Thorsten Kaye
Encyclopedia
Thorsten Kaye is a German-British actor.
and London
, Kaye came to the United States in 1985 on a track (decathlon) scholarship to the United States International University in San Diego. Kaye majored in physical education (and minored in drama), but ultimately changed his major to drama and received his bachelor's degree in fine arts.
After a rugby union
tour through Europe, Kaye enrolled in graduate school at Wayne State University
in Detroit, where he earned his master's degree in theater and theater history.
, Tartuffe
,
Macbeth
, Much Ado About Nothing
, Hamlet
,
Love's Labour's Lost
, Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew
, both in London
and with the Hilberry Repertory Company in Detroit.
Kaye then moved to Los Angeles
, where he garnered roles in various television projects, including the miniseries, Sidney Sheldon
's Nothing Lasts Forever, before moving to New York to accept the role of Patrick Thornhart
on ABC's One Life to Live
.
He appeared as professor Patrick Thornhart
on One Life to Live
(1995–1997). Later, he returned to ABC as Patrick's doctor brother Ian Thornhart
on Port Charles
(2000–2003). In 2004, he began playing Zach Slater
on All My Children
. He has been nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards and three Soap Opera Digest Awards
. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor for All My Children in 2006 and 2009.
Kaye has an extensive portfolio of work in television, film and theatre. In addition to his work on soaps, he has appeared in
Sliders
, Law & Order
and Air America
. After working with David Worth
(Bloodsport) in the film, The Prophet's Game (which starred Dennis Hopper
) Kaye re-teamed with the director in the thriller Shark Attack II. He has also appeared in the feature films The Silencers, Deadly Desire and The Bone Collector.
Kaye opted not to renew his contract with All My Children when the show moved production from New York City to Los Angeles. Kaye remained with the show on a recurring basis until November 19, 2010 when his character (presumably) died in a plane crash.
Thorsten has one of the lead roles in a new psychological thriller (feature-length film) titled OCCUPANT, which was released in the U.S and Canada in October 2011 on demand in many cable/satellite markets as well as on most digital platforms, including itunes, Amazon, Blockbuster, Playstation. A full list of providers as well as trailers and other information can be viewed at www.occupantmovie.com.
. Proceeds from the book, which accompanied a CD release of the same name, go to Give Kids the World, a charity for sick children. His new children's book will be coming out in March 2009 on the "Rock the Soap" cruise.
and Detroit Red Wings
fan.
While appearing on One Life to Live
, he met his partner, Susan Haskell
, who played his on-show love interest (Margaret "Marty" Saybrooke
). The two currently have two daughters, McKenna (born February 2003) and Marlowe (born January 2007).
Kaye was an active blogger for the Detroit Red Wings at NHL.com during the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Early life
Raised in MainzMainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Kaye came to the United States in 1985 on a track (decathlon) scholarship to the United States International University in San Diego. Kaye majored in physical education (and minored in drama), but ultimately changed his major to drama and received his bachelor's degree in fine arts.
After a rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
tour through Europe, Kaye enrolled in graduate school at Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
in Detroit, where he earned his master's degree in theater and theater history.
Acting career
Kaye appeared in many classical theater roles, including The Winter's TaleThe Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics, among them W. W...
, Tartuffe
Tartuffe
Tartuffe is a comedy by Molière. It is one of his most famous plays.-History:Molière wrote Tartuffe in 1664...
,
Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
, Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy written by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero....
, Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
,
Love's Labour's Lost
Love's Labour's Lost
Love's Labour's Lost is one of William Shakespeare's early comedies, believed to have been written in the mid-1590s, and first published in 1598.-Title:...
, Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591.The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the Induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself...
, both in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and with the Hilberry Repertory Company in Detroit.
Kaye then moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he garnered roles in various television projects, including the miniseries, Sidney Sheldon
Sidney Sheldon
Sidney Sheldon was an Academy Award-winning American writer. His TV works spanned a 20-year period during which he created The Patty Duke Show , I Dream of Jeannie and Hart to Hart , but he became most famous after he turned 50 and began writing best-selling novels such as Master of the Game ,...
's Nothing Lasts Forever, before moving to New York to accept the role of Patrick Thornhart
Patrick Thornhart
Patrick Thornhart is a fictional character on the daytime soap opera, One Life to Live. He was played by Thorsten Kaye from October 1995 to September 16, 1997, and an unknown actor by June 3, 2011 to June 6, 2011.-Storylines:...
on ABC's One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
.
