until days before their wedding.
5. Did Thomas Burris inherit Karen Carpenter’s money? No, Karen changed her will before her death and left most of her fortune to her parents and brother Richard. Thomas only received their house.
6. Was Thomas Burris abusive to Karen Carpenter? According to friends and family members, Thomas was emotionally abusive toward Karen, making cruel comments about her appearance and body.
7. Did Thomas Burris attend Karen Carpenter’s funeral? Yes, Thomas attended Karen’s funeral in 1983 and placed his wedding ring in her casket.
8. Where is Thomas James Burris now? Thomas has lived privately since Karen’s death. Some reports suggest he lived in California and later moved to Arizona, but this is not confirmed.
9. What was Thomas Burris’s job? Thomas worked as a real estate developer, dealing with property buying, selling, and development.
10. Is Thomas James Burris still alive? As of 2025, there is no evidence suggesting Thomas has passed away. He is believed to be alive but living away from public attention.
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