Linda Thompson
Encyclopedia
Linda Diane Thompson is an American actress, lyricist
and beauty pageant winner who rose to international fame as Elvis Presley
's long time girlfriend after he separated from his wife.
. In September 1970, she was named Miss Mid-South Fair at Memphis, Tennessee.
Some of her other titles include "Miss Shelby County", "Miss Liberty Bowl", Memphis State's Golf Queen", Miss Okra" (Bells, Tennessee), MSU's Homecoming Court, and others.
Thompson was named "Miss Memphis State University" and third runner up in the Miss Tennessee Pageant. According to Miss Tennessee Pageant records, Thompson never won the Miss Tennessee Pageant which is part of the Miss America Contest. She did win the Miss Tennessee Universe Pageant in 1972.
where she was in the cornfields until 1992. The Internet Movie database lists 19 acting credits for her, mostly small, one episode parts in television shows such as Starsky and Hutch
, Vega$
, Fantasy Island
, The Fall Guy
, and Beverly Hills, 90210
.
Linda starred in the TV pilots "Mars Base One" for producer Dan Ackroyd, "Two for Two", the Witt Thomas production "The Arena", "Good Ole Boys" with Jerry Reed, and more.
She has also appeared in several films including "Rabbit Test" which was Billy Crystal's first movie and directed by Joan Rivers, Three on a Meathook
(1972) and RoboCop 2
in 1990. She was cast for a small role "Female Academy Member" in the blockbuster The Bodyguard
(1992) for which she had written the lyrics for the theme song "I Have Nothing", performed by Whitney Huston, winning Linda a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture". She has also appeared as herself in a workout video by then-husband Bruce Jenner
, four documentaries about Elvis Presley
between 1997 and 2004, and in the short-lived Princes of Malibu, a reality show about husband David Foster's efforts to improve her two sons and herself. Her latest credits are appearances as herself in the reality series The Hills
in 2009 and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
in 2010 and 2011.
and "I Have Nothing
" sung by Whitney Houston
in the 1992 motion picture, The Bodyguard
, for which they were nominated both the Academy Award for Best Song in 1993 and the Grammy Award
for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television in 1994. They also wrote what has become a Christmas classic "Grown Up Christmas List, recorded by Natalie Cole, Barbra Streisand, Kelly Clarkson, Amy Grant, Michael Buble', and many others.
Thompson and Foster shared the 2003 Emmy for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for "Aren't They All Our Children" for the "The Concert for World Children's Day (2002 television).
; their relationship ended in November 1976. She was portrayed by actress Stephanie Zimbalist
, opposite Don Johnson
as Elvis, in the 1981 television movie, Elvis and the Beauty Queen
.
In 1980 Thompson began a relationship with former Olympic
Gold Medal decathlete
Bruce Jenner
. The couple married on January 5, 1981. They had two children, Brandon Thompson Jenner(born June 4, 1981) and Sam Brody Jenner (born August 21, 1983). They divorced in 1984.
On June 22, 1991, she married composer and record producer David Foster
, with whom she has co-written many songs. Thompson filed for divorce from Foster in 2005.
In 2002 she was awarded Women in Film Crystal's Humanitarian Awards and in 2007 she shared TV Land's Entertainer's Award with the rest of the cast of Hee Haw for their work on that show.
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
and beauty pageant winner who rose to international fame as Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's long time girlfriend after he separated from his wife.
Pageants
Thompson was born and raised in Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. In September 1970, she was named Miss Mid-South Fair at Memphis, Tennessee.
Some of her other titles include "Miss Shelby County", "Miss Liberty Bowl", Memphis State's Golf Queen", Miss Okra" (Bells, Tennessee), MSU's Homecoming Court, and others.
Thompson was named "Miss Memphis State University" and third runner up in the Miss Tennessee Pageant. According to Miss Tennessee Pageant records, Thompson never won the Miss Tennessee Pageant which is part of the Miss America Contest. She did win the Miss Tennessee Universe Pageant in 1972.
Acting
In 1977, Thompson became a regular on the TV series Hee HawHee Haw
Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
where she was in the cornfields until 1992. The Internet Movie database lists 19 acting credits for her, mostly small, one episode parts in television shows such as Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
, Vega$
Vega$
Vega$ is an American detective television drama series that aired on ABC between 1978 and 1981. It was produced by Aaron Spelling. The series, was filmed in its entirety in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is believed to be the first television series produced entirely in Las Vegas...
, Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
, The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy is an American action/adventure television program produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981 to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas. Majors and Barr are the only two actors to appear in all 112 episodes of the series...
, and Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
.
Linda starred in the TV pilots "Mars Base One" for producer Dan Ackroyd, "Two for Two", the Witt Thomas production "The Arena", "Good Ole Boys" with Jerry Reed, and more.
She has also appeared in several films including "Rabbit Test" which was Billy Crystal's first movie and directed by Joan Rivers, Three on a Meathook
Three on a Meathook
Three on a Meathook is a 1972 horror film written and directed by William Girdler and was based loosely on the real-life story of Ed Gein. The film stars Charles Kissinger, James Pickett and Sherry Steiner.-Plot:...
