Born in Manhattan, New York, and raised in the Bronx, Thorne graduated from the City College of New York with a Bachelor's Associates in English. He ultimately moved to Los Angeles, California, where he worked in publicity before pursuing a television writing career. Thorne has spent four years teaching screenwriting courses at Columbia College in Los Angeles. He also served two terms as Governor of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He is currently pursuing Master of Arts in English Literature. His episode of TNG is his most recent television work.