Scott Thorson
Encyclopedia
Scott Thorson became famous for his relationship with and lawsuit against entertainer Liberace
and his testimony against gangster Eddie Nash
.
.
In 1982, Thorson filed a $113 million lawsuit against Liberace , with the palimony
suit being the more famous part. In 1986, Thorson and Liberace agreed to settle out of court for $95,000, two cars, and two pet dogs. He visited and reconciled with Liberace shortly before the entertainer's death at Liberace's request. A year later, Thorson published a book about his relationship with Liberace, his last visit with him, as well as both men's childhoods titled Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace.
in the 1981 quadruple murders
of the Wonderland Gang
. For his testimony, he was placed in the federal witness protection program. In 1990, he was shot five times when drug dealers broke into his hotel room in Jacksonville, Florida
.
In 2000, Thorson was amongst people being interviewed on Liberace: Too Much Of A Good Thing Is Wonderful, a television documentary about Liberace. In 2002, Thorson was interviewed by Larry King
on Larry King Live
. During his relationship with Liberace, Thorson underwent plastic surgery to look more like Liberace. During the interview with Larry King
, Thorson revealed his chin implant had been removed earlier in 2002.
In 2004, Thorson claimed to have had an affair with pop star
Michael Jackson
years earlier, beginning in 1979, shortly after the two were introduced by Liberace in Las Vegas. Detailng further trysts, he claims the affair continued into the early 80s. Although revealed in the tabloid newspaper the National Enquirer, Thorson attempted to bolster his claims by stating he had taken and passed a lie detector test administered for the publication.
In 2008, Thorson pleaded guilty to felony drug and burglary charges, and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was subsequently released. Thorson currently lives with his common-law wife in New England
.
has agreed to portray Thorson in the film that is scheduled to be shot in the summer of 2012. Michael Douglas
will play Liberace. This will be the first movie on the Thorson-Liberace relationship and its aftermath since the 1988 Canada-US made-for-TV
movie biography Liberace: Behind the Music
where Thorson was portrayed by Michael Dolan
. The film is to be directed by Steven Soderbergh
with screenplay by Richard LaGravenese
based on Thorson's book Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace. The score will be by Marvin Hamlisch
.
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
and his testimony against gangster Eddie Nash
Eddie Nash
Eddie Nash is a former nightclub and restaurant manager in Los Angeles, as well as a convicted gangster and drug dealer; he is best known as the alleged mastermind of the Wonderland Murders.-Early life:...
.
Relationship with Liberace
Thorson met Liberace when he was seventeen in 1976, through his friendship with a Hollywood film producer named Ray Arnett. Thorson was subsequently hired by Liberace to act as his personal friend and companion, a position that allegedly included a five-year romantic relationship, with lavish gifts, travel and promises by Liberace to adopt and care for Thorson. Liberace even incorporated Thorson into his Las Vegas stage performances. According to Thorson, their committed relationship ended because of Liberace's sexual promiscuity and Thorson's drug addiction. Thorson also later battled Hepatitis CHepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
.
In 1982, Thorson filed a $113 million lawsuit against Liberace , with the palimony
Palimony
Palimony is a popular term used to describe the division of financial assets and real property on the termination of a personal live-in relationship wherein the parties are not legally married. The term is a portmanteau of the words pal and alimony...
suit being the more famous part. In 1986, Thorson and Liberace agreed to settle out of court for $95,000, two cars, and two pet dogs. He visited and reconciled with Liberace shortly before the entertainer's death at Liberace's request. A year later, Thorson published a book about his relationship with Liberace, his last visit with him, as well as both men's childhoods titled Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace.
Other activities
In 1989, Thorson emerged as a pivotal witness in the prosecution of gangster Eddie NashEddie Nash
Eddie Nash is a former nightclub and restaurant manager in Los Angeles, as well as a convicted gangster and drug dealer; he is best known as the alleged mastermind of the Wonderland Murders.-Early life:...
in the 1981 quadruple murders
Wonderland Murders
The Wonderland murders, also known as Four on the Floor or Laurel Canyon Murders, occurred in Los Angeles in 1981, when four people were killed in a drug-related scenario involving porn star John Holmes and was allegedly masterminded by Los Angeles businessman and drug dealer Eddie Nash.-Robbery...
of the Wonderland Gang
Wonderland Gang
The Wonderland Gang was a group of drug dealers involved in the Los Angeles cocaine trade during the late 1970s and early 1980s; their homebase was located on Wonderland Avenue in the Laurel Canyon area. On July 1, 1981 four members of the gang died in the Wonderland murders...
. For his testimony, he was placed in the federal witness protection program. In 1990, he was shot five times when drug dealers broke into his hotel room in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
.
In 2000, Thorson was amongst people being interviewed on Liberace: Too Much Of A Good Thing Is Wonderful, a television documentary about Liberace. In 2002, Thorson was interviewed by Larry King
Larry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
on Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
. During his relationship with Liberace, Thorson underwent plastic surgery to look more like Liberace. During the interview with Larry King
Larry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
, Thorson revealed his chin implant had been removed earlier in 2002.
In 2004, Thorson claimed to have had an affair with pop star
Pop Star
"Pop Star" is a 2005 single from Japanese singer Ken Hirai. The single went on to top the 2005 Oricon Charts and is known for its remarkable music video, featuring Ken in seven different personas, including a raccoon and his own manager. The Video also helped Ken break into the US and Canadian...
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
years earlier, beginning in 1979, shortly after the two were introduced by Liberace in Las Vegas. Detailng further trysts, he claims the affair continued into the early 80s. Although revealed in the tabloid newspaper the National Enquirer, Thorson attempted to bolster his claims by stating he had taken and passed a lie detector test administered for the publication.
In 2008, Thorson pleaded guilty to felony drug and burglary charges, and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was subsequently released. Thorson currently lives with his common-law wife in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Pending Hollywood portrayal
HBO is to film Behind the Candelabra to air on its network. Matt DamonMatt Damon
Matthew Paige "Matt" Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the film Good Will Hunting , from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend Ben Affleck...
has agreed to portray Thorson in the film that is scheduled to be shot in the summer of 2012. Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, primarily in movies and television. He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards; first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street. Douglas received the...
will play Liberace. This will be the first movie on the Thorson-Liberace relationship and its aftermath since the 1988 Canada-US made-for-TV
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
movie biography Liberace: Behind the Music
Liberace: Behind the Music
Liberace: Behind the Music is a 1988 Kushner-Locke Company television production. It is an "unofficial" biopic drama on the life and death of Wladziu Valentino Liberace, who went from a humble working-class background to become a famous American pianist and vocalist...
where Thorson was portrayed by Michael Dolan
Michael Dolan
Michael Dolan, born June 21, 1965, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, is an American theatre and film actor, director and educator.-Acting career:...
. The film is to be directed by Steven Soderbergh
Steven Soderbergh
Steven Andrew Soderbergh is an American film producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, and an Academy Award-winning film director. He is best known for directing commercial Hollywood films like Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and the remake of Ocean's Eleven, but he has also directed smaller less...
with screenplay by Richard LaGravenese
Richard LaGravenese
Richard LaGravenese is an American screenwriter and occasional film director. He is best known as the writer of The Fisher King.-Personal life:...
based on Thorson's book Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace. The score will be by Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Frederick Hamlisch is an American composer. He is one of only thirteen people to have been awarded Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and a Tony . He is also one of only two people to EGOT and also win a Pulitzer Prize...
.
External links
- NNDB profile on Scott Thorson.
- The Wonderland murders and the Liberace connection, TruTV
- Matt Damon interview on playing Scott Thorson