Dorothy Phillips


Dorothy Phillips 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. She garnered little press for anything outside of her work.

Career

Born Dorothy Gwendolyn Strible in Baltimore, Phillips was educated at the College of Expression of Maryland and once graduated acted with the George Fawcett Stock Co. Phillips began her career as a stage actress for Colonel Savage Productions acting in New York and Chicago. She made her film debut in 1911 on 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. 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 screenwriter/director wife, Ida May Park.
for cover of Photoplay, 1923
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. Her pictures during this time scored highly with exhibitors and patrons alike. These successes 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. Their pictures were released through First National Pictures to further acclaim throughout the 1920s.
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 classic western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Marriage and death

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. They met when she was starring on stage in the Chicago production of "Every Woman" as the character of Modesty. 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.

Legacy

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

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1911His Friend's WifeShort, Uncredited
1911The RosaryRuth MartinShort
1911Her Dad the ConstableMary PerkinsShort
1911The Gordian KnotMarion WaltersShort
1911Saved from the TorrentsKatie CarringtonShort
1911Fate's Funny FrolicAlice TrevorShort
1911A False SuspicionMarion WaltersShort
1913The Unburied PastMargaret PhillipsShort
1913The Power of ConscienceDora GordonShort
1914In All Things ModerationMary Graham - the Oldest DaughterShort
1914Three Men Who KnewMrs. WatsonShort
1915The Affair of the TerraceJasmine RobertsShort
1915The Trail of the Upper YukonMarciaShort
1916Ambition
1916The Mark of CainDorisAlternative title: By Fate's Degree
1916If My Country Should CallMargaret Ardrath
1916The Place Beyond the WindsPriscilla Glenn
1916The Price of SilenceHelen Urmy
1917The Piper's PriceAmy Hadley
1917Hell Morgan's GirlLola
1917The Girl in the Checkered CoatMary Graham "Flash" Fan
1917The FlashlightDelice BrixtonAlternative title: The Flashlight Girl
1917A Doll's HouseNora Helmer
1917Fires of RebellionMadge Garvey
1917The RescueAnne Wetherall
1917Pay Me!MartaAlternative titles: Pay Day
The Vengeance of the West
1917TriumphNell Baxter
1917BondageElinor Crawford
1918The Grand PassionViola Argos
1918Broadway LoveMidge O'Hara
1918The Risky RoadMarjorie Helmer
1918A Soul for SaleNeila Pendleton
1918The Mortgaged WifeGloria Carter
1918The Talk of the TownGenevra FrenchDirected by Allen Holubar, her husband
1918The Heart of HumanityNanetteDirected by Allen Holubar
1919DestinyMary Burton
1919The Right to HappinessSonia & Vivian - Twin Sisters
1919Paid in AdvanceJoan Gray
1920Once to Every WomanAurora Meredith
1921Man, Woman & MarriageVictoria
1922Hurricane's GalLola
1922The World's a StageJo Bishop
1923Slander the WomanYvonne Desmarest
1923The Unknown PurpleUncredited
1925Every Man's WifeMrs. Bradin
1925The Sporting ChancePatricia Winthrop
1925Without MercyMrs. Enid Grant
1926The Bar-C MysteryJane Cortelyou
1926The Gay DeceiverClaire
1926UpstageMiss Weaver
1926RememberRuth Pomeroy
1927Women Love DiamondsMrs. Flaherty
1927The Broken GateAurora Lane
1927Cradle SnatchersKitty LaddDirected by Howard Hawks
1930The Jazz CinderellaMrs. Consuelo CarterAlternative title: Love Is Like That
1934Now I'll TellMrs. Farth
1936Thank You, Jeeves!Boy's motherUncredited
1937Hot WaterNurseUncredited
1940And One Was BeautifulGertrude's maidUncredited
1942My Favorite SpyWoman at weddingUncredited
1942Boston Blackie Goes HollywoodOld Lady at RadioUncredited
1943The Cross of LorraineVillage womanUncredited
1944Mrs. ParkingtonLeaping Rock PedestrianUncredited
1946The Postman Always Rings TwiceNurseUncredited
1949The Reckless MomentWomanUncredited
1950Father of the BrideWoman in Nightmare SequenceUncredited
1951Man in the SaddleTownswomanUncredited
1955Violent SaturdayBank customerUncredited
1955How to Be Very, Very PopularUncredited
1956The Man in the Gray Flannel SuitMr. Hopkins' maidUncredited
1962The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceTownswomanUncredited