Overview
Greta Thyssen (born Greta Thysegen; March 30, 1927 – January 6, 2018) was a Danish-born model and film actress who established a career in the United States in the mid-20th century. Born in Copenhagen, she later moved to North America and became known for work as a photographic model, bit parts in Hollywood features, and appearances in popular short comedies and B-films.
Early life and modeling
Trained initially in modeling, Thyssen took advantage of the postwar demand for foreign-born glamour actresses in American entertainment. Her looks and screen presence led to work as a photographic model and as a fashion figure before she transitioned into small film roles. In that period she was sometimes employed as a stand-in or double for high-profile stars.
Film career and screen work
Thyssen appeared in a mix of studio features and lower-budget genre pictures. She is often remembered for serving as a double for Marilyn Monroe on the set of Bus Stop and for resembling the era’s blonde screen archetype. She also co-starred in comedy shorts and was associated with productions featuring The Three Stooges. Other credits include crime dramas and science-fiction or adventure pictures that circulated in American and international markets.
Selected films
- Accused of Murder — supporting role in a mid-century crime drama
- Terror Is a Man — appearance in a genre/horror production
- Three Blondes in His Life — credited in a noir-tinged picture
- Journey to the Seventh Planet — science-fiction film credit
Later life and legacy
Like many actresses of her era, Thyssen’s on-screen prominence diminished as tastes and industry fashions changed. She remained a point of interest for film historians and fans of 1950s–60s popular cinema because of her work in shorts and genre films and for the anecdotal connection to a major star. Thyssen died on January 6, 2018 in Manhattan, New York, at the age of 90; the reported cause was pneumonia.
Her career illustrates the mid-century pattern of European models moving into American entertainment and the transient nature of screen fame for many supporting performers. While not a leading star, Thyssen’s appearances continue to be cited in discussions of postwar film culture and the period’s studio practices.