Linda Thorson was born Linda Robinson on the 18 June 1947 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She has an older sister Barbara, and two younger Brothers Grant and Martin. After leaving School she took a secretarial course and then joined her Father in the family Confectionery business.
She was married at a very early age to Barry Bergthorson. When the marriage didn't last Linda kept her married name , but, shortened it on advise to Thorson to use as her stage name (as no one would remember Bergthorson).
In 1965 Linda moved to Great Britain and entered the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) where she remained until April 1967. She left with an honours diploma and a prize for Best student in voice production. While there she gained a singing scholarship (she is a soprano) and also studied Ballet as well as playing the Piano.
Best known for her role as "Tara King" which she won from 200 trialists on 19th October 1967. Linda has extensive theatre, film and television credits in Canada, England and the United States.
Linda has appeared in London's The West End, at the Royal Shakespeare company and the Old Vic. She has appeared on Broadway in, among others, Steaming, for which she won the Theatre World Award; Noises Off, (the play took the Drama Desk Award).
Her most recent film HALF PAST DEAD, in which she co-stars with Steven Seagal, was filmed in the Winter of 2001 in Germany, release date is Autumn of 2002. Her most recent television role, was in the US series 'LAW & ORDER' episode entitled "Possession" (# 12.5) in which she played the part of 'MARTHA TAYLOR' who is accused of murder. In the UK she also had a star guest appeared on the LILLY SAVAGE show in October 2001, Paul O'Grady is a devout fan of Linda and the Avengers.
Linda Thorson now lives in New York, but frequently works in her native Canada where she is a major star, both on stage and screen. When filming Emily of New Moon she spent six months per year on Prince Edward Island filming the long running series in which she starred.
The only Avengers star she has kept in touch with is Honor Blackman, who she likes enormously.
Linda has a son Trevor and has been married three times, she has a partner Gavin.
She keeps her body in such good shape (despite her hectic lifestyle) and has been known to find the time to run 25 miles in a single week !
Filmography
HALF PAST DEAD (2002) - co-starring with Steven Seagal
STRAIGHT INTO DARKNESS (2002)
Dead Silence (1999 - HBO)
The Hoop Life (1999) TV Series .... Emily Yeager (click red text for link)
Mind Prey (1999) (TV)
The Other Sister (1998-1999) .... Drew
Emily of New Moon (1998) TV Series .... Isabel Murray (click red text for link)
One Life to Live (1998) TV Series .... Julia Medina (1989-1992)
Marblehead Manor (1987) TV Series .... Hillary Stonehill (click red text for link)
The Gladiator (1986) (TV) .... Woman in Class
Sweet Liberty (1986) .... Grace
Joey (1985) .... Principal O'Neill
The Caucasian chalk circle ( ? - BBC)
The Orestia ( ? - BBC)
Walls of Glass (1985) .... Andrea ... aka Flanagan (1985)
The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck (1984) (TV) . Cory Fuhrman . aka Act of Passion (1984)(TV)
Curtains (1983) (click red text for link).... Brooke Parsons
The Greek Tycoon (1978) .... Angela
Valentino (1977) .... Billie Streeter
L'Avis du notaire (1971/2) - (Exact date and details unknown)
La femme écarlate (1971/2) - (Exact date and details unknown)
Action danger (1971/2) - (Exact date and details unknown)
Palm tree's in the Metro ( 1971 ) (French Tele Film original name : Les palmiers du Métropolitain). Directed by a famous french director at the time, Youri, it's was made in 1971, but was first shown in 1978, because of the censors !!
Avengers (1961) TV Series .... Tara King (1968-1969)
In 1970, Linda and Patrick Macnee received (in Paris) a special award for The Avengers - "The Prix Triomphe".
In 2000 Linda (and all three other Avengers girls) received a BAFTA award for her role in the Avengers.