(1972) and RoboCop 2
RoboCop 2
RoboCop 2 is a 1990 science fiction action film directed by Irvin Kershner and starring Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, Belinda Bayer, Tom Noonan and Gabriel Damon. Set in the near future in a dystopian metropolitan Detroit, Michigan...
in 1990. She was cast for a small role "Female Academy Member" in the blockbuster The Bodyguard
The Bodyguard
The Bodyguard is a 1992 American romantic-thriller film starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Costner stars as a former Secret Service Agent turned bodyguard who is hired to protect Houston's character, a music star, from an unknown stalker. Lawrence Kasdan wrote the film in the 1970s,...
(1992) for which she had written the lyrics for the theme song "I Have Nothing", performed by Whitney Huston, winning Linda a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture". She has also appeared as herself in a workout video by then-husband Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner
William Bruce Jenner is a former U.S. track and field athlete, motivational speaker, socialite and television personality. He won the gold medal for decathlon in the Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics....
, four documentaries about Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
between 1997 and 2004, and in the short-lived Princes of Malibu, a reality show about husband David Foster's efforts to improve her two sons and herself. Her latest credits are appearances as herself in the reality series The Hills
The Hills
The Hills is a reality television series which originally aired on MTV from May 31, 2006 until July 13, 2010. The show uses a reality television format, following the personal lives of several young adults living in Los Angeles, California, but tends towards a narrative format more commonly found...
in 2009 and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is an American reality series for the Bravo cable network. The sixth installment in the network's The Real Housewives of... franchise, production for the Evolution Media series began in March 2010. The show premiered on October 14, 2010...
in 2010 and 2011.
Songwriting
Thompson was born in Memphis in 1950. She began her musical career as a lyricist with the Kenny Roger's single "Our Perfect Song" from his album "The Heart of the Matter" in the early 80's. Thompson went on to collaborate with composers such as Richard Marx to pen Josh Groban's first hit record "To Where You Are", Composer Steve Dorf for the Celine Dion hit "Miracle", Andreas Carlsson for "Drowning" by the Backstreet Boys, and others including her many collaborations as lyricist to composer David Foster's musical compositions. (The two were married in 1991) Their collaborative successes include "No Explanation" for the 1990 film, Pretty WomanPretty Woman
Pretty Woman is a 1990 romantic comedy film set in Los Angeles, California. Written by J.F. Lawton and directed by Garry Marshall, this motion picture features Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, and also Hector Elizondo, Ralph Bellamy, and Jason Alexander in supporting roles. Roberts played the only...
and "I Have Nothing
I Have Nothing
"I Have Nothing" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston and released as the third single from The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album on February 20, 1993 by Arista Records. The song was written by David Foster and Linda Thompson, and produced by Foster...
" sung by Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
in the 1992 motion picture, The Bodyguard
The Bodyguard
The Bodyguard is a 1992 American romantic-thriller film starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Costner stars as a former Secret Service Agent turned bodyguard who is hired to protect Houston's character, a music star, from an unknown stalker. Lawrence Kasdan wrote the film in the 1970s,...
, for which they were nominated both the Academy Award for Best Song in 1993 and the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television in 1994. They also wrote what has become a Christmas classic "Grown Up Christmas List, recorded by Natalie Cole, Barbra Streisand, Kelly Clarkson, Amy Grant, Michael Buble', and many others.
Thompson and Foster shared the 2003 Emmy for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for "Aren't They All Our Children" for the "The Concert for World Children's Day (2002 television).
Personal life
In July 1972 she began a relationship with the recently separated Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
; their relationship ended in November 1976. She was portrayed by actress Stephanie Zimbalist
Stephanie Zimbalist
Stephanie Zimbalist is an American actress best known for her role as Laura Holt on the NBC detective series Remington Steele.-Background:...
, opposite Don Johnson
Don Johnson
Donnie Wayne "Don" Johnson is an American actor known for his work in television and film. He played the lead role of James "Sonny" Crockett in the 1980s TV cop series, Miami Vice, which led him to huge success. He also played the lead role in the 1990s cop series, Nash Bridges...
as Elvis, in the 1981 television movie, Elvis and the Beauty Queen
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
Elvis and the Beauty Queen is a 1981 made-for-TV film starring Don Johnson and Stephanie Zimbalist.The film focuses on the relationship between Elvis Presley and Linda Thompson, a young beauty pageant contestant who was his live-in girlfriend and traveling companion for the last four years of his...
.
In 1980 Thompson began a relationship with former Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Gold Medal decathlete
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner
William Bruce Jenner is a former U.S. track and field athlete, motivational speaker, socialite and television personality. He won the gold medal for decathlon in the Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics....
. The couple married on January 5, 1981. They had two children, Brandon Thompson Jenner(born June 4, 1981) and Sam Brody Jenner (born August 21, 1983). They divorced in 1984.
On June 22, 1991, she married composer and record producer David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
, with whom she has co-written many songs. Thompson filed for divorce from Foster in 2005.
Awards
In addition to her Emmy win, Thompson has also won a BMI Film & TV Award in 1994 for Most Performed Song from a Film ("I Have Nothing"), composed by Thompson and David Foster, from the soundtrack for The Bodyguard and shared Special Recognition Awards in 1997 and 2004 with several others for work related to the Olympics, including her powerful lyrics for the official 1986 Olympic theme song, sung by Celine Dion, "The Power of the Dream".In 2002 she was awarded Women in Film Crystal's Humanitarian Awards and in 2007 she shared TV Land's Entertainer's Award with the rest of the cast of Hee Haw for their work on that show.