Worley Thorne is an American
screenwriter
A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based.
...
,
television
Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...
writer, script consultant and adjunct assistant professor of composition, critical thinking and screenwriting. Thorne's work as a writer encompasses hourlong television drama, and feature film scripts, in a wide variety of genres, including
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
,
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
,
detective
A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads th ...
and
mystery
Mystery, The Mystery, Mysteries or The Mysteries may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters
*Mystery, a cat character in ''Emily the Strange''
Films
* ''Mystery'' (2012 film), a 2012 Chinese drama film
* ''Mystery'' ( ...
,
legal drama
A legal drama is a genre of film and television that generally focuses on narratives regarding legal practice and the justice system. The American Film Institute (AFI) defines "courtroom drama" as a genre of film in which a system of justice play ...
,
soap opera
A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
,
medical drama
A medical drama is a television show or film in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment. Most recent medical drama (film and television), dramatic programming go beyond the events pertaining to the chara ...
, animal fiction and family drama.
Early life
Thorne was born in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, as Roscoe Worley Thorne II, to Gerald Roscoe Thorne, a sometime model, Broadway chorus boy and salesman, and Teri Goldenberg Thorne, a chorus girl and garment samplemaker, who eventually rose through the ranks to become a ladies fashion designer. Gerald had been raised in Indiana by his parents, Dr. Roscoe Worley Thorne I, a physician and Methodist minister and Pearl Garner Thorne. Teri had been born, and spent her teen years in, Benedek-falva, Hungary, to Alexander Goldenberg, a designer-builder of monuments and the village's innkeeper, and Szerena Markovits Goldenberg, daughter of a Jewish rabbi.
Thorne was raised in the
Bronx
The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...
, where he attended the
Bronx High School of Science
The Bronx High School of Science, commonly called Bronx Science, is a public specialized high school in The Bronx in New York City. It is operated by the New York City Department of Education. Admission to Bronx Science involves passing the Spec ...
, a school for gifted students. He graduated from the
City University of New York
The City University of New York ( CUNY; , ) is the Public university, public university system of Education in New York City, New York City. It is the largest urban university system in the United States, comprising 25 campuses: eleven Upper divis ...
City College, with a B.A. in English, and in May 2011, received his M.A. with honors in English literature from
California State University Northridge
California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) is a public university in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. With a total enrollment of 38,551 students (as of Fall 2021), it has the second largest un ...
. He is married to Patricia Thorne, a poet, fiction, prose, and non-fiction writer who received her M.F.A in creative writing with Honors from Antioch University Los Angeles in 2017. She is published in university periodicals, and has a forthcoming fiction novel soon to be published.
Career
Worley Thorne's work includes scripts for ''
Star Trek: The Next Generation'', ''
The Paper Chase'', ''
Fantasy Island
''Fantasy Island'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Gene Levitt. It aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tattoo. Gu ...
'', ''
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
'', ''
Barnaby Jones
''Barnaby Jones'' is an American detective television series starring Buddy Ebsen as a formerly retired investigator and Lee Meriwether as his widowed daughter-in-law, who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles, California. The show was or ...
'', ''
Cannon
A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...
'', ''
Charlie's Angels
''Charlie's Angels'' is an American crime drama television series that aired on ABC from September 22, 1976, to June 24, 1981, producing five seasons and 115 episodes. The series was created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts and was produced by Aa ...
'', ''
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams
''The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams'' is a 1974 independent feature film produced by Charles E. Sellier Jr. and Raylan D. Jensen for Sun Classic Pictures. The film's popularity led to an NBC television series of the same name. The title char ...
'', ''
Doctors' Private Lives
''Doctors' Private Lives'' is a 1978 American made-for-television drama film starring John Gavin, Donna Mills, Ed Nelson, Barbara Anderson and directed by Steven Stern. It was broadcast on ABC on March 20, 1978.
It was a pilot for a short-lived ...
'' and others. He adapted a screenplay in English, based on a French original, titled "Albert's Piano," for Italian producer
Marcello Danon (best known for "La Cage Aux Folles.") Other feature film screenplays include "Swift, Silent Deadly" for Becker Productions and "
Natural Affection," based on the play by
William Inge
William Motter Inge (; May 3, 1913 – June 10, 1973) was an American playwright and novelist, whose works typically feature solitary protagonists encumbered with strained sexual relations. In the early 1950s he had a string of memorable Broad ...
