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{{Short description|German film actress (1924-2010)}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2015}} {{More citations needed|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
| name = Ursula Thiess | name = Ursula Thiess
| image =Ursula Thiess Robert Taylor The Detectives 1960.JPG | image = Ursula Thiess Robert Taylor The Detectives 1960.JPG
| caption =Thiess with husband ] in 1960. | caption = Thiess with husband ] in 1960
| birth_date = {{birth date|1924|05|15}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1924|05|15}}
| birth_place = ], ] | birth_place = ], Germany
| death_date = {{death date and age|2010|06|19|1924|05|15}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2010|06|19|1924|05|15}}
| death_place = ], U.S. | death_place = ], U.S.
Line 11: Line 12:
| birthname = Ursula Schmidt | birthname = Ursula Schmidt
| years_active = 1949–1972 | years_active = 1949–1972
| spouse = Georg Otto Thiess <br>(m. 19??; div. 1947) <br>{{marriage|] <br>|1954|1969|end=d.}} <br>{{marriage|Marshall Schacker <br>|1973|1986|end=d.}} | spouse = Georg Otto Thiess <br>(m. 19??; div. 1947) <br>{{marriage|] <br>|1954|1969|end=d.}} <br>{{marriage|Marshall Schacker <br>|1973|1986|end=died}}
| children = 4 | children = 4
}} }}


'''Ursula Thiess''' (May 15, 1924 – June 19, 2010) was a German film actress who had a brief ] career in the 1950s. '''Ursula Thiess''' (May 15, 1924 – June 19, 2010) was a German film actress who had a brief Hollywood career in the 1950s.


Thiess began her career on the stage in her native Germany and by dubbing female voices in American films as Ursula Schmidt. After she married Georg Otto Thiess, she became Ursula Thiess and was featured in many German magazines, including several cover photos, as well as the cover of Life magazine, 1954, as an upcoming model, and she was dubbed the "most beautiful woman in the world." She left postwar Germany at the urging of ] and signed up with ]. She co-starred with ] in '']'' (1952), ] in '']'' (1954), ] in '']'' (1955), and ] in '']'' (1956). Thiess began her career on the stage in her native Germany and by dubbing female voices in American films as Ursula Schmidt. After she married Georg Otto Thiess, she became Ursula Thiess and was featured in many German magazines, including several cover photos, as well as the cover of ''Life'' magazine, 1954, as an up-and-coming model, and she was dubbed the "most beautiful woman in the world." She left postwar Germany at the urging of ] and signed with ]. She co-starred with ] in '']'' (1952), ] in '']'' (1954), ] in '']'' (1955), and ] in '']'' (1956).


==Family== ==Family==
Ursula was born in 1924 to Wilhelmine Lange and Hans Schmidt. At age 17, for refusing to join the ], she was drafted into service working as farm labor. After that, she returned to do acting on stage, where she met and married her first husband, German film producer Georg Otto Thiess. They had two children, Manuela and Michael. That marriage dissolved in 1947, and in 1948, she began a modeling career in Berlin. Her unusual beauty caught the eye of Howard Hughes, who made her a contract offer to join RKO Studios. Ursula was born in 1924 to Wilhelmine Lange and Hans Schmidt. At age 17, for refusing to join the ], she was drafted into service working as farm laborer. After that, she returned to do acting on stage, where she met and married her first husband, German film producer Georg Otto Thiess. They had two children, Manuela and Michael. That marriage dissolved in 1947, and in 1948, she began a modeling career in Berlin. Her unusual beauty caught the eye of Howard Hughes, who made her a contract offer to join RKO Studios.


