Philip Dorn was an American actor, born on September 30, 1901, in Scheveningen, ‘s-Gravenhage, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He is best known for his roles in “Random Harvest,” “Calling Dr. Gillespie,” and “I Remember Mama.”
Personal and Family Life
Philip Dorn was married twice. His first marriage was to Cornelia Maria Twilt from 1921 until their divorce in 1930, with whom he had two children. He later married Dutch actress Marianne van Dam in 1933, and they remained together until his death in 1975.
Career Highlights
Before moving to America, Philip Dorn had success as a matinee idol in Holland and Germany. He fled to the United States before World War II, where he played many roles as anti-Nazi characters in various low-budget films. His breakthrough came when he starred as the grand duke in the German films “Der Tiger von Eschnapur” (1938) and “Das indische Grabmal” (1938). Unfortunately, an injury in 1955 led to his retirement from acting, causing him to live a more secluded life thereafter.
Death and Legacy
Philip Dorn passed away on May 9, 1975, in Los Angeles, California, due to a heart attack. He is remembered as the first Dutch actor to achieve a successful career in Hollywood and for his contributions to cinema during and after World War II.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Calling Dr. Gillespie | 1942-08-01 | Dr. John Hunter Gerniede |
| Random Harvest | 1942-12-17 | Dr. Jonathan Benet |
| Tarzan’s Secret Treasure | 1941-12-01 | Vandermeer |
| Reunion in France | 1942-12-25 | Robert Cortot |
| I Remember Mama | 1948-03-09 | Papa |
| The Fighting Kentuckian | 1949-09-15 | Col. Georges Geraud |
| Passage to Marseille | 1944-03-11 | Renault |
| Immer wenn ich glücklich bin | 1938-01-20 | Hans v. Waldenau |
| De Kribbebijter | 1935-08-07 | Willy van Hergershuizen |
| Underground | 1941-06-28 | Eric Franken |
| Escape | 1940-11-01 | Dr. Ditten |
| Blonde Fever | 1944-12-05 | Peter Donay |
| I’ve Always Loved You | 1946-12-02 | Leopold Goronoff |
| Sealed Cargo | 1951-05-19 | Konrad |
| Das indische Grabmal | 1938-01-27 | Chandra, Maharadscha von Eschnapur |
| Der Tiger von Eschnapur | 1938-01-06 | Maharadscha von Eschnapur |
| Paris After Dark | 1943-10-15 | Jean Blanchard |
| Hinter Klostermauern | 1952-04-21 | Thomas Holinka |
| Ski Patrol | 1940-05-09 | Viktor Ryder |
| Die Reise nach Tilsit | 1939-11-02 | Endrik Settegast |
| Verwehte Spuren | 1938-08-25 | Bezirksarzt Dr. Morot |
| Ziegfeld Girl | 1941-04-25 | Franz Kolter |
| Escape in the Desert | 1945-05-01 | Philip Artveld |
| Türme des Schweigens | 1952-09-30 | Captain de Vries |
| Enemy Agent | 1940-04-18 | Jeffry Arnold |
| Chetniks! | 1943-01-11 | Gen. Draja Mihailovitch |
| Diamond Frontier | 1940-09-30 | Jan Stafford De Winter |
| Der träumende Mund | 1953-01-29 | Michael |
| Salto Mortale | 1954-12-17 | Cadenos |
| Der Hampelmann | 1938-10-26 | Peter |
| Op Hoop Van Zegen | 1934-12-21 | Geert |
| Twenty Years After | 1944-01-01 | (archive footage) |
| Rubber | 1936-01-04 | Johannes ‘John’ van Laer |
| Op Stap | 1935-01-01 | George van Reen |
| De Big van het Regiment | 1935-04-19 | Berkhage |
| Spy Hunt | 1950-06-08 | Paul Kopel |