Jean Hersholt

Jean Pierre Carl Buron (12 July 1886 – 2 June 1956), known professionally as Jean Hersholt, was a Danish-American actor. He is most famous for starring on the CBS radio series Dr. Christian from 1937–1954, reprising the role in a film series from 1939-1941. He also co-starred with Shirley Temple in the film Heidi. When asked how to pronounce his name, he told The Literary Digest, "in English her'sholt; in Danish, hairs'hult." From 1924 to 1955, he had 140 motion picture credits: 75 silent film and 65 "talkies"; he directed four.

Early life Hersholt was born Jean Pierre Carl Buron on 12 July 1886 in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. He claimed to have been born into a family of actors, but in reality, both of his parents, Henri Pierre Buron and Clara (née Petersen), were hairdressers. Henri was the son of a French Roman Catholic father and a Danish Protestant mother, while Clara was the daughter of a Danish Protestant father and a Danish Jewish mother. Initially, Henri worked as a hairdresser but later became a cigar and wine merchant/vendor. Hersholt appeared in two of the first short films of the Danish film studio Nordisk Film in 1906, but did not find much success in his early years in Denmark. Hersholt emigrated to the United States in 1913 and spent the remainder of his acting career in America.

Career Promotional flyer for 'The Vaseline Program' / and 'Dr. Christian' radio drama program with Jean Hersholt broadcasting 1937-1954 on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) radio network and station KIRO in Seattle, Washington

Hersholt is best remembered for his roles in two iconic films. In 1924, he played Marcus Schouler in the silent film classic Greed directed by Erich von Stroheim. A decade later, he co-starred with world-famous child actress Shirley Temple as her beloved grandfather living in the remote Alps in the 1937 film version of the classic 1880 children's book, Heidi, written by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. Throughout his extensive film career, he portrayed a wide range of characters, from villains in early silent films to supporting roles where his gentle Danish language accent and pleasant voice made him well-suited to portray a succession of benevolent fathers, doctors, professors, and European noblemen. Hersholt's final on-screen appearance was in the 1955 movie Run for Cover.

In the 1936 movie The Country Doctor, starring the famous Dionne quintuplets, Hersholt portrayed Dr. John Luke, a character based on Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, the Canadian obstetrician who delivered and cared for the Dionne quintuplets. Two sequels followed the movie. Hersholt wanted to portray the role on radio but could not obtain the rights. He chose to create his own doctor character for radio. Since he was a fan of fairy tale anthology author Hans Christian Andersen, he borrowed that name for his character portrayal. This character, "Dr. Paul Christian," was a philosophical doctor who practiced in the typical Midwestern town of River's End. He received assistance from Nurse Judy Price and occasionally from others. On 7 November 1937, Dr. Christian debuted on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) radio network as part of the 'Vaseline Program' opening with the theme music, "Rainbow on the River."

The small-town physician's good humor, innate common sense, and scientific training helped drive off a series of villainous types attempting to disrupt the peaceful lifestyle of River's End. The radio series, produced by Dorothy McCann, became a popular and long-running hit. It aired on the CBS network for 17 years until 6 January 1954. Hersholt was so strongly associated with the role that he received mail asking for real-life medical advice. The Dr. Christian series spawned several spin-offs, making it one of the earliest media franchises. For example, Hersholt co-wrote a Dr. Christian novel and starred in a series of six family feature films as Dr. Christian in a franchise spanning two years, from 1939 to 1941. An example of one of these films is Dr. Christian Meets the Women released in 1940.

In 1956, two years after the long-running radio program concluded, the character Dr. Christian made the transition to television and its unique programming style. The script for this new television program was written by a young Gene Roddenberry, who would later become famous for creating the original TV series 'Star Trek' in 1966. This led to the renowned science fiction franchise over the next few decades. The new 'Dr. Christian' TV show differed from the radio series by introducing a new, younger character portrayed by Macdonald Carey as the elder Christian's nephew, "Dr. Mark Christian". The show was syndicated through CBS and its production company, Ziv Television, and ran for two seasons from 1956-1957. It was mostly broadcast at non-traditional times on local stations nationwide, after Jean Hersholt's death in early 1956.

From the late 1930s through the mid-1950s, Neil Reagan, the brother of actor and future U.S. president Ronald Reagan, worked as a traveling industry spokesman for the General Electric Company. Additionally, Neil directed the earlier CBS radio series Dr. Christian, with Jean Hersholt.

In 1939, Hersholt broadened his social interests and played a critical role in establishing the Motion Picture Relief Fund, now known as the Motion Picture and Television Fund. This fund provides medical care and support for Hollywood industry employees at various levels, offering assistance when experiencing difficulties due to illness, old age, or other challenges. This occurred just four years after the establishment of America's "social safety net" with the passage of Social Security old age pension system by the Roosevelt administration. The fund Hersholt supported was used to establish the Motion Picture Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. After his death in 1956, his philanthropic endeavors led to the establishment of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. This honorary Academy Award, also known as the "Oscar," is presented to an "individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry." The fund was later expanded to include those working in the television field.