She met ] in 1952 and they married on May 23, 1954 in ]. <ref>{{Cite web|title = Times Daily - Google News Archive Search|url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NiYsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hp4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2287,5542018&dq=robert+taylor+ursula+married&hl=en|website = news.google.com|accessdate = 2015-12-25}}</ref> She virtually abandoned her film career to become a mother and housewife. The Taylors had two children Terrance "Terry" (b. June 18, 1955 in ])<ref>{{Cite web|title = Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search|url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z-YhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=32QEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2838,3638460&dq=robert+taylor+terrance&hl=en|website = news.google.com|accessdate = 2015-12-25}}</ref> and Tessa (b. August 16, 1959 in Santa Monica).<ref>{{Cite web|title = Lakeland Ledger - Google News Archive Search|url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r1pYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LfoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2500,2483051&dq=robert+taylor+thiess&hl=en|website = news.google.com|accessdate = 2015-12-25}}</ref> They moved with Ursula's two children from her previous marriage, to their {{convert|114|acre|km2|adj=on}} ranch in Brentwood, California, in 1956, and lived there until Taylor's death from cancer in 1969. Ursula's two children, Manuela and Michael, had many adjustment problems adapting to their new life, and were often in trouble with the police, causing the family to suffer bad publicity as a result. Her son, Michael, who had served a year in a German prison for attempting to poison his natural father, died of a drug overdose on May 26, 1969, shortly before Robert Taylor's own death. Ursula discovered him dead when she stopped by his motel to drop off some medication for him. She met ] in 1952, and they married on May 23, 1954, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 May 1954 |title=The Florence Times |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NiYsAAAAIBAJ&pg=2287,5542018&dq=robert+taylor+ursula+married&hl=en |access-date=2015-12-25 |via=]}}</ref> She virtually abandoned her film career to become a mother and housewife. The Taylors had two children Terrance "Terry" (b. June 18, 1955, in Santa Monica, California)<ref>{{Cite web|title = Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search|url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z-YhAAAAIBAJ&pg=2838,3638460&dq=robert+taylor+terrance&hl=en|website = news.google.com|access-date = 2015-12-25}}</ref> and Tessa (b. August 16, 1959, in Santa Monica).<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 August 1959 |title=Lakeland Ledger |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r1pYAAAAIBAJ&pg=2500,2483051&dq=robert+taylor+thiess&hl=en |access-date=2015-12-25 |place=Lakeland, Florida |via=]}}</ref> They moved with Ursula's two children from her previous marriage, to their {{convert|114|acre|km2|adj=on}} ranch in Brentwood, California, in 1956, and lived there until Taylor's death from cancer in 1969. Ursula's two children, Manuela and Michael, had many adjustment problems adapting to their new life, and were often in trouble with the police, causing the family to suffer bad publicity as a result. Her son, Michael, who had served a year in a German prison for attempting to poison his natural father, died of a drug overdose on May 26, 1969, shortly before Robert Taylor's own death. Ursula discovered him dead when she stopped by his motel to drop off some medication for him.


After Taylor's death, she was obliged to sell their ranch. She moved to Bel Air, and in 1973, she married film distributor Marshall Schacker. They remained married until his death from cancer in 1986. After Taylor's death, she was obliged to sell their ranch. She moved to Bel Air, and in 1973, she married film distributor Marshall Schacker. They remained married until his death from cancer in 1986.


Ursula was known to be an excellent home decorator, gourmet cook, shadow box maker, and UCLA Children's Hospital volunteer. As the wife to Robert Taylor, she gave up her acting career to become a full-time mother and homemaker, though she generally accompanied her husband on film locations, often with her two younger children by Taylor. She even had a recurring role on his hit ABC-TV series, '']''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://roberttayloractor.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/robert-taylor-and-ursula-thiess-at-home-and-in-public/ |title=Robert Taylor and Ursula Thiess at Home and In Public &#124; Robert Taylor Actor |publisher=Roberttayloractor.wordpress.com |date=2014-07-07 |accessdate=2015-09-19}}</ref> She was also known to go hunting and fishing with Taylor, who was a passionate sportsman. Ursula was known to be an excellent home decorator, gourmet cook, shadow-box maker, and UCLA Children's Hospital volunteer. As the wife of Robert Taylor, she gave up her acting career to become a full-time mother and homemaker, though she generally accompanied her husband on film locations, often with her two younger children by Taylor. She even had a recurring role on his hit ABC-TV series, '']''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://roberttayloractor.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/robert-taylor-and-ursula-thiess-at-home-and-in-public/ |title=Robert Taylor and Ursula Thiess at Home and In Public &#124; Robert Taylor Actor |publisher=Roberttayloractor.wordpress.com |date=2014-07-07 |access-date=2015-09-19}}</ref> She was known to go hunting and fishing with Taylor, who was a passionate sportsman.


Ursula Thiess wrote her autobiography, ''...But I Have Promises to Keep: My Life Before, With and After Robert Taylor''. Ursula Thiess wrote her autobiography ''...But I Have Promises to Keep: My Life Before, With and After Robert Taylor''.


Thiess died of natural causes in an assisted living care facility in Burbank on June 19, 2010, at the age of 86. She was survived by three of her four children, Manuela, Terry, and Tessa. <ref>{{Cite web|title = German actress Ursula Thiess dies|url = http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/german-actress-ursula-thiess-dies-25046|website = The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate = 2015-12-25}}</ref> She is interred alongside her husband and her son at ] in ]. Thiess died of natural causes in an assisted-living care facility in Burbank on June 19, 2010, at the age of 86. She was survived by three of her four children, Manuela, Terry, and Tessa.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 June 2010 |title=German actress Ursula Thiess dies |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/german-actress-ursula-thiess-dies-25046 |access-date=2015-12-25 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> She is interred alongside her husband and her son at ] in Glendale, California.

