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.
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
36
Gender
Male
Birthday
1901-09-30 (123 years old)
Place of Birth
Scheveningen, 's-Gravenhage, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Acting

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

Passage to Marseille as Renault

1944

Twenty Years After as (archive footage)

1944

Blonde Fever as Peter Donay

1943

Paris After Dark as Jean Blanchard

1943

Chetniks! as Gen. Draja Mihailovitch

1942

Random Harvest as Dr. Jonathan Benet

1942

Reunion in France as Robert Cortot

1942

Calling Dr. Gillespie as Dr. John Hunter Gerniede

1941

Underground as Eric Franken

1941

Ziegfeld Girl as Franz Kolter

1941

Tarzan's Secret Treasure as Vandermeer

1940

Escape as Dr. Ditten

1940

Ski Patrol as Viktor Ryder

1940

Diamond Frontier as Jan Stafford De Winter

1940

Enemy Agent as Jeffry Arnold

1939

The Journey to Tilsit as Endrik Settegast

1938

The Indian Tomb as Chandra, Maharadscha von Eschnapur

1938

The Tiger of Eschnapur as Maharadscha von Eschnapur

1938

Waltz Melodies as Hans v. Waldenau

1938

Covered Tracks as Bezirksarzt Dr. Morot

1938

Der Hampelmann as Peter

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