
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.
Filmografi
Covered Tracks1938 · Bezirksarzt Dr. Morot
Ziegfeld Girl1941 · Franz Kolter
Tarzan's Secret Treasure1941 · Vandermeer
Chetniks!1943 · Gen. Draja Mihailovitch
I've Always Loved You1946 · Leopold Goronoff
Passage to Marseille1944 · Renault
Salto Mortale1954 · Cadenos
Random Harvest1942 · Dr. Jonathan Benet
Der Hampelmann1938 · Peter
The Fighting Kentuckian1949 · Col. Georges Geraud
Rubber1936 · Johannes 'John' van Laer
Türme des Schweigens1952 · Captain de Vries
Twenty Years After1944 · (archive footage)
The Indian Tomb1938 · Chandra, Maharadscha von Eschnapur
I Remember Mama1948 · Papa
On the Move1935 · George van Reen
Reunion in France1942 · Robert Cortot
Escape1940 · Dr. Ditten
Dreaming Lips1953 · Michael
De big van het regiment1935 · Berkhage
The Journey to Tilsit1939 · Endrik Settegast
Waltz Melodies1938 · Hans v. Waldenau
Escape in the Desert1945 · Philip Artveld
Enemy Agent1940 · Jeffry Arnold
Al Hill
Felix Bressart
Leo Peukert
Edith Meinhard
Humphrey Bogart
Anna Sten
James Stewart
Claude Rains
Peter Lorre
Paul Kelly
Eve Arden
Paul Dahlke