Linda Thorson (born Linda Robinson; June 18, 1947) is a Canadian actress best known for playing Tara King in The Avengers (1968–69).

Early life Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Linda Robinson attended Bishop Strachan School, and then moved to England in 1965 to study acting. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art with an Honours Diploma, including speaking and singing honours (soprano), on July 1, 1967. Her professional name is the final part of Bergthorson, the surname of her first husband Barry Bergthorson (married 1964 divorced 1970).

Career Thorson is best known for her role as Tara King (succeeding Diana Rigg as Emma Peel) in the last series of the British TV adventure series, The Avengers, with the original star Patrick Macnee. She was reunited with Macnee in a commercial for Laurent-Perrier champagne in the mid 1970s, which led to the series reappearing as The New Avengers, although Thorson did not reprise her role.

Since then, Thorson appeared in character roles in many TV series and films, including Thriller, Return of the Saint, Valentino, The Greek Tycoon, the cult horror film Curtains, Blind Justice, Alan Alda's Sweet Liberty, and Marblehead Manor.

Thorson appeared from 1989 to 1992 in the daytime drama One Life to Live as Julia Wheaton Medina. She also appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation, playing female Cardassian starship commander Gul Ocett in the 6th-season episode "The Chase" (1993). From 1998 to 2000, she played Isabel in the Canadian series Emily of New Moon.

In 2002, Thorson portrayed a Supreme Court Justice in the movie Half Past Dead with Steven Seagal and Ja Rule, and appeared in the 2006 action sequel Max Havoc: Ring of Fire. Throughout 2006–07, Thorson played the villainous Rosemary King in the ITV series Emmerdale.

Thorson has performed in many dramatic and musical stage productions, including appearances on Broadway in Nell Dunn's Steaming and Michael Frayn's Noises Off!. In 1971, she starred alongside Michael Crawford and Anthony Valentine in the London West End hit show No Sex Please, We're British and later appeared as Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Open Air Theatre, Regents Park, London. She also played Hester Salomon in a UK tour of Equus opposite Simon Callow. In the summer of 2008, she appeared at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park in the Lerner & Loewe musical, Gigi.

In 2013, Thorson appeared onstage in Tracy Letts's play August: Osage County about a dysfunctional family in Oklahoma. In 2014, she was slated to appear in Jon Robin Baitz's play Other Desert Cities.

In 2013, Thorson produced a new stage play called The Goodbye Bird written by Colleen Murphy.

Personal life Thorson married Cyril Jeffrey Smith Jr. in 1979; they divorced two years later.

Thorson was married in 1984 to the American news anchorman and producer Bill Boggs with whom she has a son; they are divorced. She was married to production designer Gavin Mitchell in November 2005, but divorced in 2011.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1977ValentinoBillie Streeter1978 The Greek TycoonAngela1983CurtainsBrooke Parsons1985Walls of GlassAndrea1986JoeyPrincipal O'NeillSweet LibertyGrace James1988Olympus ForceAthene1999Giving It UpMarlene GiganteDrew2002Half Past DeadJudge Jane McPherson2004Touch of PinkGiles' MotherStraight into DarknessMaria2006Max Havoc: Ring of FireDenise Blaine2011Man on the TrainSister2016 The Second Time AroundKatherineCo-lead2022Lion Versus the Little PeopleGayle Bennet

Television Year Title Role Notes1968–69Tara KingRegular role; series six 1973ThrillerToni TannerEpisode: "Lady Killer"1976EveEpisode: "1.5"1977Vera AlexandrovnaTV filmKing of KensingtonSuzanneEpisode: "The Teacher"1978Les palmiers du métropolitainAnnaTV filmReturn of the SaintDiamondEpisode: "The Roman Torch"1979Sarah LyallEpisode: "Murder at Blenheim Swamp"1980Matt and JennyAnn WinfieldEpisode: "Wagon Train West"1981MelissaEpisode: "Upstairs, Downstairs"McClain's LawTeri FieldsEpisode: "Portrait of a Playmate"1982Sarah LyallEpisode: "Death on Delivery"1984Cory FuhrmanTV film1985Lime StreetUliEpisode: "Diamonds Aren't Forever"St. ElsewhereMrs. Cochrane3 episodes 1986 The Equalizer Industrial Spy Episode: "No Conscience"Blind JusticePamelaTV filmSpenser: For HireKaren CooperEpisode: "Hell Hath No Fury"MoonlightingAgent GregoryEpisode: "Symphony in Knocked Flat"1987DynastyDr. Mansfield2 episodesTales from the DarksideElizabeth EatonEpisode: "Auld Acquaintances"Connie Delvecchio3 episodes1987–88Marblehead ManorHillary StonehillMain role1988Buck JamesLaura BrowneEpisode: "Act of Aggression"1989Empty NestJanice BrattleEpisode: "The More Things Change..."1989–92One Life to LiveJulia MedinaRegular role1990MonstersJessicaEpisode: "A New Woman"1993Tropical HeatJanetEpisode: "The Last of the Magnificent"Star Trek: The Next GenerationGul OcettEpisode: "The Chase"1994Street LegalEllen FilipchukEpisode: "The Morning After"E.N.G.Barbara StolleryEpisode: "Before the Axe"Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesHelen RichmondEpisode: "Laurie's Friend"1996Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesGeena SinclairEpisode: "Requiem"1997Dead SilenceConstance StanleyTV filmF/X: The SeriesCassandra DelarossaEpisode: "Medea"1998–99Emily of New MoonIsabel MurrayRegular role1999–00Emily YeagerMain role2001Law & OrderMartha TaylorEpisode: "Possession"2006Vital SignsMrs. PercyEpisode: "1.6"Silent WitnessAnne WheatonEpisode: "Body of Work: Parts 1 & 2"EvaTV film2006–07EmmerdaleRosemary KingRegular role2008DoctorsCarol FrancisEpisode: "Another Day"2011CommittedIsadoraTV filmFlashpointElaine StearnsEpisode: "Through a Glass Darkly"2012Mrs. SlatterlyEpisode: "Rogues' Gallery"Saving HopeMelissa Hurst"Out of Sight"Sylvia Plath: Girl DetectiveOliveTV series2013Rookie BlueEleanor WardEpisode: "For Better, for Worse"2014Transporter: The SeriesRae HensonEpisode: "Sixteen Hands"Best Christmas Party EverPetraTV film2015Two WrongsJudy2018Free Rein Wilma2 episodes New Amsterdam Mrs. Monaghan Episode: "Boundaries" 2019 Schitt's Creek Gloria Gregson Episode: "Meet the Parents" Good WitchMrs HansenEpisode: "The Graduation"2020Little BirdsGladys SavageEpisode: #1.12020–23 The Hardy Boys Gloria Estabrook19 episodes2021 The Vows We KeepSimoneTV film2025Father BrownGladys Carpenter Episode: "The Deserving Poor"

References

External links

Audio interview at BBC Wiltshire I, Audra: An Interview with Linda Thorson - The Terror Trap