Thora Birch Net Worth

What is Thora Birch's Net Worth?

Thora Birch is a prominent actress who has an impressive net worth of $6 million. Her career began as a child star in notable 90s films including "Patriot Games," "Hocus Pocus," "Monkey Trouble," and "Alaska." Birch's breakthrough as an adult came with the Oscar-winning film "American Beauty." She further solidified her acting career with movies like "Ghost World," "Silver City," and "Winter of Frozen Dreams." Birch has also showcased her talent on TV, most notably in "Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story" and on AMC's "The Walking Dead."

Early Life

Thora Birch was born on March 11, 1982, in Los Angeles, California. She is the eldest child of former adult actors Carol and Jack. Of Scandinavian, French-Canadian, Italian, and German-Jewish descent, Birch has a brother named Kian. She entered the entertainment industry at age four, featuring in a Quaker Oats commercial, followed by advertisements for Burger King, Vlasic Pickles, and California Raisins.

Child Star in Film

Birch’s film debut came at the age of six in the sci-fi comedy "Purple People Eater," co-starring Neil Patrick Harris, Ned Beatty, and Shelley Winters. Her performance won her a Young Artist Award. She then starred alongside Elijah Wood, Don Johnson, and Melanie Griffith in the 1991 drama "Paradise." That same year, she appeared in the Christmas romcom "All I Want for Christmas." In 1992, Birch played the daughter of Harrison Ford's character in "Patriot Games," based on Tom Clancy’s novel. This was followed by roles in "Hocus Pocus" and "Monkey Trouble." She reprised her role from "Patriot Games" in its sequel "Clear and Present Danger." In 1995, she starred alongside her former co-star Melanie Griffith in "Now and Then." The following year, she appeared in "Alaska" with Vincent Kartheiser.

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Further Film Career

Birch’s adult career breakthrough was in 1999 with the Best Picture Oscar winner "American Beauty," playing Jane Burnham, the daughter of Kevin Spacey's character. The film’s success earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Post "American Beauty," she starred in "The Smokers," "Dungeons & Dragons," and "The Hole." Birch gave a standout performance in Terry Zwigoff’s "Ghost World," receiving a Golden Globe nomination. Subsequent roles included appearances in "Silver City," the horror-thriller "Dark Corners," and the crime film "Winter of Frozen Dreams."

After a hiatus, Birch returned to film in 2018 with "The Etruscan Smile," co-starring Brian Cox. Other notable appearances include "The Competition," "Affairs of State," "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," "Kindred Spirits," "Above Suspicion," and "13 Minutes."

(Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/FilmMagic)

Television Career

Birch began her television career as a child, with roles on the NBC sitcom "Day by Day" and "Doogie Howser, M.D." She had a main role on the sitcom "Parenthood," based on the Ron Howard film, and appeared in episodes of "Amen," "Monty," "The Outer Limits," "Promised Land," and "Touched by an Angel." In 1999, she starred in the CBS television film "Night Ride Home."

The 2000s saw fewer TV appearances, but Birch delivered a critically acclaimed performance in "Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story," earning an Emmy nomination. She later starred in "The Pregnancy Test" in 2010, had a guest role in "Colony" in 2016, and a recurring role in "The Walking Dead" in its tenth season. Birch directed and starred in "The Gabby Petito Story" for Lifetime, marking her directorial debut.