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Philip Dorn

Actor

Philip Dorn

Born September 30, 1901 in Scheveningen, 's-Gravenhage, Zuid-Holland, NetherlandsDied May 9, 197535 films

Frits van Dongen (1901–1975), born Hein van der Niet and sometimes billed as Philip Dorn, was a Dutch actor who had a career in Hollywood. As a teenager he moved out of his parental home to perform in an amateur theatre group; his stage name Frits van Dongen already dates from that period. In the early 1920s, Van Dongen ended up in the professional stage, but it was not until 1934 that he starred in his first film: 'Op Hoop van Zegen'. This film marked his breakthrough as a film star in the Netherlands: in 1935 he played in 'De Big van het Regiment', 'De Kribbebijter' and 'Op Stap' and in 1936 in 'Rubber'. Van Dongen then left for Berlin to work with the likes of Veit Harlan and star in a number of successful German films.

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In 1939 Van Dongen and his second wife, Jewish actress Marianne van Dam, left for the United States at the invitation of director Henry Koster, who had directed Van Dongen in 'De Kribbebijter'. When he was given a seven-year contract at MGM, Van Dongen changed his name to Philip Dorn. After making his American debut in 1940 with 'Enemy Agent', he would frequently be cast as continental lover, anti-Nazi German or refugee. In 1952 he returned to Europe for several German films and a Dutch theatre tour with Lily Bouwmeester. In 1953 he quit acting in films, partly due to speech problems due to a concussion. He retired for the rest of his life in California, where he died.

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The best way into Philip Dorn's work
Random Harvest posterFirst watchRandom Harvest19427.3as Dr. Jonathan BenetWandered away from his asylum, an amnesiac World War I veteran falls in love with a music hall star but his amnesia makes it difficult to last.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
I Remember Mama poster7.2I Remember Mama1948Passage to Marseille poster6.7Passage to Marseille1944Tarzan's Secret Treasure poster5.9Tarzan's Secret Treasure1941The Fighting Kentuckian poster6.0The Fighting Kentuckian1949

Filmography

35 films as actor
  1. 1954Salto MortaleCadenos
  2. 1953Dreaming LipsMichael
  3. 1952Türme des SchweigensCaptain de Vries
  4. 1952Behind Monastery WallsThomas Holinka
  5. 1951Sealed CargoKonrad
  6. 1950Spy HuntPaul Kopel
  7. 1949The Fighting KentuckianCol. Georges Geraud
  8. 1948I Remember MamaPapa
  9. 1946I've Always Loved YouLeopold Goronoff
  10. 1945Escape in the DesertPhilip Artveld
  11. 1944Blonde FeverPeter Donay
  12. 1944Passage to MarseilleRenault
  13. 1943Paris After DarkJean Blanchard
  14. 1943Chetniks!Gen. Draja Mihailovitch
  15. 1942Reunion in FranceRobert Cortot
  16. 1942Random HarvestDr. Jonathan Benet
  17. 1942Calling Dr. GillespieDr. John Hunter Gerniede
  18. 1941Tarzan's Secret TreasureVandermeer
  19. 1941UndergroundEric Franken
  20. 1941Ziegfeld GirlFranz Kolter
  21. 1940EscapeDr. Ditten
  22. 1940Diamond FrontierJan Stafford De Winter
  23. 1940Ski PatrolViktor Ryder
  24. 1940Enemy AgentJeffry Arnold
  25. 1939The Journey to TilsitEndrik Settegast
  26. 1938Der HampelmannPeter
  27. 1938Covered TracksBezirksarzt Dr. Morot
  28. 1938The Indian TombChandra, Maharadscha von Eschnapur
  29. 1938Waltz MelodiesHans v. Waldenau
  30. 1938The Tiger of EschnapurMaharadscha von Eschnapur
  31. 1936RubberJohannes 'John' van Laer
  32. 1935The CrosspatchWilly van Hergershuizen
  33. 1935De big van het regimentBerkhage
  34. 1935On the MoveGeorge van Reen
  35. 1934The Good HopeGeert