Ursula Thiess 1924-2010

[KELT]

Ursula Thiess

Ursula Thiess, who died on June 19 aged 86, was a popular Hollywood brunette, voted by Modern Screen Magazine "the most promising star of 1952" alongside Marilyn Monroe.


She began her career as a model in Hamburg, then later Berlin. In 1942 she met and married the film producer George Thiess, with whom she had two children, only to divorce him two years later. A popular fashion model, subsequent photographs of her were often released to press agencies, and before long she was a magazine cover star with various small film roles coming her way (she dubbed American films into German). In March 1951, at the invitation of Howard Hughes, she left Germany for Hollywood and a contract with RKO Studios. The trip coincided with a cover shoot in Life magazine.


Although her first film roles were small, she quickly became a dependable leading lady supporting a host of popular leading men, including George Nader in Monsoon (1953); opposite Robert Stack in The Iron Glove (1954); with Rock Hudson in Bengal Brigade (1954); and Robert Mitchum in Bandido (1956).
A popular pin-up in film fan magazines, she was the often the source of juicy fodder for the notorious gossip columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons. Ursula Thiess's name had been linked to various Hollywood heart-throbs, including John Derek, Tab Hunter, and Troy Donahue, before she announced her engagement to Robert Taylor, a prolific leading man with an enviable wartime record, in 1952.
Marrying in May 1954, they became one of Hollywood's golden couples. Ursula Thiess, who had two children with Taylor, curtailed her acting career in favour of bringing up her family at their ranch in the San Fernando Valley.
Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Roddy McDowell and the former silent screen actress Alice Terry were neighbours.
Ursula Thiess took occasional roles with her husband in his weekly television series Robert Taylor's Detectives. Four years after his death from lung cancer in 1969, she sold the ranch, moved to Bel-Air and married Marshall Schacker, an international film distributor. He died in 1986.
In retirement Ursula Thiess became an active volunteer at a children's hospital linked to the University of California at Los Angeles.
Ursula Thiess is survived by her son and two daughters. A son by her first marriage predeceased her.

1952

from THE AMERICANO
1955

with ROBERT MITCHUM in
BANDIDO
1956

[tamiele]

What a gorgeous lady. RIP Ursula Thiess.

[1karenhb]

I didn't know she was still alive. She was gorgeous!

[james1977]

She sure was gorgeous. She should be in the thread of The Most Beautiful Woman Who Ever Lived. She is up there.

[Murphee]

She sure was gorgeous. She should be in the thread of The Most Beautiful Woman Who Ever Lived. She is up there.

Well, a pretty face is a dime a dozen in Hollywood.

Too bad her hubby was such a rigid right-winger. Almost glad Barbara Stanwyck didn't lighten up on the alimony demands when Ursula was going through hard times.

Barbara worked her whole life, Mrs. Pampered Second Wife could have gotten off her ass and worked a bit.

[LindaJAlexander]

Well, a pretty face is a dime a dozen in Hollywood.

Too bad her hubby was such a rigid right-winger. Almost glad Barbara Stanwyck didn't lighten up on the alimony demands when Ursula was going through hard times.

Barbara worked her whole life, Mrs. Pampered Second Wife could have gotten off her ass and worked a bit.

Taylor was, indeed, very conservative. However, Ursula Thiess chose to work as mother, & wife, rather than continue a film career--which, by the way, she stopped because, in that period of our history, it was considered a good thing for a woman to take care of home & family, & her husband asked her to do so. The Taylor family, before his death or afterwards, were never in bad financial straits. He worked HIS a** off to get where he was, & never stopped working 'til he died. Ursula sold that home because of its memories, not because she could no longer afford it.

Insofar as Taylor's very conservative beliefs, he had them & didn't apologize. However, you might want to read the actual transcript of his appearance before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He has been maligned all these years for something he literally did not do, or say.

***********************************
Linda J. Alexander, author, Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood, & Communism

[Murphee]

Taylor was, indeed, very conservative. However, Ursula Thiess chose to work as mother, & wife, rather than continue a film career--which, by the way, she stopped because, in that period of our history, it was considered a good thing for a woman to take care of home & family, & her husband asked her to do so. The Taylor family, before his death or afterwards, were never in bad financial straits. He worked HIS a** off to get where he was, & never stopped working 'til he died. Ursula sold that home because of its memories, not because she could no longer afford it.

Insofar as Taylor's very conservative beliefs, he had them & didn't apologize. However, you might want to read the actual transcript of his appearance before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He has been maligned all these years for something he literally did not do, or say.

***********************************
Linda J. Alexander, author, Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood, & Communism

Lots of innocent people had their careers and lives ruined by the witchhunt in the 50's. I'm not familiar with what Taylor did or didn't say, but I can't sympathize with people with extremely rigid social views, etc. That's not to see he or anybody else should be maligned.

He should have treated Barbara Stanwyck better as well.

[pkstracy]

rest in peace

[theotherlondon]

Ursula Thiess

Ursula Thiess, who died on June 19 aged 86, was a popular Hollywood brunette, voted by Modern Screen Magazine "the most promising star of 1952" alongside Marilyn Monroe.


She began her career as a model in Hamburg, then later Berlin. In 1942 she met and married the film producer George Thiess, with whom she had two children, only to divorce him two years later. A popular fashion model, subsequent photographs of her were often released to press agencies, and before long she was a magazine cover star with various small film roles coming her way (she dubbed American films into German). In March 1951, at the invitation of Howard Hughes, she left Germany for Hollywood and a contract with RKO Studios. The trip coincided with a cover shoot in Life magazine.


Although her first film roles were small, she quickly became a dependable leading lady supporting a host of popular leading men, including George Nader in Monsoon (1953); opposite Robert Stack in The Iron Glove (1954); with Rock Hudson in Bengal Brigade (1954); and Robert Mitchum in Bandido (1956).
A popular pin-up in film fan magazines, she was the often the source of juicy fodder for the notorious gossip columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons. Ursula Thiess's name had been linked to various Hollywood heart-throbs, including John Derek, Tab Hunter, and Troy Donahue, before she announced her engagement to Robert Taylor, a prolific leading man with an enviable wartime record, in 1952.
Marrying in May 1954, they became one of Hollywood's golden couples. Ursula Thiess, who had two children with Taylor, curtailed her acting career in favour of bringing up her family at their ranch in the San Fernando Valley.
Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Roddy McDowell and the former silent screen actress Alice Terry were neighbours.
Ursula Thiess took occasional roles with her husband in his weekly television series Robert Taylor's Detectives. Four years after his death from lung cancer in 1969, she sold the ranch, moved to Bel-Air and married Marshall Schacker, an international film distributor. He died in 1986.
In retirement Ursula Thiess became an active volunteer at a children's hospital linked to the University of California at Los Angeles.
Ursula Thiess is survived by her son and two daughters. A son by her first marriage predeceased her.

1952

from THE AMERICANO
1955

with ROBERT MITCHUM in
BANDIDO

1956

Thanks for the photos, she was certainly
a dark haired beauty.

[vintagemoviequeen]

The photo above for The Americano is not Ursula Thiess. It is Abbe Lane, who is also very beautiful. Her husband at the time was Xavier Cugat who supervised her dance in that movie.

[vintagemoviequeen]

That's not Ursula Thiess. It's Abbe Lane.

[vintagemoviequeen]

I agree totally. He cheated numerous times and was very untrustworthy!

[cindyt]

That's not Ursula Thiess. It's Abbe Lane.

I agree totally. He cheated numerous times and was very untrustworthy!

Please combine these to comply with Rule 6.