TV guest appearances
'LAW & ORDER' (US series) "Possession" (# 12.5) in which she play's the part of 'MARTHA TAYLOR' who is accused of murder.... (10/31/2001)
THE LILLY SAVAGE SHOW (UK COMEDY SHOW) - Guest Star appearance (OCTOBER 2001)
F/X: The Series, playing "Cassandra Delarossa" in episode : "Medea" (# 1.14) (1/20/1997)
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, in episode : "Requiem" (# 4.20) (12/2/1996)
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, playing "Helen Richmond" in episode : "Laurie's Friend" (# 2.5) (2/21/1994)
E.N.G., playing "Barbara Stollery" in episode : "Before the Axe" (# 5.12) (1994)
Star Trek: The Next Generation, playing "Gul Ocett" in episode : "The Chase" (#6.20) (4/24/1993)
Sweating Bullets (aka Tropical Heat), playing "Janet" in episode : "The Last of the Magnificent" (# 3.13) (2/22/1993)
Monsters, in episode : "A New Woman" (# 3.12) (16/12/1990)
Empty Nest, playing "Janice Brattle" in episode : "The More Things Change..." (#1.18) (2/25/1989)
Buck James, in episode : "An Act of Aggression" (1988)
Tales from the Darkside, playing "Elizabeth" in episode : "Auld Acquaintances" (#3.18) (3/1/1987)
The Bronx Zoo, in episode : "Signs of Life" (# 1.1) (4/19/1987)
Dynasty, playing "Dr. Mansfield" in 2 episodes (unknown) (1986-87)
Moonlighting, playing "Gregory" in episode : "Symphony in Knocked Flat" (# 3.3) (10/14/1986)
Spenser: For Hire, playing "Karen Cooper" in episode : "Hell Hath No Fury" (# 1.23) (4/8/1986)
The Equalizer, playing "industrial spy" in episode : "No Conscience" (# 1.20)(3/5/1986)
St. Elsewhere, playing "Mrs. Cochrane" in episode : "Watch the Skies" (# 4.8) (11/27/1985)
St. Elsewhere, playing "Mrs. Cochrane" in episode : "Close Encounters" (# 4.7) (11/20/1985)
St. Elsewhere, playing "Mrs. Cochrane" in episode : "Lost and Found in Space" (#4.6) (11/13/1985)
Lime Street, in episode : "Diamonds Aren't Forever" (# 1.4) (10/12/1985)
McClain's Law, playing "Teri Fields" in episode : "Portrait of a Playmate" (# 1.6) (12/18/1981)
The Return of the Saint, playing "Diamond" in episode : "The Roman Touch" (#1.13) (12/3/1978)
The King of Kensington, playing "Suzanne" in episode : "The Teacher" (# 3.8) (1977)
Thriller (USA : ABC Wide World of Entertainment), playing "Tonie" in episode : "Lady Killer" (04/14/1974)
In 1971, LINDA was often seen on French TV promoting her record (Here I am):
14 march 1971 : DISCORAMA (on sunday afternoon)
22 march 1971 : POIRET + SERRAULT/2 ( prime time show)
STAGE PLAYS
A month in the Country - 1967 - Susannah York & Ian McShane
No Sex Please We're British - 1971 - (original cast member) - a play which lasted a year and a half at the Strand theatre London
Noises off -1983/1984 : a play about a touring theatre company in Broadway (Brooks-Atkinson Theatre) - Drama Desk Award
Woyzeck - (Date and details unknown)
Steaming - 1985 set in a turkish bath (Broadway show) - Theatre World Award
The three sisters - (Date and details unknown)
The West End - London (Date and details unknown)
The Seagull- (Date and details unknown)
Bajazet- by Jean Racine - 1978-79
A midsummer nights dream- (30th May - 27th July 1974- Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park) playing Titania Queen of the fairies
The Thing - (1981)
Zoya's Apartment - (Date and details unknown)
It's a 2' 6" above the ground world - (Date and details unknown)
Hotel in Amsterdam - (Date and details unknown)
The servant of two masters (at the Bristol old Vic)- (Date and details unknown)
A flea in her ear (at Coventry)- (Date and details unknown)
Cartoon (Soho Poly - London)- (Date and details unknown)
The provoked wife (playing Berlinda) - at Greenwich theartre - (Date and details unknown)
Getting Married and the musical City of Angels - (Date and details unknown)
The Importance of Being Earnest - (Date and details unknown)
The Merchant of Venice- (Date and details unknown)
My Fat Friend- (Date and details unknown)
Shirely Valentine (US and Canadian stage play tour) 1993
"Amy's View" at the "South Coast Repertory" in California, April 7th 2000 playing the role of Esme Allen.
"Putting it Together" at the Chichester Festival (openning September 11th) 2001
What Comes To Mind" Linda is writing and performing in her own one woman show, a cabaret, Feb.1st at ARCI'S in New York. Arci's on Park Ave Sth.
From the 19th March 2002 for 2 weeks "The Constant Wife" at the Theatre Royal,Windsor and then at the APOLLO Theartre West End.
Any comments or additions to the site ? Please feel free to e-mail me:
chris@tv-memorabilia.demon.co.uk
A big Thank you to the following for their help in producing the above:
Gavin (Linda's partener)
Brian Fretwell
Adrien Cahuzac (Steed & Co.)
&
Laurent Chanut..
Please visit the following French avengers site (you'll be so glad you did)
"Steed & Co" (http://www.multimania.com/steedco/)