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1949|| '']'' || ||
|-
|1952|| '']'' || Jeanette ||
|-
|1954|| '']'' || Ann Brett ||
|-
|1954|| '']'' || Latah ||
|-
|1955|| '']'' || Marianna ||
|-
|1956|| '']'' || Lisa Kennedy ||
|-
|1972|| ''Left Hand of Gemini'' || || (final film role)
|}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}

==External links== ==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0858081|name=Ursula Thiess}} *{{IMDb name|id=0858081}}
* *
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Latest revision as of 05:09, 29 July 2024

German film actress (1924-2010)
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Ursula Thiess
Thiess with husband Robert Taylor in 1960
BornUrsula Schmidt
(1924-05-15)May 15, 1924
Hamburg, Germany
DiedJune 19, 2010(2010-06-19) (aged 86)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Years active1949–1972
Spouse(s)Georg Otto Thiess
(m. 19??; div. 1947)
Robert Taylor
​ ​(m. 1954; died 1969)​
Marshall Schacker
​ ​(m. 1973; died 1986)​
Children4

Ursula Thiess (May 15, 1924 – June 19, 2010) was a German film actress who had a brief Hollywood career in the 1950s.

Thiess began her career on the stage in her native Germany and by dubbing female voices in American films as Ursula Schmidt. After she married Georg Otto Thiess, she became Ursula Thiess and was featured in many German magazines, including several cover photos, as well as the cover of Life magazine, 1954, as an up-and-coming model, and she was dubbed the "most beautiful woman in the world." She left postwar Germany at the urging of Howard Hughes and signed with RKO. She co-starred with Robert Stack in The Iron Glove (1952), Rock Hudson in Bengal Brigade (1954), Glenn Ford in The Americano (1955), and Robert Mitchum in Bandido (1956).

Family

Ursula was born in 1924 to Wilhelmine Lange and Hans Schmidt. At age 17, for refusing to join the League of German Girls, she was drafted into service working as farm laborer. After that, she returned to do acting on stage, where she met and married her first husband, German film producer Georg Otto Thiess. They had two children, Manuela and Michael. That marriage dissolved in 1947, and in 1948, she began a modeling career in Berlin. Her unusual beauty caught the eye of Howard Hughes, who made her a contract offer to join RKO Studios.

She met Robert Taylor in 1952, and they married on May 23, 1954, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She virtually abandoned her film career to become a mother and housewife. The Taylors had two children Terrance "Terry" (b. June 18, 1955, in Santa Monica, California) and Tessa (b. August 16, 1959, in Santa Monica). They moved with Ursula's two children from her previous marriage, to their 114-acre (0.46 km) ranch in Brentwood, California, in 1956, and lived there until Taylor's death from cancer in 1969. Ursula's two children, Manuela and Michael, had many adjustment problems adapting to their new life, and were often in trouble with the police, causing the family to suffer bad publicity as a result. Her son, Michael, who had served a year in a German prison for attempting to poison his natural father, died of a drug overdose on May 26, 1969, shortly before Robert Taylor's own death. Ursula discovered him dead when she stopped by his motel to drop off some medication for him.

After Taylor's death, she was obliged to sell their ranch. She moved to Bel Air, and in 1973, she married film distributor Marshall Schacker. They remained married until his death from cancer in 1986.

Ursula was known to be an excellent home decorator, gourmet cook, shadow-box maker, and UCLA Children's Hospital volunteer. As the wife of Robert Taylor, she gave up her acting career to become a full-time mother and homemaker, though she generally accompanied her husband on film locations, often with her two younger children by Taylor. She even had a recurring role on his hit ABC-TV series, The Detectives She was known to go hunting and fishing with Taylor, who was a passionate sportsman.

Ursula Thiess wrote her autobiography ...But I Have Promises to Keep: My Life Before, With and After Robert Taylor.

Thiess died of natural causes in an assisted-living care facility in Burbank on June 19, 2010, at the age of 86. She was survived by three of her four children, Manuela, Terry, and Tessa. She is interred alongside her husband and her son at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1949 Keepers of the Night
1952 Monsoon Jeanette
1954 The Iron Glove Ann Brett
1954 Bengal Brigade Latah
1955 The Americano Marianna
1956 Bandido Lisa Kennedy
1972 Left Hand of Gemini (final film role)

References

  1. "The Florence Times". 24 May 1954. Retrieved 2015-12-25 – via Google News Archive.
  2. "Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
  3. "Lakeland Ledger". Lakeland, Florida. 17 August 1959. Retrieved 2015-12-25 – via Google News Archive.
  4. "Robert Taylor and Ursula Thiess at Home and In Public | Robert Taylor Actor". Roberttayloractor.wordpress.com. 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  5. "German actress Ursula Thiess dies". The Hollywood Reporter. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 2015-12-25.

External links

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