As president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Hersholt was actively involved in various activities to promote and preserve American cinema. On March 20, 1948, during the 20th anniversary of the academy's founding, he presented special awards to several pioneers of the American motion pictures/film industry. The recipients included Colonel William N. Selig, Albert E. Smith, George K. Spoor, and Thomas Armat. These individuals were often referred to as "the Men Who Invented Hollywood".

Hersholt's extensive collection of books and other materials by the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen is now housed in the special collections division of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.. He translated over 160 of Andersen's fairy tales into English. These were published in 1949 in six volumes as The Complete Andersen, this work is "... rated as The standard translation, being one of the best" in English cited by the Hans Christian Andersen Center of the University of Southern Denmark.

Hersholt was appointed a knight of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog and awarded a medal in 1948, partly due to this literary academic endeavor.

On August 31, 1952, the accomplished elder Hersholt appeared as the mystery guest on the popular long-running CBS-TV panel/quiz show What's My Line? less than four years before his death. The show aired from the 1950s and into the 1960s and was hosted by John Charles Daly.

Family Hersholt married Via Andersen on 11 April 1914. They had one son, Allan Hersholt.

He was the paternal half-uncle (by marriage) of actor Leslie Nielsen and former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Erik Nielsen.

Death

Hersholt died of cancer in Hollywood on the night of 2 June 1956. He is interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. His grave is marked with a statue of Klods-Hans (English: Clumsy Hans), a Hans Christian Andersen character who left home to find his way in the world — much as Hersholt himself had done.

Honors and awards Hersholt was honored with honorary Academy Awards for his services to the industry in 1940, 1949, and 1950. In his honor, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award was named by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is one of only 11 people with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One is located at 6501 Hollywood Boulevard for his work in motion pictures, and another one is located at 6701 Hollywood Boulevard for his work in radio.

