Philip Dorn

Philip Dorn (born Hein van der Niet; 30 September 1901 – 9 May 1975), sometimes billed as Frits van Dongen (his screen name for German films prior to World War II), 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.

Early years Dorn was born in Scheveningen, The Hague, Netherlands in 1901 and made his stage début at age 14 in Dutch productions. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in Scheveningen. He served in Queen Wilhelmina's Royal Guards.

Career Netherlands Dorn made his debut under the name of Frits van Dongen in Op Hoop van Zegen (1934) directed by Alex Benno. He had lead roles in De Big van het Regiment (1935), The Crosspatch (1935), Op Stap (1936), and Rubber (1936). He appeared on stage in Camille, Ghosts and Journey's End. He also toured Java with a theatrical company.

Koster was at Universal and Dorn made three films for that studio: Enemy Agent (1940), Ski Patrol (1940), and Diamond Frontier (1940). Dorn went over to MGM where he had support roles in Escape (1940) and Ziegfeld Girl (1941).

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). He had a supporting part in Random Harvest (1942) and was third billed in Reunion in France (1942).

20th Century Fox gave him the lead role in Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas (1943), playing Draža Mihailović. That studio kept him on to star in Paris After Dark (1943). At Warner Bros he was fourth billed in Passage to Marseille (1944). MGM gave him the lead in a B, Blonde Fever (1944). At Warners he starred in Escape in the Desert (1945), a remake of The Petrified Forest replacing Zachary Scott.

In 1946, he appeared onstage with Claire Trevor in The Big Two. He was going to feature in Singapore but had to pull out when he fell ill with pneumonia. 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.

Return to Germany Back in Germany, Dorn starred in Behind Monastery Walls (1952), Towers of Silence (1952), Dreaming Lips (1953) and Salto Mortale (1953).

Personal life Dorn suffered from phlebitis, requiring surgery and causing a number of strokes. After an accident on stage, he retired in 1965 and spent the next 10 years of his life in his home in California.

He was married twice. His first wife (from 1921 to 1930) was Cornelia Maria Twilt. His second wife was Dutch actress Marianne van Dam. They were married from 1933 until his death in 1975.

Death Dorn died of a heart attack at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, on 9 May 1975. He was 73 years old.

Partial filmography

As Frits van Dongen Op hoop van zegen (1934) – Geert – haar zoon De Big van het Regiment (1935) – Berkhage The Crosspatch or De Kribbebijter (1935) – Willy Op Stap (1935) – George van Reen Rubber (1936) – John van Laer The Tiger of Eschnapur (1938) – Maharadscha von Eschnapur Waltz Melodies (1938) or Immer wenn ich glücklich bin..! – Hans v. Waldenau The Indian Tomb (1938) or Das indische Grabmal – Maharadscha von Eschnapur Covered Tracks (1938) or Verwehte Spuren – Dr. Fernand Morot The Jumping Jack or Der Hampelmann (1938) – Peter The Journey to Tilsit or Die Reise nach Tilsit (1939) – Endrik Settegast

As Philip Dorn Enemy Agent (1940) – Doctor Jeffry Arnold Ski Patrol (1940) – Lt. Viktor Ryder Diamond Frontier (1940) – Jan Stafford De Winter Escape (1940) – Dr. Ditten Ziegfeld Girl (1941) – Franz Kolter Underground (1941) – Eric Franken Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941) – Vandermeer Calling Dr. Gillespie (1942) – Dr. John Hunter Gerniede Random Harvest (1942) – Dr. Jonathan Benet Reunion in France (1942) – Robert Cortot Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas (1943) – Draza Mihailovic Paris After Dark (1943) – Jean Blanchard Passage to Marseille (1944) – Renault Blonde Fever (1944) – Peter Donay Escape in the Desert (1945) – Philip Artveld I've Always Loved You (1946) – Leopold Goronoff I Remember Mama (1948) – Papa The Fighting Kentuckian (1949) – Col. Georges Geraud Spy Hunt (1950) – Paul Kopel Sealed Cargo (1951) – Konrad Behind Monastery Walls (1952, or Hinter Klostermauern) – Thomas Holinka

As Frits van Dongen Towers of Silence or Türme des Schweigens (1952) – Captain de Vries Dreaming Lips or Der träumende Mund (1953) – Michael Salto Mortale (1953) – Cadenos (final film role)