1901-09-30 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.
 |
Salto Mortale | Cadenos | 1954-12-17 |
 |
Der träumende Mund | Michael | 1953-01-29 |
 |
Türme des Schweigens | Captain de Vries | 1952-09-30 |
 |
Hinter Klostermauern | Thomas Holinka | 1952-04-21 |
 |
Sealed Cargo | Konrad | 1951-05-19 |
 |
Spy Hunt | Paul Kopel | 1950-06-08 |
 |
The Fighting Kentuckian | Col. Georges Geraud | 1949-09-15 |
 |
I Remember Mama | Papa | 1948-03-09 |
 |
I've Always Loved You | Leopold Goronoff | 1946-12-02 |
 |
Escape in the Desert | Philip Artveld | 1945-05-01 |
 |
Blonde Fever | Peter Donay | 1944-12-05 |
 |
Passage to Marseille | Renault | 1944-03-11 |
 |
Twenty Years After | (archive footage) | 1944-01-01 |
 |
Chetniks! | Gen. Draja Mihailovitch | 1943-01-11 |
 |
Paris After Dark | Jean Blanchard | 1943-10-15 |
 |
Reunion in France | Robert Cortot | 1942-12-25 |
 |
Calling Dr. Gillespie | Dr. John Hunter Gerniede | 1942-08-01 |
 |
Random Harvest | Dr. Jonathan Benet | 1942-12-17 |
 |
Underground | Eric Franken | 1941-06-28 |
 |
Ziegfeld Girl | Franz Kolter | 1941-04-25 |
 |
Tarzan's Secret Treasure | Vandermeer | 1941-12-01 |
 |
Enemy Agent | Jeffry Arnold | 1940-04-18 |
 |
Ski Patrol | Viktor Ryder | 1940-05-09 |
 |
Escape | Dr. Ditten | 1940-11-01 |
 |
Diamond Frontier | Jan Stafford De Winter | 1940-09-30 |
 |
Die Reise nach Tilsit | Endrik Settegast | 1939-11-02 |
 |
Der Hampelmann | Peter | 1938-10-26 |
 |
Immer wenn ich glücklich bin | Hans v. Waldenau | 1938-01-20 |
 |
Der Tiger von Eschnapur | Maharadscha von Eschnapur | 1938-01-06 |
 |
Verwehte Spuren | Bezirksarzt Dr. Morot | 1938-08-25 |
 |
Das indische Grabmal | Chandra, Maharadscha von Eschnapur | 1938-01-27 |
 |
Rubber | Johannes 'John' van Laer | 1936-01-04 |
 |
Op stap | George van Reen | 1935-01-01 |
 |
De kribbebijter | Willy van Hergershuizen | 1935-08-07 |
 |
De big van het regiment | Berkhage | 1935-04-19 |
 |
Op hoop van zegen | Geert | 1934-12-21 |
