Dyanne Thorne

Dyanne Thorne (October 14, 1936 – January 28, 2020) was an American actress, stage performer and vocalist. She was known for her stage work in Las Vegas and as the lead actress in the Ilsa film franchise which began with Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS (1975).

Not to be confused with Diane Thorne, politician.
Dyanne Thorne
Born
Dorothy Ann Seib[1]

(1936-10-14)October 14, 1936
Park Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJanuary 28, 2020(2020-01-28) (aged 83)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1975)​
Websitedyannethorne.com

Career

Dyanne Thorne began her career in show business as a band vocalist and New York stage actress. She also worked 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 film role was in Norman Chaitin's short Encounter (1965), which was also an early screen credit for Robert De Niro. Moving to Hollywood to appear in Star Trek, and star as another villainess in Crown International's thriller Point of Terror (1971), led to further film roles.[2]

In 1975, Thorne married composer, conductor, musician and actor Howard Maurer. The couple subsequently starred in five films together, co-produced and starred in several Las Vegas Strip showroom productions and their careers took them around the world.[3]

As an actress, Thorne was 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 (1975), she reprised the role in the sequels Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks (1976), Ilsa, the Tigress of Siberia and an unofficial entry Greta, the Mad Butcher (both 1977), the last directed by Jess Franco.

Later years

Thorne started but did not complete studies for a degree in anthropology. She claimed to have earned a degree in comparative religion over the course of ten years of study.[4]

As church ordained, non-denominational ministers, Thorne and Maurer created A Scenic Outdoor Wedding as an alternative to commercial chapel weddings.[5] Couples worldwide travelled to Las Vegas to be married by Ilsa.

Death

Dyanne Thorne died in Las Vegas on January 28, 2020 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 83.[6][1]

Selected filmography

TV appearances

References
  1. Genzlinger, Neil (February 13, 2020). "Dyanne Thorne, 83, Star of Scandalous 'Ilsa' Films, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  2. "HCF Exclusive Interview with Ilsa stars Dyanne Thorne and Howard Maurer".
  3. Weatherford, Mike (2001). Cult Vegas: The Weirdest! the Wildest! the Swingin'est Town on Earth!. Huntington Press. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-929712-71-0.
  4. Steve Graf and Randy Waage (2007). "A retroCRUSH INTERVIEW WITH THE STAR OF THE "ILSA" MOVIES". Retrocrush. Archived from the original on November 2, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2007. My earned degree is as a professor of comparative religions.
  5. "A SCENIC WEDDING... The Alternative To A Chapel Wedding". Retrieved September 30, 2007.
  6. "In Loving Memory of Dyanne Thorne". HorrorCultFilms. February 4, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
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