| Tirza | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Tirza |
|
First Appearance |
Bonanza: Dark Star (April 23, 1960) |
|
Original Publisher |
NBC |
|
Created by |
Lewis Allen, Anthony Lawrence and Susan Harrison |
Origin[]
Tirza is a gypsy who was born under a dark star, a sign that she was cursed. She was eventually cast out of her clan, while they were traveling through the forests of the old Western United States, after one too many tragic events seemed to be attributable to her presence. She was believed to be a witch, possessed by the demon Asmodeus. A young American rancher found the girl and tried to convince her that the curse was not real, but her people were not satisfied until she underwent an exorcism. The exorcism was deemed to be successful, and Tirza was allowed to return to her clan.
It is unclear if Tirza was actually a witch. She did seem to frighten animals and after performing a gypsy dance, she seemed to take credit for the lightning and thunder that followed. She claimed that she was a shape shifter, capable of trasforming into a wolf or a fish. She was an exceptional dancer and she carried a dagger.
Public Domain Television Appearances[]
Bonanza: Season 1, Episode 31 (Dark Star)