Dorothy Phillips (born Dorothy Gwendolyn Strible, October 30, 1889 – March 1, 1980)[1] was an American stage and film actress. She is known for her emotional performances in melodramas, having played a number of "brow beaten" women on screen, but had a pleasant demeanor off.[2] She garnered little press for anything outside of her work.[3]

Dorothy Phillips
Dorothy Phillips painted by Rolf Armstrong for the cover of Photoplay, May 1923
Born
Dorothy Gwendolyn Strible

(1889-10-30)October 30, 1889
DiedMarch 1, 1980(1980-03-01) (aged 90)
Other namesKid Nazimova
OccupationActress
Years active1911–1962
SpouseAllen Holubar (m.1912–1923; his death)

Career

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Born Dorothy Gwendolyn Strible in Baltimore,[4] Phillips was educated at the College of Expression of Maryland. After graduation she acted with the George Fawcett Stock Co.[5] Phillips continued her career as a stage actress with Colonel Savage Productions, acting in New York and Chicago. She made her film debut in 1911 in a two-reeler called The Rosary, and appeared in over 150 films during her career. For a time she was nicknamed Kid Nazimova for her ability to imitate the Russian Hollywood actress Alla Nazimova.[4] Phillips started at Universal Pictures often starring with Lon Chaney. Sometimes she would supplement these features with "shorts" filmed at Fox Studios. By 1917 Phillips had appeared in 22 films over two years and had suffered a breakdown due to exhaustion. It also caused a breach in her working relationship with director Joseph De Grasse and his screenwriter/director wife Ida May Park.[5]

 
Allen_Holubar 1923
 
Dorothy Phillips 1919

Once she had rested and recovered, 1918 brought a series of successful films, including A Soul for Sale, the first film starring her that was directed by her husband, Allen J. Holubar.[5] Her pictures during this time scored highly with exhibitors and patrons alike.[2] These successes[6] and newfound working relationship between the couple prompted Phillips to leave Universal and in 1920 she and Holubar formed their own company, Allen Holubar Productions.[7] Their pictures were released through First National Pictures to further acclaim throughout the 1920s.[8][9][10]

Phillips' career slowed after 1927, and she mainly appeared in uncredited bit roles for the rest of her career. Her last appearance was in the 1962 western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Marriage and death

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Dorothy Phillips was married to actor-director Allen Holubar for 11 years until his death in 1923 from pneumonia, following surgery, at the age of 33.[11] They met when she was starring on stage in the Chicago production of "Every Woman" as the character of Modesty.[5] After his death, she did not return to acting until mid-1925. Phillips also died of pneumonia, in 1980, at the age of 90. She is buried with her husband at the Secret Garden section of Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.[12]

Legacy

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For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Dorothy Phillips has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6358 Hollywood Blvd.[13] Phillips and Holubar's 1918 film The Heart of Humanity was shown at MOMA, The Museum of Modern Art in a 2014 exhibition.[14]

