Jean Hersholt

Biography

Jean Hersholt was a Danish-American actor who left Denmark for America in 1913 and spent the rest of his working life there. Born in Copenhagen, he appeared in early Danish shorts in 1906, then built his career in America. He became best known for playing Marcus Schouler in Erich von Stroheim's Greed (1924) and Shirley Temple's grandfather in Heidi (1937). Over a long screen career he moved from silent villains to kindly fathers, doctors, professors and European noblemen. His last film was Run for Cover (1955). Between 1937 and 1954 he starred as Dr. Christian on CBS radio, then repeated the part in a film series from 1939 to 1941. He directed four movies, served as president of the film academy, and received honorary Oscars in 1940, 1949 and 1950. He also translated more than 160 Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales, published in 1949 as The Complete Andersen.

69years old at death

Born July 12, 1886Copenhagen
Died June 2, 1956Hollywood
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
Jean Pierre Carl Buron (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 16
Career span: 39 years1916 to 1955

Genres

Drama81%, 13 films
Romance50%, 8 films
Crime19%, 3 films
Western19%, 3 films
Adventure13%, 2 films

First and latest

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Behind the camera
Hersholt translated over 160 Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales into English, published in 1949 as six volumes titled The Complete Andersen.
First role
In 1906, Hersholt was in two of the earliest short films from the Danish studio Nordisk Film, though his first years in Denmark brought him little success.

Jean Hersholt movies on Netflix

Run for Cover1955IMDb rating 6.7as Mr. Swenson
Alexander's Ragtime Band1938IMDb rating 6.8as Prof. Heinrich
I'll Give a Million1938IMDb rating 6.7as Victor
Heidi1937IMDb rating 7.2as Adolph Kramer
Mark of the Vampire1935IMDb rating 6.3as Baron Otto
The Painted Veil1934IMDb rating 6.5as Herr Koerber
Dinner at Eight1933IMDb rating 7.5as Jo Stengel
Grand Hotel1932IMDb rating 7.3as Senf
The Beast of the City1932IMDb rating 6.7as Samuel "Sam" Belmonte
The Mask of Fu Manchu1932IMDb rating 6.2as Von Berg
The Sin of Madelon Claudet1931IMDb rating 6.6as Dr. Dulac
The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg1927IMDb rating 7.5as Dr. Jüttner
Don Q Son of Zorro1925IMDb rating 6.8as Don Fabrique Borusta
Greed1924IMDb rating 8.0as Marcus
Souls for Sale1923IMDb rating 7.0as Self - Celebrity Actor
Hell's Hinges1916IMDb rating 6.7as Bartender

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Greed1924 Crime, Dramaas Marcus
IMDb rating 8.012K votes
Grand Hotel1932 Drama, Romanceas Senf
IMDb rating 7.323K votes
Heidi1937as Adolph Kramer
IMDb rating 7.25.4K votes
Mark of the Vampire1935as Baron Otto
IMDb rating 6.36.2K votes
The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg1927as Dr. Jüttner
IMDb rating 7.51.8K votes
The Mask of Fu Manchu1932as Von Berg
IMDb rating 6.24.1K votes
Run for Cover1955as Mr. Swenson
IMDb rating 6.72.1K votes
Dinner at Eight1933as Jo Stengel
IMDb rating 7.59.8K votes

Most often with

Charles Brabin directed two of these films. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Lionel Barrymore

Lewis Stone

Karen Morley

John Carradine

Sig Ruman

Frank ReicherCharles BrabinDirector, 2 films

Films together

Lionel Barrymore3 films together, 1932 to 1935
Lionel Barrymore's page
- Mark of the Vampire1935IMDb rating 6.3Hersholt as Baron OttoBarrymore as Professor Zelin
- Dinner at Eight1933IMDb rating 7.5Hersholt as Jo StengelBarrymore as Oliver Jordan
- Grand Hotel1932IMDb rating 7.3Hersholt as SenfBarrymore as Otto Kringelein
Lewis Stone3 films together, 1931 to 1932
Lewis Stone's page
- Grand Hotel1932IMDb rating 7.3Hersholt as SenfStone as Doctor Otternschlag
- The Mask of Fu Manchu1932IMDb rating 6.2Hersholt as Von BergStone as Nyland Smith
- The Sin of Madelon Claudet1931IMDb rating 6.6Hersholt as Dr. DulacStone as Carlo Boretti
Karen Morley3 films together, 1931 to 1933
Karen Morley's page
- Dinner at Eight1933IMDb rating 7.5Hersholt as Jo StengelMorley as Mrs. Lucy Talbot
- The Mask of Fu Manchu1932IMDb rating 6.2Hersholt as Von BergMorley as Sheila Barton
- The Sin of Madelon Claudet1931IMDb rating 6.6Hersholt as Dr. DulacMorley as Alice
John Carradine2 films together, 1938
John Carradine's page
- Alexander's Ragtime Band1938IMDb rating 6.8Hersholt as Prof. HeinrichCarradine as Speakeasy Doorman
- I'll Give a Million1938IMDb rating 6.7Hersholt as VictorCarradine as Kopelpeck
Sig Ruman2 films together, 1937 to 1938
Sig Ruman's page
- I'll Give a Million1938IMDb rating 6.7Hersholt as VictorRuman as Anatole Primerose
- Heidi1937IMDb rating 7.2Hersholt as Adolph KramerRuman as Police Captain
Frank Reicher2 films together, 1931 to 1938
Frank Reicher's page
- I'll Give a Million1938IMDb rating 6.7Hersholt as VictorReicher as Prefect of Police
- The Sin of Madelon Claudet1931IMDb rating 6.6Hersholt as Dr. DulacReicher as Arresting Detective
Charles BrabinDirector, 2 films, 1932
All films by Charles Brabin
- The Beast of the City1932IMDb rating 6.7Hersholt as Samuel "Sam" Belmonte
- The Mask of Fu Manchu1932IMDb rating 6.2Hersholt as Von Berg
Also two films together15 more actors
- John MiljanRun for Cover (1955) and The Beast of the City (1932)
- John BarrymoreDinner at Eight (1933) and Grand Hotel (1932)
- Greta GarboThe Painted Veil (1934) and Grand Hotel (1932)
- Tully MarshallGrand Hotel (1932) and The Beast of the City (1932)
- Jean HarlowDinner at Eight (1933) and The Beast of the City (1932)
- Wallace BeeryDinner at Eight (1933) and Grand Hotel (1932)
- Warner OlandThe Painted Veil (1934) and Don Q Son of Zorro (1925)
- Egon BrecherHeidi (1937) and Mark of the Vampire (1935)
- Helen WestleyAlexander's Ragtime Band (1938) and Heidi (1937)
- Christian RubI'll Give a Million (1938) and Heidi (1937)
- Bodil RosingHeidi (1937) and The Painted Veil (1934)
- Dale FullerGreed (1924) and Souls for Sale (1923)
- Rafaela OttianoI'll Give a Million (1938) and Grand Hotel (1932)
- Robert McKimDon Q Son of Zorro (1925) and Hell's Hinges (1916)
- Jack McDonaldDon Q Son of Zorro (1925) and Greed (1924)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

Four awards and honors from 1946 to 1960, one of them major.

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Jean Hersholt's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Result
Academy Awards
	Honorary Award	Honorary
Other honors
1960	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (posthumous)	Honored
1955	Ingenio et arti	Won
1946	Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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