Philip Van Zandt biography (October 4, 1904 – February 15, 1958)
Born Philip Pinheiro in Amsterdam, Philip Van Zandt made his acting debut in 1927 and soon after left for the United States, where he eventually landed on Broadway, appearing in 10 different productions between 1931 and 1938.
He made his Hollywood debut in 1939 and appeared in some 100 movies. However, he was usually cast in bit parts and also found himself typecast in villainous roles as a Nazi, criminal, or mad scientist.
The few films in which he got considerable screen-time were mostly comedy shorts, including several Three Stooges short subjects. In 1941, he played a small but important part as magazine editor Rawlston in Orson Welles’ classic film Citizen Kane.
He established his own acting school in Hollywood in the 1950s. By 1958, Philip Van Zandt had become depressed with his flagging career, and was nearly bankrupt due to compulsive gambling. As a result, he committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills.
His final film appearance was in the Three Stooges comedy Fifi Blows Her Top, released nearly two months after his death.
Partial filmography of Philip Van Zandt
- Citizen Kane (1941) as Mr. Rawlston
- Air Raid Wardens (1943) with Laurel and Hardy
- The Big Noise (1944) with Laurel and Hardy
- House of Frankenstein (1944)
- Squareheads of the Round Table (1948)
- Fiddlers Three (1948)
- Mummy’s Dummies (1948)
- Fuelin’ Around (1949)
- Dopey Dicks (1950)
- Three Arabian Nuts (1951)
- Spooks! (1953)
- Musty Musketeers (1954)
- Knutzy Knights (1954)
- Scotched in Scotland (1954)
- Bedlam in Paradise (1955)
- Hot Stuff (1956)
- Around the World in 80 Days (1956) as Minor Role (uncredited)
- Outer Space Jitters (1957)
- Fifi Blows Her Top (1958)