Filmography

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Phillips featured in Motion Picture Magazine, 1915
Year Title Role Notes
1911 His Friend's Wife Short, Uncredited
Lost film
The Rosary Ruth Martin Short
Lost film
Her Dad the Constable Mary Perkins Short
Lost film
The Gordian Knot Marion Walters Short
Lost film
Saved from the Torrents Katie Carrington Short
Lost film
Fate's Funny Frolic Alice Trevor Short
Lost film
A False Suspicion Marion Walters Short
Lost film
1913 The Unburied Past Margaret Phillips Short
Lost film
The Power of Conscience Dora Gordon Short
Lost film
1914 In All Things Moderation Mary Graham - the Oldest Daughter Short
Lost film
Three Men Who Knew Mrs. Watson Short
Lost film
1915 The Affair of the Terrace Jasmine Roberts Short
Lost film
The Trail of the Upper Yukon Marcia Short
Lost film
1916 Ambition Lost film
The Mark of Cain Doris Alternative title: By Fate's Degree
Lost film
If My Country Should Call Margaret Ardrath Incomplete film
The Place Beyond the Winds Priscilla Glenn Incomplete film
The Price of Silence Helen Urmy
1917 The Piper's Price Amy Hadley Lost film
Hell Morgan's Girl Lola Lost film
The Girl in the Checkered Coat Mary Graham "Flash" Fan Lost film
The Flashlight Delice Brixton Alternative title: The Flashlight Girl
Lost film
A Doll's House Nora Helmer Lost film
Fires of Rebellion Madge Garvey Lost film
The Rescue Anne Wetherall Lost film
Pay Me! Marta Alternative titles: Pay Day
The Vengeance of the West
Incomplete film
Triumph Nell Baxter Incomplete film
Bondage Elinor Crawford Lost film
1918 The Grand Passion Viola Argos Lost film
Broadway Love Midge O'Hara
The Risky Road Marjorie Helmer
A Soul for Sale Neila Pendleton
The Mortgaged Wife Gloria Carter
The Talk of the Town Genevra French Directed by Allen Holubar, her husband
Lost film
The Heart of Humanity Nanette Directed by Allen Holubar
1919 Destiny Mary Burton Lost film
The Right to Happiness Sonia & Vivian - Twin Sisters
Paid in Advance Joan Gray
1920 Once to Every Woman Aurora Meredith Lost film
1921 Man, Woman & Marriage Victoria
1922 Hurricane's Gal Lola
The World's a Stage Jo Bishop Lost film
1923 Slander the Woman Yvonne Desmarest Lost film
The Unknown Purple Uncredited
Lost film
1925 Every Man's Wife Mrs. Bradin Lost film
The Sporting Chance Patricia Winthrop Lost film
Without Mercy Mrs. Enid Grant
1926 The Bar-C Mystery Jane Cortelyou Lost film
The Gay Deceiver Claire Lost film
Upstage Miss Weaver
Remember Ruth Pomeroy Incomplete film
1927 Women Love Diamonds Mrs. Flaherty
The Broken Gate Aurora Lane Lost film
Cradle Snatchers Kitty Ladd Directed by Howard Hawks
Incomplete film
1930 The Jazz Cinderella Mrs. Consuelo Carter Alternative title: Love Is Like That
1934 Now I'll Tell Mrs. Farth (scenes deleted)
1936 Thank You, Jeeves! Boy's mother Uncredited
1937 Hot Water Nurse Uncredited
1940 And One Was Beautiful Gertrude's maid Uncredited
1942 My Favorite Spy Woman at wedding Uncredited
Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood Old Lady at Radio Uncredited
1943 The Cross of Lorraine Village woman Uncredited
1944 Mrs. Parkington Leaping Rock Pedestrian Uncredited
1946 The Postman Always Rings Twice Nurse Uncredited
1949 The Reckless Moment Woman Uncredited
1950 Father of the Bride Woman in Nightmare Sequence Uncredited
1951 Man in the Saddle Townswoman Uncredited
1955 Violent Saturday Bank customer Uncredited
How to Be Very, Very Popular Uncredited
1956 The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit Mr. Hopkins' maid Uncredited
1962 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Townswoman Uncredited

References

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  1. ^ Dorothy Phillips. "Social Security Death Index". American Ancestors. New England Historic Genealogical Society. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Theatre Magazine. Theatre Magazine Company. 1918.
  3. ^ Motion Picture. Macfadden-Bartell. 1922.
  4. ^ a b Sandra Brennan (2012). "Dorothy Phillips". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d Lowrey, Carolyn (1920). The First One Hundred Noted Men and Women of the Screen. Moffat, Yard. p. 150. dorothy phillips actress.
  6. ^ Dramatic Mirror of Motion Pictures and the Stage. Dramatic Mirror Company. 1918.
  7. ^ Soister, John T.; Nicolella, Henry; Joyce, Steve (January 31, 2013). American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913_ÑÐ1929. McFarland. ISBN 9780786487905.
  8. ^ lmharnisch (August 17, 2011). "Found on EBay – Witzel Photograph". Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  9. ^ Life. Life Magazine, Incorporated. 1922.
  10. ^ Photoplay: The Aristocrat of Motion Picture Magazines. Photoplay Magazine Publishing Company. 1923.
  11. ^ "Franklin film (Holubar)". Newspapers.com. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  12. ^ Wilson, Scott (August 19, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9781476625997.
  13. ^ "Dorothy Phillips". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  14. ^ "The Heart of Humanity. 1919. Directed by Allen Holubar | MoMA". The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
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