, for Bassey Productions. His original screenplay "The Yankee," based in the American Revolution, was written for Becker Productions.
Thorne is a past Governor of the
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), also colloquially known as the Television Academy, is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the television industry in the United States. It is a 501(c)(6) non-prof ...
, the body which determines and gives out
Emmy Awards
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
. He is an emeritus member of the
Writers Guild of America, west
The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) is a labor union representing film, television, radio, and new media writers. It was formed in 1954 from five organizations representing writers, including the Screen Writers Guild. It has around 20,000 m ...
, was chairman of several Guild committees and involved in aiding in organization and supervision of past strikes by the union. Thorne taught
screenwriting
Screenwriting or scriptwriting is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as feature films, television productions or video games. It is often a freelance profession.
Screenwriters are responsible for researching the story, devel ...
at
Columbia College Hollywood
Columbia College Hollywood (CCH) is a private college in Los Angeles, California. It is one of only 20 film institutions in the United States that have been awarded full membership by the International Association of Film and Television Schools ...
,
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, for four years,
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute (AFI) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors the heritage of the motion picture arts in the United States. AFI is supported by private funding and public membership fees.
Leade ...
, ''Guide to College Courses in Film and Television'', 1978, and for several years was a publicist representing entertainment industry, corporate and political clients.
Credits
;
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...
*
Star Trek: The Next Generation:
**''
Justice
Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...
'', November 9, 1987 (episode 1.8)
*
Star Trek: Phase II
''Star Trek: Phase II'' was the initial working title for what officially became titled ''Star Trek II,'' an unproduced American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as a sequel to (and continuation of) the original ''S ...
**''Are Unheard Melodies Sweet?'' (series was unproduced by Paramount, in favor of making motion pictures of Star Trek)
;
Lorimar Television
Lorimar Productions, Inc., later known as Lorimar Television and Lorimar Distribution, was an American production company that was later a subsidiary of Warner Bros., active from 1969 until 1993, when it was folded into Warner Bros. Televisio ...
*
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
**''The Kristin Affair'', October 19, 1979 (episode 3.5)
**''Runaway'', October 28, 1978 (episode 2.7)
;
ABC-TV
*
Fantasy Island
''Fantasy Island'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Gene Levitt. It aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tattoo. Gu ...
:
**''The Pirate'', September 23, 1979 (episode 2.2)
**''I Want to Get Married'', October 21, 1978 (episode 2.5)
**''The Swinger'', February 9, 1980 (episode 3.19)
**''Crescendo'', December 20, 1980 (episode 4.8)
**''The Devil’s Triangle'', May 2, 1981 (episode 4.21)
**''To Fly with Eagles'', January 21, 1984 #144 (episode 7.12)
*
Charlie's Angels
''Charlie's Angels'' is an American crime drama television series that aired on ABC from September 22, 1976, to June 24, 1981, producing five seasons and 115 episodes. The series was created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts and was produced by Aa ...
:
**''Game Set, Death'', January 4, 1978 (episode 2.14)
*Doctors' Private Lives:
**''Buddy System''
*Westside Medical:
**''The Sound of Sunlight'' (debut episode 1.1)
**Executive Script Consultant for series
*
The Swiss Family Robinson
''The Swiss Family Robinson'' (German: ''Der Schweizerische Robinson'') is a novel by Johann David Wyss, first published in 1812, about a Swiss family of immigrants whose ship en route to Port Jackson, Australia, goes off course and is shipwreck ...
:
**''The Captain'', November 30, 1975 (episode 1.12)
;
CBS-TV
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
*
Blade in Hong Kong, Movie, Becker Enterprises, Creative Consultant
*
The Paper Chase:
**''The Tables Down at Ernie’s'', March 27, 1979 (episode 1.19)
**Executive Script Consultant for series, Season 1
*
The Lazarus Syndrome
''The Lazarus Syndrome'' is a 1979 American made-for-television drama thriller film directed by Jerry Thorpe. It was later the basis for a weekly television series of the same name, airing on the ABC network.
Cast
* Louis Gossett Jr. as Dr. ...
*
Cannon
A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...
:
**''The Cure That Kills'', February 20, 1974 (episode 3.21)
**''Moving Target'' January 13, 1973 (episode 2.17)
*
Barnaby Jones
''Barnaby Jones'' is an American detective television series starring Buddy Ebsen as a formerly retired investigator and Lee Meriwether as his widowed daughter-in-law, who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles, California. The show was or ...
