Known For
Acting
Known Credits
36
Gender
Male
Birthday
September 30, 1901 (124 years old)
Place of Birth
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.
| 1954 | Salto Mortaleas Cadenos | |
| 1953 | Dreaming Lipsas Michael | |
| 1952 | Türme des Schweigensas Captain de Vries | |
| 1952 | Behind Monastery Wallsas Thomas Holinka | |
| 1951 | Sealed Cargoas Konrad | |
| 1950 | Spy Huntas Paul Kopel | |
| 1949 | The Fighting Kentuckianas Col. Georges Geraud | |
| 1948 | I Remember Mamaas Papa | |
| 1946 | I've Always Loved Youas Leopold Goronoff | |
| 1945 | Escape in the Desertas Philip Artveld | |
| 1944 | Blonde Feveras Peter Donay | |
| 1944 | Passage to Marseilleas Renault | |
| 1944 | Twenty Years Afteras (archive footage) | |
| 1943 | Paris After Darkas Jean Blanchard | |
| 1943 | Chetniks!as Gen. Draja Mihailovitch | |
| 1942 | Reunion in Franceas Robert Cortot | |
| 1942 | Random Harvestas Dr. Jonathan Benet | |
| 1942 | Calling Dr. Gillespieas Dr. John Hunter Gerniede | |
| 1941 | Tarzan's Secret Treasureas Vandermeer | |
| 1941 | Undergroundas Eric Franken | |
| 1941 | Ziegfeld Girlas Franz Kolter | |
| 1940 | Escapeas Dr. Ditten | |
| 1940 | Diamond Frontieras Jan Stafford De Winter | |
| 1940 | Ski Patrolas Viktor Ryder | |
| 1940 | Enemy Agentas Jeffry Arnold | |
| 1939 | The Journey to Tilsitas Endrik Settegast | |
| 1938 | Der Hampelmannas Peter | |
| 1938 | Covered Tracksas Bezirksarzt Dr. Morot | |
| 1938 | The Indian Tombas Chandra, Maharadscha von Eschnapur | |
| 1938 | Waltz Melodiesas Hans v. Waldenau | |
| 1938 | The Tiger of Eschnapuras Maharadscha von Eschnapur | |
| 1936 | Rubberas Johannes 'John' van Laer | |
| 1935 | The Crosspatchas Willy van Hergershuizen | |
| 1935 | De big van het regimentas Berkhage | |
| 1935 | On the Moveas George van Reen | |
| 1934 | The Good Hopeas Geert |