- Source: Lorna Thayer
Lorna Thayer (born Lorna Patricia Casey; August 16, 1919 – June 4, 2005) was an American character actress, best known as Jack Nicholson's foil in the famous "chicken salad sandwich scene" in Five Easy Pieces.
Early years
Born on August 16, 1919, in Boston, Massachusetts, Thayer was the daughter of silent screen actress Louise Gibney and George Casey. Her father built sets for Universal Studios. She began taking dance classes by age 5, and she attended Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles.
Career
Thayer's acting career began in 1946 with a production of Street Scene by the Players Ring. After that she performed in Berkeley Square at the Geary Theatre in San Francisco.
In 1955, she played in The Beast with a Million Eyes with Paul Birch. She played minor roles in The Lusty Men, Texas City and Frankie and Johnny.
On Broadway, Thayer portrayed Mrs. McCarthy in Comes a Day (1958) and Bel Air Bonnie in Never Live Over a Pretzel Factory (1964).
She is most likely to be remembered for her role in the iconic 1970 film Five Easy Pieces as the waitress who refuses to allow Jack Nicholson's character to order a side of wheat toast. The scene has come to be known as the "chicken salad sandwich scene".
Thayer was cast in a historical role as Jessie Benton Frémont, loyal wife of John C. Frémont (Roy Engel), in the 1960 episode "The Gentle Sword" of the anthology series Death Valley Days. In the story, the Frémonts are in California during the gold rush. The couple becomes involved in a mining claim dispute; Mrs. Frémont stares down organized claim jumpers.
On January 2, 1960, in season 3, episode 16 "The Prophet" of Have Gun - Will Travel, Thayer was cast as Serafina, wife of Colonel Benjamin Nunez (Shepperd Studrick). She also appeared as Doris in the November 21, 1959, episode titled "The Golden Toad", written by Gene Roddenberry. Also, Season 5, Episode 36 "Pandora's Box", as Hanna.
Personal life
Thayer was married to actor George N. Neise, and they had two daughters.
Death
After battling Alzheimer's disease for five years, Thayer died at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Retirement Home in Woodland Hills, California, aged 85.
Filmography
Notes
References
External links
Lorna Thayer at IMDb
Lorna Thayer at Find a Grave
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Five Easy Pieces
- Aktris Terbaik (Golden Globe) - Drama
- Lorna Thayer
- Five Easy Pieces
- The Traveling Executioner
- The Beast with a Million Eyes
- Thayer (name)
- Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
- List of science fiction films of the 1950s
- List of Have Gun – Will Travel episodes
- Jennifer (1953 film)
- List of American films of 1974