:
**''The Marathon Murders'', February 17, 1977 (episode 5.16)
**''The Lonely Victims'', January 8, 1976 (episode 4.16)
*
Apple's Way
''Apple's Way'' is an American drama television series that aired on CBS from February 10, 1974, to January 12, 1975. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr.
Premise
The Apples of Los Angeles—architect George, his wife Barbara, their children Paul, ...
:
**''The Real Thanksgiving'', November 24, 1974 (episode 2.10)
**''The Outing'', January 5, 1975 (episode 2.14)
**Executive Script Consultant for series, Season 2
;
NBC-TV
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
*
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams
''The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams'' is a 1974 independent feature film produced by Charles E. Sellier Jr. and Raylan D. Jensen for Sun Classic Pictures. The film's popularity led to an NBC television series of the same name. The title char ...
**''Track of the Cougar'', December 14, 1977, (episode 2.21)
**''The Seekers'' January 25, 1978
*
The Bionic Woman
''The Bionic Woman'' is an American science fiction action-adventure television series created by Kenneth Johnson based on the 1972 novel ''Cyborg'' by Martin Caidin, starring Lindsay Wagner that aired from January 14, 1976, to May 13, 1978. ' ...
:
**''Jamie's Mother'', March 24, 1976 (episode 1.8)
References
2. American Film Institute, ''Guide to College Courses in Film and Television'', 1975,
* ''American Film'', vol. 5, nos. 1–10, pp. 34.
* Blum, Daniel and John A. Willis. ''Daniel Blum's Theatre World'', vol. 21, pp. 42, 43
* Bohnenkamp, Dennis R. and Sam L. Grogg. ''Guide to College Courses in Film and Television'' (1978). p. 37.
* ''Choice'': Publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries. vol. 3, nos. 8–12.
* Gianakos, Larry James. ''Television Drama Series Programming: A Comprehensive Chronicle, 1984-1986''. vol. 6. pp. 279.
* Greenberger, Robert. ''Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History''. p. 150. .
* Gross, Edward. ''Making of the Next Generation''. p. 59.
* Hirschfeld, Burt. ''Ewings of Dallas''. .
* ''John Willis' Theatre World'', vol. 21, p. 43.
* Jones, Mark and Lance Parkin. ''Beyond the Final Frontier (Star Trek)''. pp. 64, 80.
* Lewis, Jon E. and Penny Stempel. ''Cult TV: The Essential Critical Guide''. p. 61.
* Martindale, David. ''Television Detective Shows of the 1970s''. pp. 37, 67.
* McGilligan, Patrick. ''Robert Altman: Jumping Off the Cliff''. p. 234.
* Morris, Bruce B. ''Prime Time Network Serials''. p. 75.
* Muir, John Kenneth. ''The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television''. p. 130.
* Naylor, Lynne. ''Television Writers Guide'', vol. 50, p. 21, 436, 441.
* Nevins, Francis M. ''Paul Landres: A Director's Stories''. pp. 182, 183.
* ''New York Theatre Critics' Reviews'', vols. 25–26. p. 410.
* Porter, Jennifer E. and Darcee L. McLaren. ''Star Trek and Sacred Ground: Explorations of Star Trek''. p. 274.
* Robb, Brian J. ''A Brief Guide to Star Trek''.
* Roddenberry, Gene and
Susan Sackett
Susan Sackett (born December 18, 1943) is an American author and screenwriter, best known for her involvement in the '' Star Trek'' franchise.
Early life and early career
Susan Sackett was born in New York City on December 18, 1943. She was rai ...
. ''The Making of Star Trek—The Motion Picture''. p. 48.
* Rosenstand, Nina. ''The Moral of the Story: An Introduction to Ethics''. p. 251.
* Schuster, Hal and Wendy Rathbone. ''Trek: The Unauthorized A-Z''. p. 232.
* Terrace, Vincent. ''Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials''. p. 84.
* Van Hise, James. ''The History of Trek''. pp. 54, 129.
* Van Hise, James. ''Trek: The Next Generation''. p. 53.
* Wagner, Laura. ''Anne Francis: The Life and Career''. p. 214.
* ''World Theatre'', vol. 14 (1965), p. 203.
External links
*
* https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=1965751
* https://www.lavc.edu/english-department/Faculty.aspx
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thorne, Worley
City College of New York alumni
Writers from New York City
American television executives
American television writers
American male television writers
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
Screenwriters from New York (state)
The Bronx High School of Science alumni