Thora Birch (born March 11, 1982) is an American actress. She was a leading child actor in the 1990s.
Birch was born in Los Angeles, California, the eldest child of Jack Birch and Carol Connors. Both her parents (who have managed her career and remain her managers right up to the present day) were former adult film actors and her mother appeared in the notorious pornographic film, Deep Throat. Birch, who has a brother named Bolt Birch, is of Jewish, Nordic, and Italian descent. The family's original surname was "Biersch", coming from her German Jewish ancestors. The name 'Thora' is a feminized form of the name Thor, the God of the Sky and of Thunder in Norse mythology. From an early age, Birch was encouraged by her parents to audition for commercials. She landed several parts representing companies such as Quaker Oats and Vlasic Pickles. In 1988, she broke into acting when landing the role of Molly in the short-lived television series Day By Day in which she was billed simply as "Thora." That same year she played an important role in the movie Purple People Eater opposite Ned Beatty and Neil Patrick Harris for which she won a Youth In Film Award for her performance.
Thora Birch's Photos
Filmography 2006 Shamrock Boy Nulla McGarvey Announced. Start of production 2006 Boomerang Deal Announced. Start of production 2005 Slingshot April 2004 The Dot Narrator 2004 Silver City Karen Cross 2003 Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story Liz Murray Television movie 2002 Shadow Realm Susan Thornhill Television movie 2001 The Hole Liz Dunn 2001 Ghost World Enid 2000 Dungeons & Dragons Empress Savina 2000 The Smokers Lincoln Roth 1999 Anywhere But Here Mary uncredited 1999 American Beauty Jane Burnham 1999 Night Ride Home Clea Mahler Television movie 1996 Alaska Jessie Barnes 1995 Now and Then Young Tina "Teeny" Tercell 1994 Clear and Present Danger Sally Ryan 1994 Monkey Trouble Eva 1993 Hocus Pocus Dani 1992 Patriot Games Sally Ryan 1992 The Itsy Bitsy Spider (voice) 1991 All I Want For Christmas Hallie O'Fallon 1991 Paradise Billie Pike 1990 Dark Avenger Susie Donovan Television movie 1990 Parenthood Taylor Buckham Television series 1988 Day by Day Molly Television Series 1988 Purple People Eater Molly Johnson Awards 2001 - Toronto Film Critics Association Award - Ghost World 2000 - Young Star Award - American Beauty 2000 - Young Artist Award - American Beauty 1994 - Young Artist Award - Hocus Pocus
