‘Romancing the Stone’ Writer Was Killed in Her Porsche 911 the Year After Her Hit Movie Was Released
Michael Douglas gave the Porsche 911 to Diane Renee Thomas for her work on the hit action-adventure comedy film.
The Porsche 911 is one of the most iconic sports cars ever created. It has a well-earned reputation for performance and durability. Unfortunately, it also has a reputation for being difficult to drive and the early turbo cars were given the nickname ‘Widowmaker.’ The older 911s did have handling characteristics that made it more challenging to drive quickly in the hands of the inexperienced. This resulted in a number of crashes, some of which were fatal. But to be fair to Porsche a number of famous crashes were really not the fault of the car. James Dean had a car turn right in front of him. Paul Walker was in a Carrera GT with rotted tires. Ryan Dunn was over the legal alcohol limit. These crashes are all well-known, but did you know the story of Diane Renee Thomas?
Thomas was working as a cocktail waitress in California when she wrote Romancing the Stone. Michael Douglas immediately fell in love with the script. Thomas sold the script for $250,000, which is roughly $750,000 in 2024 money. That is quite a windfall for a cocktail waitress. The movie recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.
It was released on March 30, 1984, and would go on to become one of the highest grossing films of the year. Douglas was so thankful for Thomas and her contribution to the film that he bought her a new Porsche 911. From cocktail waitress to highly paid Hollywood screenwriter being gifted a new Porsche by one of the biggest names in the business. It was a fairytale story for Thomas. Sadly, it all took a tragic turn.
The Accident
It was October 21, 1985. Thomas, her boyfriend Stephen Norman and another friend, Ian Young, were out having a few drinks. Norman reportedly had the least amount to drink, so it was decided that he would drive home. Thomas was sitting in the tiny back seat and Young was in the passenger seat.
Norman was travelling at 80 mph when he lost control on a rain-slicked portion of the Pacific Coast Highway. The Porsche spun and hit a utility pole. Thomas died instantly, and Young died two hours later at UCLA Medical Center. Norman was injured but survived. He was sentenced to five years of probation.
Porsche 911
The crash that tragically killed Thomas and Young was like several other Porsche crashes. The car was not really to blame. There is not much information available about the specific Porsche that was involved. But we do know this. In 1985 no Porsche had airbags, traction control, stability control and many of the other safety features we take for granted today.
It is for these reasons that many enthusiasts today love the older cars because they offer a rawer, and less filtered driving experience. And that is certainly true. However, there is no questioning that a 2024 Porsche 911 is safer than a 1985 Porsche 911.
The Legacy
Thomas may not be as well-known as some other celebrities that lost their lives in Porsche sports cars. But her career was just getting started. Romancing the Stone was her first, and it turns out, her only film. At the time of her death, she was under contract to write screenplays for Amblin Entertainment, led by Steven Spielberg. There is no telling how big a star she could have been if her life was not tragically cut short.
Photos: Porsche Â
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