Philip Dorn

Acting Sep 30, 1901 May 9, 1975 (aged 74) Scheveningen, 's-Gravenhage, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

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.

36 Acting Credits

Philip Dorn

Acting

Random Harvest

Tarzan's Secret Treasure

The Fighting Kentuckian

Passage to Marseille

I Remember Mama

Ziegfeld Girl

Sealed Cargo

Reunion in France

Escape

Spy Hunt

Underground

Blonde Fever

Calling Dr. Gillespie

Waltz Melodies

I've Always Loved You

Ski Patrol

Covered Tracks

Chetniks!

The Indian Tomb

Paris After Dark

The Journey to Tilsit

The Crosspatch

On the Move

The Tiger of Eschnapur