Scott Thorson, the former lover of famed entertainer Liberace and a crucial witness in the trial concerning the 1981 Wonderland Massacre, passed away in Los Angeles on August 16. He was 65 and had been receiving care for cancer and a heart condition at a local healthcare facility.
Thorson, who later changed his name to Jess Marlow, became widely known for his 1982 palimony lawsuit against Liberace, which sought $113 million and garnered significant media attention. Despite his claims, Liberace denied their relationship in court and maintained his public denial of being gay. The lawsuit was settled in 1986, with Thorson receiving $75,000 in cash, three cars, and three pet dogs, valued at $20,000. Liberace passed away in 1987 from HIV/AIDS-related complications.
In 1988, Thorson published his memoir, “Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace,” detailing his time with the entertainer. The book revealed that Liberace had funded Thorson’s plastic surgeries, including a nose job and chin implant, to make him resemble a younger version of himself. Thorson also claimed that his drug addiction began after receiving prescriptions for quaaludes, amphetamines, cocaine, and Demerol, which he attributed to Liberace’s influence. The memoir was later adapted into an Emmy-winning HBO film directed by Steven Soderbergh, with Michael Douglas portraying Liberace and Matt Damon playing Thorson.
Thorson’s notoriety extended beyond his relationship with Liberace. In 1989, he testified in the trial of Eddie Nash, a nightclub owner and drug dealer accused of orchestrating the Wonderland Massacre. Nash allegedly sought revenge after the residents of a Wonderland Avenue home stole from him and injured his bodyguard. Thorson testified that he witnessed Nash’s associates beat and threaten John Holmes, a porn star suspected of involvement in the theft, to extract information about the robbers. Shortly after, the Wonderland home was violently attacked, resulting in the deaths of four people. Thorson’s testimony implicated Nash, but the trial ended with a hung jury, and Nash was never convicted. He died in 2014. Following the trial, Thorson entered federal witness protection and adopted a new identity.
The Wonderland murders also inspired a notable scene in the film “Boogie Nights,” featuring a character based on Nash. Additionally, Thorson’s story is the subject of a new four-part docuseries, “The Wonderland Massacre & The Secret History of Hollywood,” directed by Alison Ellwood and set to premiere on MGM+ on September 8. The series is adapted from Audible’s podcast “The Wonderland Murders and the Secret History of Hollywood,” which features Thorson and author Michael Connelly.
Throughout his life, Thorson faced ongoing struggles with alcohol and drug abuse and encountered legal issues, including a four-year prison sentence in 2008 for felony drug and burglary charges.
