Philip Dorn (born Hein van der Niet; 30 September 1901 – 9 May 1975), sometimes billed as Frits van Dongen[1] (his screen name for German films prior to World War II),[2] was a Dutch American actor who had a career in Hollywood. He was best known for portraying the father in the film I Remember Mama (1948).[3]
Early years
Dorn was born in Scheveningen, The Hague, Netherlands in 1901 and made his stage début at age 14[4] in Dutch productions. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in Scheveningen.[5] He served in Queen Wilhelmina's Royal Guards.[6]
He moved to United States in August 1939, just a fortnight before World War II broke out. He went there at the urging of Henry Koster who had directed him in Holland.[9]
Warners borrowed him to play the lead in Underground (1941). At MGM he had a support in Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941) and they put him in a Dr. Kildare film, Born to be Bad, that had to be reshot when star Lew Ayres was fired due to being a conscientious objector. Dorn replaced him as a new doctor and the film was called Calling Dr. Gillespie (1942).[12]
The story "Cabin B-13" by John Dickson Carr was broadcast on the American radio program Suspense on November 9, 1943, co-starring Philip Dorn and Margo.
In 1946, he appeared onstage with Claire Trevor in The Big Two.[16] He was going to feature in Singapore but had to pull out when he fell ill with pneumonia.[17] He appeared in I Remember Mama (1948) at RKO, then did The Fighting Kentuckian (1949) with John Wayne at Republic. He had supporting roles in Spy Hunt (1950) at Universal and Sealed Cargo (1951) at RKO.
Dorn suffered from phlebitis, requiring surgery and causing a number of strokes.[citation needed] After an accident on stage, he retired in 1965 and spent the next 10 years of his life in his home in California.[8]
He was married twice. His first wife (from 1921 to 1930) was Cornelia Maria Twilt.[citation needed] His second wife was Dutch actress Marianne van Dam. They were married from 1933 until his death in 1975.[citation needed]
Ingo Schiweck/Hans Toonen Maharadscha, Tschetnik, Kriegsheimkehrer : der Schauspieler Frits van Dongen oder Philip Dorn , Osnabrück 2003. ISBN3-89959-058-9
Hans Toonen "Nederlands Eerste Hollywood-Ster
Leo Deege "From Nazi Occupied Holland to the Jungles of Vietnam-An Immigrant Story, Denver, Colorado, 2015. ISBN978-1-4787-6470-0
^THE LIFE STORY OF Philip Dorn
Picture Show; London Vol. 47, Iss. 1199, (5 Dec 1942): 11.
^SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Peter Lorre Signed for Lead in RKO Picture 'Stranger on the Third Floor' 'WOMEN IN WAR' OPENING Elsie Janis Starred in Picture at Loew's Criterion Today --'Torrid Zone' Continues Philip Dorn in "Escape" Kurt Bernhardt Gets Post
By DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. New York Times 29 May 1940: 26.
^STUDIO WILL REMAKE LEW AYRES FILM PLAY: 'Born to Be Bad' Will Have Philip Dorn as Physician
Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. New York Times 17 April 1942: 19.
^Actor From the Netherlands Learned English From Films: Hollywood Letter
By Frank Daugherty Special to The Christian Science Monitor, 13 June 1941: 14.
^DORN TOOTIN! LOOKING AT HOLLYWOOD With HEDDA HOPPER
Chicago Daily Tribune 18 July 1943: C3.
^SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Philip Dorn Named for Lead in a Warner Remake -- Three Pictures Arrive Today
Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. New York Times 10 May 1944: 16.
^Claire Trevor, Philip Dorn Starring in Romantic Comedy
By Edwin F. Melvin. The Christian Science Monitor 24 December 1946: 5.
^"Philip Dorn Has Pneumonia", New York Times, 6 March 1947: 34.
^Philip Dorn, 73, Dies; Acted on Stage, in Films
Los Angeles Times (10 May 1975: a24