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. After graduation she acted with the George Fawcett Stock Co. 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. 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.
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 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. 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.

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
Lost film
1911The RosaryRuth MartinShort
Lost film
1911Her Dad the ConstableMary PerkinsShort
Lost film
1911The Gordian KnotMarion WaltersShort
Lost film
1911Saved from the TorrentsKatie CarringtonShort
Lost film
1911Fate's Funny FrolicAlice TrevorShort
Lost film
1911A False SuspicionMarion WaltersShort
Lost film
1913The Unburied PastMargaret PhillipsShort
Lost film
1913The Power of ConscienceDora GordonShort
Lost film
1914In All Things ModerationMary Graham - the Oldest DaughterShort
Lost film
1914Three Men Who KnewMrs. WatsonShort
Lost film
1915The Affair of the TerraceJasmine RobertsShort
Lost film
1915The Trail of the Upper YukonMarciaShort
Lost film
1916AmbitionLost film
1916The [Mark of Cain (1916 film)|The Mark of Cain]DorisAlternative title: By Fate's Degree
Lost film
1916If My Country Should CallMargaret ArdrathIncomplete film
1916The Place Beyond the WindsPriscilla GlennIncomplete film
1916The [Price of Silence (1916 film)|The Price of Silence]Helen Urmy
1917The Piper's PriceAmy HadleyLost film
1917Hell Morgan's GirlLolaLost film
1917The Girl in the Checkered CoatMary Graham "Flash" FanLost film
1917The FlashlightDelice BrixtonAlternative title: The Flashlight Girl
Lost film
1917A Doll's HouseNora HelmerLost film
1917Fires of RebellionMadge GarveyLost film
1917The RescueAnne WetherallLost film
1917Pay Me!MartaAlternative titles: Pay Day
The Vengeance of the West
Incomplete film
1917TriumphNell BaxterIncomplete film
1917BondageElinor CrawfordLost film
1918The Grand PassionViola ArgosLost film
1918Broadway LoveMidge O'Hara
1918The Risky RoadMarjorie Helmer
1918A Soul for SaleNeila Pendleton
1918The Mortgaged WifeGloria Carter
1918The [Talk of the Town (1918 film)|The Talk of the Town]Genevra FrenchDirected by Allen Holubar, her husband
Lost film
1918The Heart of HumanityNanetteDirected by Allen Holubar
1919DestinyMary BurtonLost film
1919The Right to HappinessSonia & Vivian - Twin Sisters
1919Paid in AdvanceJoan Gray
1920Once to Every WomanAurora MeredithLost film
1921Man, Woman & MarriageVictoria
1922Hurricane's GalLola
1922The World's a StageJo BishopLost film
1923Slander the WomanYvonne DesmarestLost film
1923The Unknown PurpleUncredited
Lost film
1925Every Man's WifeMrs. BradinLost film
1925The Sporting ChancePatricia WinthropLost film
1925Without MercyMrs. Enid Grant
1926The Bar-C MysteryJane CortelyouLost film
1926The Gay DeceiverClaireLost film
1926UpstageMiss Weaver
1926RememberRuth PomeroyIncomplete film
1927Women Love DiamondsMrs. Flaherty
1927The Broken GateAurora LaneLost film
1927Cradle SnatchersKitty LaddDirected by Howard Hawks
Incomplete film
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 Suit]Mr. Hopkins' maidUncredited
1962The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceTownswomanUncredited