Greta Thyssen

Greta Thyssen (born Grethe Karen Thygesen;[2] 30 March 1927 – 6 January 2018) was a Danish film actress and former model, long-resident in the United States. Born in Hareskovby, Denmark, she appeared in films and television series between 1956 and 1967.

Greta Thyssen
Born
Grethe Karen Thygesen

(1927-03-30)30 March 1927
Hareskovby, Denmark
Died6 January 2018(2018-01-06) (aged 90)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
OccupationActress, model
Years active1950-1967
Spouse(s)
Al Trilla
​
(
m. 1952; div. 1953)

Ralph Padula
​
(
m. 1953; div. 1955)

George Ronald Starr
​
(
m. 1959; div. 1961)

Theodore Roy Guenther
​
(
m. 1963; died 2000)
(1 child)[1]
ChildrenGenevieve Juliette (b. 1969)

Career

Thyssen arrived in the United States after winning the Miss Denmark crown in 1952. She attempted to follow in the footsteps of the reigning blonde sex symbols Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield by forging a movie career. She was Monroe's double in Bus Stop,[3] and appeared in Accused of Murder, Terror Is a Man, Three Blondes in His Life and Journey to the Seventh Planet.

In addition to her appearances on the television series Dragnet and Bachelor Father, she appeared as Roxy Howard, the title character in the Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Nervous Accomplice". Thyssen also appeared on Broadway in Pajama Tops as a replacement for June Wilkinson.[4]

Thyssen is probably best remembered for her appearances in the Three Stooges films Quiz Whizz, Pies and Guys and Sappy Bull Fighters. In her brief stint with the Stooges, she endured a cream pie to the face in the second film. From 1956-1958, Thyssen was the original Pirate Girl on the game show Treasure Hunt, assisting host Jan Murray with presenting prizes hidden in miniature treasure chests.[5] After appearing in the musical comedy Cottonpickin' Chickenpickers (1967), she retired from acting.

On October 5, 1953, Thyssen was ordered deported for having violated her visitor's permit in two ways: 1) The permit had expired in March 1953, and 2) despite her status as a visitor, she worked in films and television.[6]

Personal

Thyssen was married four times. Her fourth marriage was to Theodore Guenther, with whom she had a daughter, Genevieve Juliette Guenther (born 14 February 1969).

On 6 January 2018, Thyssen died of pneumonia at her home in Manhattan, aged 90.[7][8]

Filmography

Feature Films

Short Films

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References
  1. http://www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com/show/441/Greta+Thyssen/index.html
  2. "Greta Thyssen - Dansk Film Database" [Greta Thyssen - Danish Film Database]. Dansk Film Databse (in Danish). Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  3. Voger, Mark (June 18, 2010). "Three Stooges' final leading lady, Greta Thyssen". The Star-Ledger.
  4. Parla, Paul; Mitchell, Charles P. (2000). Screen Sirens Scream!: Interviews with 20 Actresses from Science Fiction, Horror, Film Noir and Mystery Movies, 1930s to 1960s. McFarland & Company. p. 234. ISBN 978-0786445875.
  5. Biography for Greta Thyssen on IMDb
  6. "Miss Denmark Is Ordered Deported". Oakland Tribune. California, Oakland. Associated Press. October 5, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved July 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Bartlett, Rhett (January 9, 2018). "Actress Greta Thyssen, Blonde Bombshell of the 1950s and '60s, Dies at 90". The Hollywood Reporter. ISSN 0018-3660.
  8. "Greta Guenther Obituary". The New York Times. January 9, 2018.
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