In 1988, Scott Thorson wrote a book detailing the good times, bad times and undeniably bizarre times he shared with legendary entertainer Liberace over the course of their romance. This year, that story moved to the small screen in HBO's "Behind the Candelabra."
The movie highlighted everything, including the couple's initial attraction, their shared plastic surgeries, Thorson's descent into drug abuse, and the messy, lawsuit-filled end of it all. And according to Thorson, the directors, producers and stars got it right.
"I think they were right on target," he said during a Monday morning appearance on TODAY. "I'm just delighted; I'm overwhelmed."
Thorson is also "thrilled to death" about the success of "Candelabra," but he doesn't want to gloss over the romance at the center of the film. After all, he claims he was just 16 years old when he got involved with the pianist, who was 40 years his senior.
"Well, I think back … I was so young at the time," he recalled. "I don't think it would go over too well today. (Liberace) would possibly go to jail for something like that."
When asked if he thought the man once known as Mr. Showmanship took advantage of him back then, Thorson agreed, crediting the relationship as the starting point of his problems with addiction.
"I don't think anybody in life sets out to be an addict," he said.
Still, despite it all, Thorson doesn't have any regrets about his time with Liberace.
"I mean, it's been a marvelous life, don’t get me wrong," he added. "I loved Liberace, and he was just a great guy."