He appeared as professor Patrick Thornhart
Patrick Thornhart
Patrick Thornhart is a fictional character on the daytime soap opera, One Life to Live. He was played by Thorsten Kaye from October 1995 to September 16, 1997, and an unknown actor by June 3, 2011 to June 6, 2011.-Storylines:...
on One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
(1995–1997). Later, he returned to ABC as Patrick's doctor brother Ian Thornhart
Ian Thornhart
Dr. Ian Thornhart is a fictional character on the American soap opera, Port Charles. Ian is portrayed by Thorsten Kaye from May 5, 2000 to its cancellation on October 3, 2003.- Character's background:...
on Port Charles
Port Charles
Port Charles was a daytime soap opera which aired on ABC from June 2, 1997 to October 3, 2003. It is a spin-off of the serial General Hospital, which has been running since 1963 and takes place in the fictional city of Port Charles, New York...
(2000–2003). In 2004, he began playing Zach Slater
Zach Slater
Zachary "Zach" Slater is a fictional character from the American daytime drama All My Children. He was portrayed by actor Thorsten Kaye from May 20, 2004 to November 19, 2010; Thorsten returned to the role on August 5, 2011 to September 23, 2011...
on All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
. He has been nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards and three Soap Opera Digest Awards
Soap Opera Digest Awards
The Soap Opera Digest Awards were an awards show held by the daytime television magazine Soap Opera Digest. The awards were founded in 1984 to replace the less-lavish Soapy Award; those awards shows had run since 1977. The Soap Opera Digest Awards are meant to promote excellence in the soap opera...
. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor for All My Children in 2006 and 2009.
Kaye has an extensive portfolio of work in television, film and theatre. In addition to his work on soaps, he has appeared in
Sliders
Sliders
Sliders is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast for five seasons, beginning in 1995 and ending in 2000. The series follows a group of travelers as they use a wormhole to "slide" between different parallel universes. The show was created by Robert K. Weiss and Tracy Tormé...
, Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
and Air America
Air America (TV series)
Air America is an American action/adventure television series starring Lorenzo Lamas, and premiering on October 4, 1998. The series is not based on the 1990 film Air America.-Plot:...
. After working with David Worth
David Worth
David Worth is the name of:* David Worth Clark , US politician* David W. Dennis , US politician* David W. Bagley , US Navy admiral* David Worth, fictional character in the film Cube...
(Bloodsport) in the film, The Prophet's Game (which starred Dennis Hopper
Dennis Hopper
Dennis Lee Hopper was an American actor, filmmaker and artist. As a young man, Hopper became interested in acting and eventually became a student of the Actors' Studio. He made his first television appearance in 1954 and appeared in two films featuring James Dean, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant...
) Kaye re-teamed with the director in the thriller Shark Attack II. He has also appeared in the feature films The Silencers, Deadly Desire and The Bone Collector.
Kaye opted not to renew his contract with All My Children when the show moved production from New York City to Los Angeles. Kaye remained with the show on a recurring basis until November 19, 2010 when his character (presumably) died in a plane crash.
Thorsten has one of the lead roles in a new psychological thriller (feature-length film) titled OCCUPANT, which was released in the U.S and Canada in October 2011 on demand in many cable/satellite markets as well as on most digital platforms, including itunes, Amazon, Blockbuster, Playstation. A full list of providers as well as trailers and other information can be viewed at www.occupantmovie.com.
Writer/poet
Kaye published a book of original poetry, entitled From Timber Ridge to Daymer Gardens, with Dorothy Bridges, widow of actor Lloyd BridgesLloyd Bridges
Lloyd Vernet Bridges, Jr. was an American actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. Bridges is best known for his role of Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt, the most-popular syndicated American TV series in 1958...
. Proceeds from the book, which accompanied a CD release of the same name, go to Give Kids the World, a charity for sick children. His new children's book will be coming out in March 2009 on the "Rock the Soap" cruise.
Personal life
When not working, Kaye enjoys music, literature, riding American motorcycles, and is a huge Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
fan.
While appearing on One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
, he met his partner, Susan Haskell
Susan Haskell
Susan Haskell is a Canadian actress. She portrays the role of Dr. Margaret "Marty" Saybrooke, bad-girl-turned-good-turned-bad-again, on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live.-Private life:...
, who played his on-show love interest (Margaret "Marty" Saybrooke
Marty Saybrooke
Dr. Margaret "Marty" Saybrooke is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live. The role was originated by Susan Haskell, who portrayed Marty from January 24, 1992 through September 16, 1997 and made brief appearances on February 16, 2004 and February 2005...
). The two currently have two daughters, McKenna (born February 2003) and Marlowe (born January 2007).
Kaye was an active blogger for the Detroit Red Wings at NHL.com during the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs.