Philip Dorn
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.
Known For
Credits
- 1954 · Salto Mortale as Cadenos
- 1953 · Dreaming Lips as Michael
- 1952 · Türme des Schweigens as Captain de Vries
- 1952 · Behind Monastery Walls as Thomas Holinka
- 1951 · Sealed Cargo as Konrad
- 1950 · Spy Hunt as Paul Kopel
- 1949 · The Fighting Kentuckian as Col. Georges Geraud
- 1948 · I Remember Mama as Papa
- 1946 · I've Always Loved You as Leopold Goronoff
- 1945 · Escape in the Desert as Philip Artveld
- 1944 · Blonde Fever as Peter Donay
- 1944 · Passage to Marseille as Renault
- 1944 · Twenty Years After as (archive footage)
- 1943 · Paris After Dark as Jean Blanchard
- 1943 · Chetniks! as Gen. Draja Mihailovitch
- 1942 · Reunion in France as Robert Cortot
- 1942 · Random Harvest as Dr. Jonathan Benet
- 1942 · Calling Dr. Gillespie as Dr. John Hunter Gerniede
- 1941 · Tarzan's Secret Treasure as Vandermeer
- 1941 · Underground as Eric Franken
- 1941 · Ziegfeld Girl as Franz Kolter
- 1940 · Escape as Dr. Ditten
- 1940 · Diamond Frontier as Jan Stafford De Winter
- 1940 · Ski Patrol as Viktor Ryder
- 1940 · Enemy Agent as Jeffry Arnold
- 1939 · The Journey to Tilsit as Endrik Settegast
- 1938 · Der Hampelmann as Peter
- 1938 · Covered Tracks as Bezirksarzt Dr. Morot
- 1938 · The Indian Tomb as Chandra, Maharadscha von Eschnapur
- 1938 · Waltz Melodies as Hans v. Waldenau
- 1938 · The Tiger of Eschnapur as Maharadscha von Eschnapur
- 1936 · Rubber as Johannes 'John' van Laer
- 1935 · The Crosspatch as Willy van Hergershuizen
- 1935 · De big van het regiment as Berkhage
- 1935 · On the Move as George van Reen
- 1934 · The Good Hope as Geert