Dyanne Thorne
Born
Dorothy Ann Seib[1]

(1936-10-14)October 14, 1936[1]
Park Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.[1]
DiedJanuary 28, 2020(2020-01-28) (aged 83)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Spouse
​
(m. 1975)​

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).

Early life and education

Born in Park Ridge, New Jersey, as Dorothy Ann Seib, and raised there primarily by her mother, she attended Park Ridge High School, where she was one of the feature writers on the school newspaper.[2]

After graduating, she attended New York University and took acting courses with Uta Hagen.[1]

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 Lohman & Barkley, earned her appearances on many TV variety shows such as The Tonight Show, Red Skelton, Steve Allen, Merv Griffin, and with Tim Conway at Caesars Palace hotel in Las Vegas.

Filmed in New York City, Thorne's first major 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

As church ordained, non-denominational ministers by Science of Mind, Thorne and husband Howard founded "A Scenic Outdoor Wedding" as an alternative to commercial chapel weddings.[6]

Death

Thorne died in Las Vegas on January 28, 2020, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 83.[7][1]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Episodes
1966 The Felony Squad Diana Porter, Miss Lucas "The Terror Trap", "Miss Reilly's Revenge"
1968 Star Trek First Girl "A Piece of the Action"
1979 The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo Hooker "Run for the Money"
1985 Space Entertainer

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1964 Sin in the Suburbs Yvette Talman
1965 Encounter Wicked Lady
1971 Point of Terror Andrea Main character
1972 The Erotic Adventures of Pinocchio Fairy Godmother
1974 Blood Sabbath Alotta
1974 Snatched Woman Kidnap Victim
1975 Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS Ilsa Titular character; reprises the role in 3 sequels
1975 The Swinging Barmaids Boo-Boo
1976 Beyond Fulfilment Hostess
1976 Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks Ilsa Titular character
1977 Chesty Anderson, USN Nurse
1977 Ilsa, the Wicked Warden Ilsa Titular character
1977 Ilsa, the Tigress of Siberia Ilsa Titular character
1979 Up Yours Manicurist
1985 Hellhole Crysta
1987 Real Men Dad Pirandello
2013 House of Forbidden Secrets Greta Gristina
2013 House of the Witchdoctor Rose
2018 Exploitation Herself

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Genzlinger, Neil (February 13, 2020). "Dyanne Thorne, 83, Star of Scandalous 'Ilsa' Films, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  2. ↑ Downing, Beatrice. "Learning Journalism; Pupils At Park Ridge Find Final Exam Is In The Finished Product", The Record, March 28, 1953. Accessed March 9, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "The present staff also includes Donald Jud, sports columnist; Bryna Skolnick, Lynn Swensen, and Dorothy Seib, feature writers, and Zelda Maver, head typist. Dominica De Pasquale is business manager, and freshman William Duffe is photographer."
  3. ↑ Bat (October 31, 2011). "HCF Exclusive Interview with Ilsa stars Dyanne Thorne and Howard Maurer". Horror Cult Films.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "A SCENIC WEDDING... The Alternative To A Chapel Wedding". Retrieved September 30, 2007.
  7. ↑ "In Loving Memory of Dyanne Thorne". HorrorCultFilms. February 4, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
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