Scott Thorson, Liberace’s Lover and Wonderland Trial Witness, Dies at 65

Scott Thorson, known for his relationship with Liberace and as a key witness in the 1981 Wonderland Massacre trial, passed away in Los Angeles on August 16 at the age of 65. He had been battling cancer and a heart condition while residing in a healthcare facility in Los Angeles.

Thorson, who later legally changed his name to Jess Marlow, made headlines in 1982 when he filed a $113 million palimony lawsuit against Liberace. The lawsuit drew significant media attention, although Liberace continued to deny being gay and refuted Thorson’s claims of a romantic relationship during court depositions. The case 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 authored “Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace,” a memoir detailing his years with the entertainer. The book included claims that Liberace financed Thorson’s plastic surgery, which involved a nose job and chin implant to make him look like a younger version of the star. During their six-year relationship, Thorson played a part in Liberace’s Las Vegas act, driving the entertainer onto the stage in a rhinestone-covered uniform. Their relationship ended when Thorson became more deeply involved with drugs, later alleging that Liberace had a role in his addiction by supplying him with quaaludes, amphetamines, cocaine, and Demerol during his recovery from surgery.

The memoir was later adapted into an Emmy-winning HBO film, also titled “Behind the Candelabra,” directed by Steven Soderbergh and featuring Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as Thorson.

Thorson’s notoriety extended beyond his relationship with Liberace. In 1989, he became involved in the trial of nightclub owner and drug dealer Eddie Nash, who was accused of ordering the murders of four people in a Laurel Canyon home in what became known as the Wonderland Massacre. Nash allegedly sought revenge after his home was robbed, with suspicions falling on porn star John Holmes, who had visited Nash’s home multiple times on the day of the robbery. Nash allegedly pressured Holmes to identify the perpetrators.

Thorson testified about witnessing Holmes being beaten and threatened until he divulged the robbers’ identities. Two days after the robbery, armed men attacked the Wonderland Avenue home with hammers and metal pipes, resulting in the deaths of Ron Launius, William “Billy” Deverell, Joy Miller, and Barbara Richardson, who sustained fatal blunt-force trauma injuries. Susan Launius, another resident, survived the attack. Although Thorson accused Nash of orchestrating the murders, the trial ended in a hung jury. Nash, who was never convicted, died in 2014. Thorson claimed to have entered the federal witness protection program and changed his name following the trial.

The Wonderland murders were later depicted in a memorable scene in “Boogie Nights,” and are the subject of an upcoming four-part docuseries, “The Wonderland Massacre & The Secret History of Hollywood,” which premieres on MGM+ on September 8. Directed by Alison Ellwood, the series is based on Audible’s 2022 podcast “The Wonderland Murders and the Secret History of Hollywood,” featuring Thorson and author Michael Connelly.

Throughout his life, Thorson struggled with substance abuse and had numerous legal issues. In 2008, he received a four-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to felony drug and burglary charges.