Lorna Thayer

Lorna Thayer (born Lorna Patricia Casey; August 16, 1919 – June 4, 2005) was an American character actress.

Lorna Thayer
Born	Lorna Patricia Casey (1919-08-16)August 16, 1919 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	June 4, 2005(2005-06-04) (aged 85) Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place	Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Years active	1952-1991
Spouse(s)	George N. Neise (divorced) Arthur Dowling (1950-19??; his death)
Children	2

Biography

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Thayer was the daughter of silent screen actress Louise Gibney. She appeared often in theatre and on television.

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.

It was 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 for which she is most likely to be remembered.[1] Fifty at the time, the scene has come to be known as the "chicken salad sandwich scene."

Thayer was cast in an historical role as Jessie Benton Frémont, loyal wife of John C. Frémont (Roy Engel), in the 1960 episode, "The Gentle Sword" of the syndicated anthology series, Death Valley Days. In the story line, 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.[2]

On January 2, 1960, season 3, episode 16 "The Prophet" of Have Gun - Will Travel, Thayer was cast as Serafina, wife of Colonel Benjamin Nunez (Shepperd Studrick).[3] She also appeared as Doris in the November 21, 1959, episode titled "The Golden Toad," written by Gene Roddenberry.[4]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.[5]

Death

After battling Alzheimer's disease for five years, Thayer died at age 85 at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Retirement Home in Woodland Hills, California.[6]

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1952	Texas City	Aunt Harriet Upton	Uncredited
1952	Just Across the Street	Girl	Uncredited
1952	The Lusty Men	Grace Burgess
1953	Jennifer	Molly, Grocery Clerk
1955	Women's Prison	Deputy Sheriff Green	Uncredited
1955	The Beast with a Million Eyes	Carol Kelley
1956	I've Lived Before	Mrs. Fred Bolan	Uncredited
1956	The Women of Pitcairn Island	Moa'tua, weeping woman
1958	I Want to Live!	Corona Guard	Uncredited
1960	Freckles	Alice Cooper
1963	Police Nurse
1966	Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round	Passenger on Mexico Flight	Uncredited
1968	The Shakiest Gun in the West	Saloon Girl	Uncredited
1970	Five Easy Pieces	Waitress
1970	The Traveling Executioner	Madam	Uncredited
1971	The Andromeda Strain	Woman	Uncredited
1972	Glass Houses
1972	Cisco Pike	Swimming Lady
1972	Skyjacked	Weber's Mother
1974	Rhinoceros	Restaurant Owner
1974	The Gravy Train	T.V. Interviewer	Uncredited
1974	Alice Goodbody	Yvonne
1975	Smoke in the Wind	Ma Mondier
1976	Revenge of the Cheerleaders	Lilly Downs
1981	Buddy Buddy	Lady
1986	Nothing in Common	Auditioning Grandma
1991	Frankie and Johnny	Flower Vendor	(final film role)

References

1. Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. p. 741. ISBN 9781476625997. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
2. "The Gentle Sword on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
3. "The Prophet on Have Gun Will Travel". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
4. Aired on H&I Network July 9, 2019
5. Aaker, Everett (2017). Television Western Players, 1960–1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 318. ISBN 9781476628561. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
6. McLellan, Dennis (17 June 2005). "Lorna Thayer, 85; Character Actress Played Memorable Waitress in 'Five Easy Pieces'". Los Angeles Times.

External links

• Lorna Thayer on IMDb
• Lorna Thayer at Find a Grave