Philip Dorn

Philip Dorn

Biography: 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. 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.

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: September 30, 1901

Deathday: May 09, 1975

Popularity:

2.82

Known For

Calling Dr. Gillespie
Calling Dr. Gillespie

1942-08-01

Random Harvest
Random Harvest

1942-12-17

Tarzan's Secret Treasure
Tarzan's Secret Treasure

1941-12-01

Reunion in France
Reunion in France

1942-12-25

I Remember Mama
I Remember Mama

1948-03-09

The Fighting Kentuckian
The Fighting Kentuckian

1949-09-15

Passage to Marseille
Passage to Marseille

1944-03-11

Waltz Melodies
Waltz Melodies

1938-01-20

The Crosspatch
The Crosspatch

1935-08-07

Underground
Underground

1941-06-28

Escape
Escape

1940-11-01

Blonde Fever
Blonde Fever

1944-12-05

I've Always Loved You
I've Always Loved You

1946-12-02

Escape in the Desert
Escape in the Desert

1945-05-01

Sealed Cargo
Sealed Cargo

1951-05-19

The Indian Tomb
The Indian Tomb

1938-01-27

The Tiger of Eschnapur
The Tiger of Eschnapur

1938-01-06

Paris After Dark
Paris After Dark

1943-10-15

Behind Monastery Walls
Behind Monastery Walls

1952-04-21

Ski Patrol
Ski Patrol

1940-05-09

The Journey to Tilsit
The Journey to Tilsit

1939-11-02

Spy Hunt
Spy Hunt

1950-06-08

Covered Tracks
Covered Tracks

1938-08-25

Ziegfeld Girl
Ziegfeld Girl

1941-04-25

Türme des Schweigens
Türme des Schweigens

1952-09-30

Chetniks!
Chetniks!

1943-01-11

Enemy Agent
Enemy Agent

1940-04-18

Diamond Frontier
Diamond Frontier

1940-09-30

Dreaming Lips
Dreaming Lips

1953-01-29

Salto Mortale
Salto Mortale

1954-12-17

Der Hampelmann
Der Hampelmann

1938-10-26

The Good Hope
The Good Hope

1934-12-21

Twenty Years After
Twenty Years After

1944-01-01

Rubber
Rubber

1936-01-04

On the Move
On the Move

1935-01-01

De big van het regiment
De big van het regiment

1935-04-19