Selected filmography Year Film Role Director Notes 1915 The Disciple Mob Member uncredited 1916 Bullets and Brown Eyes 1916 Hell's Hinges Bartender uncredited 1916 The Aryan Reginald Barker and Clifford Smith 1916 Kinkaid, Gambler 1916 The Desert 1917 Black Orchids Rex Ingram 1917 Fighting for Love Ferdinand Raymond Wells 1917 Love Aflame Reginald Raymond Wells 1917 The Terror Jimm, the Dope Raymond Wells 1917 The Saintly Sinner 1917 Perils of the Secret Service Prince Feodor serial; episode #2 1917 Southern Justice Caleb Talbot Lynn Reynolds 1917 The Greater Law Lynn Reynolds 1917 The Soul Herder The Parson John Ford Short 1917 The Show Down Parkes Lynn Reynolds 1917 A Stormy Knight Dr. Fraser Elmer Clifton 1917 '49-'17 'Gentleman Jim' Raynor 1917 Princess Virtue Emile Carre Robert Z. Leonard 1918 Madame Spy Count Von Ornstorff Douglas Gerrard 1918 The Answer Shepard 1918 Little Red Decides Jack Conway 1919 Whom the Gods Would Destroy 1919 Love's Prisoner Party Guest John Francis Dillion uncredited 1920 The Red Lane Vetal Beaulieu 1920 Merely Mary Ann Stranger Edward J. Le Saint 1920 The Golden Trail Harry Teal Lewis H. Moomaw 1920 The Deceiver 1921 The Servant in the House Manson, The Servant in the House Jack Conway 1921 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Professor von Hartrott Rex Ingram uncredited 1921 A Certain Rich Man Adrian Brownwell Howard Hickman 1921 The Man of the Forest Lem Beasley Howard Hickman 1922 When Romance Rides Joel Creech Jean Hersholt 1922 Heart's Haven Henry Bird Benjamin B. Hampton 1922 Tess of the Storm Country Ben Letts John S. Robertson 1922 The Strangers' Banquet Fiend Marshall Neilan 1923 Jazzmania Prince Otto of Como Robert Z. Leonard 1923 Quicksands Ring Member Jack Conway 1923 Red Lights Ezra Carson Clarence G. Badger 1923 Souls for Sale Himself Rupert Hughes 1924 Torment Boris Scott R. Beal (assistant director) 1924 The Goldfish Herman Krauss Jerome Storm 1924 The Woman on the Jury Jury Foreman Harry O. Hoyt 1924 Sinners in Silk Dr. Eustace Hobart Henley 1924 Her Night of Romance Joe Diamond Sidney Franklin 1924 Greed Marcus Erich von Stroheim 1924 Cheap Kisses Gustaf Borgstrom Cullen Tate 1924 So Big Aug Hempel Charles Brabin 1925 Dangerous Innocence Gilchrist William A. Seiter 1925 Fifth Avenue Models a Crook Svend Gade 1925 If Marriage Fails Dr. Mallini John Ince 1925 Don Q, Son of Zorro Don Fabrique Donald Crisp 1925 A Woman's Faith Jules Cluny Edward Laemmle 1925 Stella Dallas Ed Munn Henry King 1926 The Greater Glory Gustav Schmidt Curt Rehfeld 1926 My Old Dutch 'Erb 'Uggins Laurence Trimble 1926 It Must Be Love Pop Schmidt Alfred E. Green 1926 Flames Ole Bergson Lewis H. Moomaw 1926 The Old Soak Clement Hawley, Sr. Edward Sloman 1927 The Wrong Mr. Wright Seymour White Scott Sidney 1927 Alias the Deacon George Caswell, aka The Deacon Edward Sloman 1927 The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg Dr. Jüttner Ernst Lubitsch 1928 13 Washington Square 'Deacon' Pyecroft Melville W. Brown 1928 The Secret Hour Tony Rowland V. Lee 1928 Abie's Irish Rose Solomon Levy Victor Fleming 1928 Jazz Mad Franz Hausmann F. Harmon Weight 1928 The Battle of the Sexes William Judson D. W. Griffith 1928 Give and Take Factory Owner William Beaudine 1929 Girl on the Barge McCadden Edward Sloman 1929 The Younger Generation Pa Frank Capra 1929 Modern Love François Renault Arch Heath 1930 The Climax Luigi Golfanti Renaud Hoffman 1930 The Case of Sergeant Grischa Posnanski Ray Lissner (assistant) 1930 Mamba August Bolte Albert S. Rogell Mamba 1930 Hell Harbor Joseph Horngold Henry King 1930 East Is West Man Monta Bell 1930 A Soldier's Plaything Grandfather Rittner Michael Curtiz uncredited 1930 The Cat Creeps Dr. Patterson Rupert Julian 1930 The Third Alarm Frank 'Dad' Morton Emory Johnson 1930 Viennese Nights Elsa's Father Alan Crosland 1931 Daybreak Herr Schnabel Jacques Feyder 1931 Transatlantic Rudolph aka Jed Kramer William K. Howard 1931 The Phantom of Paris Herman John S. Robertson 1931 Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) Karl Ohlin Robert Z. Leonard 1931 The Sin of Madelon Claudet Dr. Dulac Edgar Selwyn 1931 Private Lives OscarSidney Franklin 1932 Emma Mr. Frederick Smith Clarence Brown 1932 The Beast of the City Sam Belmonte Charles Brabin 1932 Are You Listening? George Wagner 1932 Grand Hotel Senf, the Porter Edmund Goulding 1932 Night Court the Janitor W. S. Van Dyke 1932 New Morals for Old James Hallett Charles Brabin 1932 Unashamed Heinrich Schmidt Harry Beaumont 1932 Skyscraper Souls Jake Sorenson Edgar Selwyn 1932 Hearts of Humanity Sol Bloom Christy Cabanne 1932 The Mask of Fu Manchu Von Berg Charles Vidor 1932 Flesh Mr. Herman John Ford 1933 The Crime of the Century Dr. Emil Brandt William Beaudine 1933 Song of the Eagle Otto Hoffman Ralph Murphy 1933 Dinner at Eight Jo Stengel George Cukor 1933 Christopher Bean Rosen Sam Wood 1934 The Cat and the Fiddle Professor Sam Wood (uncredited) 1934 Men in White Dr. 'Hockie' Hochberg Ryszard Bolesławski 1934 The Fountain Baron Van Leyden John Cromwell 1934 The Painted Veil Herr Koerber Richard Boleslawski 1935 Mark of the Vampire Baron Otto Tod Browning 1935 Break of Hearts Professor Thalma Philip Moeller 1935 Murder in the Fleet Victor Hanson Edward Sedgwick 1936 Tough Guy Veterinarian Chester Franklin 1936 The Country Doctor Dr. John Luke Henry King 1936 Sins of Man Christopher Freyman Gregory Ratoff 1936 His Brother's Wife Professor Fahrenheim W. S. Van Dyke 1936 Reunion Dr. John Luke 1936 One in a Million Heinrich Muller Sidney Lanfield 1937 Seventh Heaven Father Chevillon Henry King 1937 Heidi Adolph Kramer / Grandfather Allan Dwan 1938 Happy Landing Herr Lars Ericksen Roy Del Ruth 1938 Alexander's Ragtime Band Professor Heinrich Henry King 1938 I'll Give a Million Victor Walter Lang 1938 Five of a Kind Dr. John Luke Herbert I. Leeds 1939 Mr. Moto in Danger Island Sutter Herbert I. Leeds 1939 Meet Dr. Christian Dr. Paul Christian Bernard Vorhaus 1940 The Courageous Dr. Christian Dr. Paul Christian Bernard Vorhaus 1940 Dr. Christian Meets the Women Dr. Paul Christian William C. McGann 1940 Remedy for Riches Dr. Paul Christian Erle C. Kenton 1941 Melody for Three Dr. Paul Christian Erle C. Kenton 1941 They Meet Again Dr. Paul Christian Erle C. Kenton 1943 Stage Door Canteen Himself Frank Borzage 1949 Dancing in the Dark Jean Hersholt Irving Reis 1955 Run for Cover Mr. Swenson Nicholas Ray

Radio appearances Year Program Episode/source 1943 Lady Esther Screen Guild Theatre Men in White