Dyanne Thorne

Dyanne Thorne
Theatrical release poster for the 1977 film Ilsa the Tigress of Siberia starring Dyanne Thorne
Born (1943-10-14) October 14, 1943
Greenwich, Connecticut, US
Spouse(s) Howard Maurer
Website dyannethorne.com

Dyanne Thorne (born October 14, 1943 in Connecticut, US) is an American actress, stage performer and vocalist. She is known for her stage work in Las Vegas and as the lead actress in the Ilsa film franchise of the 1970s.

Career

Dyanne Thorne began her career in show business as a band vocalist and New York stage actress. She was also popular as a comedic sketch artist/talking foil. Comedy albums, with Allen & Rossi, Vaughn Meader and Loman & Barkley, earned her appearances on many T.V variety shows such as The Tonight Show, Red Skelton, Steve Allen, Merv Griffin, and with Tim Conway at Caesar's Palace Hotel in Las Vegas.

Filmed in New York City, Thorne's first major film role was in Norman Chaitin's Encounter, which was also an early screen credit for Robert De Niro. Moving to Hollywood to appear on T.V.'s Star Trek, and star as yet another villainess in Crown International's thriller Point of Terror, opened the door to several more movie roles.[1]

In 1975, Thorne married composer, conductor, musician and actor Howard Maurer. Thorne and Maurer have starred in five films together thus far. The duo have co-produced and starred in several Las Vegas Strip showroom productions and their careers have taken them around the world.[2]

As an actress, Thorne is best known for her characterisation of the heinous international dominatrix and soldier of fortune "Ilsa". After her debut as Ilsa in Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS, she reprised the role in the sequels Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks, Ilsa, the Tigress of Siberia and an unofficial entry Greta, the Mad Butcher by director Jess Franco.

Later years

Contrary to some publications, Thorne did start, but she did not complete, her studies for a degree in anthropology. Instead, during 10 years of simultaneous acting, she earned a Ph.D. in Comparative religion.[3]

As church ordained, non-denominational ministers, Thorne and Maurer created A Scenic Outdoor Wedding as an alternative to commercial chapel weddings.[4] Couples worldwide travel to Las Vegas to be married by Ilsa.

Pop culture

In 1991, Danish art rockers Sort Sol released the album Flow My Firetear. Track 9, "Dyanne Thorne", is an homage to the artist.

Selected filmography

TV appearances

References

  1. ↑ "HCF Exclusive Interview with Ilsa stars Dyanne Thorne and Howard Maurer".
  2. ↑ Weatherford, Mike (2001). Cult Vegas: The Weirdest! the Wildest! the Swingin'est Town on Earth!. Huntington Press. p. 227. ISBN 0929712714.
  3. ↑ Steve Graf and Randy Waage (2007). "A retroCRUSH INTERVIEW WITH THE STAR OF THE "ILSA" MOVIES". Retrocrush. Archived from the original on 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2007-09-30. My earned degree is as a professor of comparative religions.
  4. ↑ "A SCENIC WEDDING... The Alternative To A Chapel Wedding". Retrieved 2007-09-30.
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