Foto: Jack Freulich (1878-1936)

1886 - 1956

His film career began with the Danish production "Konfirmanden" ini 1906, it followed the movie "Oplob pa Frederiksberg" (06). After that he didn't took part in other movies in Denmark.
When he emigrated to the USA in 1914 he began a second career as an actor. First he was an extra in the movie "The Disciple" (15), but soon followed bigger parts in early productions like "The Desert" (16), "Black Orchids" (17), "The Terror" (17), "The Show Down" (17), "Madame Spy" (18) and "In the Land of the Setting Sun" (19).

Jean Hersholt became one of the most working actors in the 20's. He proved his acting talent in movies like "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (21) at Rudolph Valentino's side, "Tess of the Storm Country" (22), "Quicksands" (23), "Torment" (24), "Greed - Gier" (25), "Stella Dallas" (25), "Flames" (26), "The Student Prince of Old Heidelberg" (27) and "The Battle of the Sexes" (28) - often as a villain and warhorse.

Although Jean Hersholt had a Danish accent he was able to play many interesting roles in the talkies which underpinned his important state as a support actor. To his early successful talkies belong "The Climax" (30), "Susan Lenox - Her Fall and Raise" (31) - his first movie at Greta Garbo's side - "The Phantom of Paris" (31), "The Mask of Fu Manchu" (32), "Emma" (32) - at Marie Dressler's side - "Grand Hotel" (32) and "The Painted Veil" (34) - both again with Greta Garbo - "Reunion" (36), "Heidi" (37) and "Meet Dr. Christian" (39).

Apart from some more following movies of "Meet Dr. Christian", in which Jean Hersholt impersonated the leading role at a time, his cinematically career was drawing to its close at the beginning of the 40's.

Jean Hersholt was a very humanitarian minded person in his private life who supported civil services in his free time. Among others he was the president of the Motion Picture Relief Fund for 18 years which looked after retired actors.

He was knight in Denmark from the king but the greatest mark of distinction, which keeps his name alive till today, is the "Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award" - a Honorary Award, which is awarded sporadically during the Academy Award ceremony. Jean Hersholt also got two Oscars, one in 1940 and one in 1950.
 

Other movies with Jean Hersholt:
Bullets and Brown Eyes (16) The Aryan (16) The Apostle of Vengeance (16) Kinkaid, Gambler (16) Fighting for Love (17) Love Aflame (17) The Saintly Sinner (17) Southern Justice (17) The Greater Law (17) The Soul Herder (17) A Stormy Knight (17) '49-117 (17) Princess Virtue (17) The Answer (18) Whom the Gods Would Destroy (19) Merely Mary Ann (20) Ther Servant in the House (20) The Red Lane (20) The Golden Trail (20) The Deceiver (20) A Certain Rich Man (21) Man of the Forest (21) When Romance Rides (22) The Strangers' Banquet (22) Heart's Haven (22) Jazzmania (23) Red Lights (23) The Goldfish (24) Sinners in Silk (24) Cheap Kisses (24) So Big (24) Her Night of Romance (24) Dangerous Innocence (25) Fifth Avenue Models (25) Don Q Son of Zorro (25) If Marriage Fails (25) A Woman's Faith (25) The Woman on the Jury (25) The Greater Glory (26) My Old Dutch (26) It Must Be Love (26) The Old Soak (26) The Wrong Mr. Wright (27) Alias the Deacon (28) The Secret Hour (28) Jazz Mad (28) Give and Take (28) 13 Washington Square (28) Abie's Irish Rose (29) Girl on the Barge (29) The Younger Generation (29) Modern Love (29) The Case of Sergeant Grischa (30) Mamba (30) Hell Harbor (30) East Is West (30) A Soldier's Plaything (30) The Cat Creeps (30) The Third Alarm (30) Viennese Nights (30) Daybreak (31) The Sin of Madelon Claudet (31) Private Lives (31) Transatlantic (31) The Beast of the City (32) Are You Listening? (32) Night Court (32) New Morals for Old (32) Unashamed (32) Skyscraper Souls (32) Hearts of Humanity (32) Flesh (32) The Crime of the Century (33) Song of the Eagle (33) Dinner at Eight (33) Christopher Bean (33) The Cat and the Fiddle (34) Men in White (34) The Fountain (34) Mark of the Vampire (35) Break of Hearts (35) Murder in the Fleet (35) The Cou8ntry doctor 836) His Brother's Wife (36) Sins of Man (36) Tough Guy (36) One in a Million (36) Seventh Heaven (37) Happy Landing (38) Alexander's Ragtime Band (38) I'll Give a Million (38) Five of a Kind (38) Mr. Moto in Danger Island (39) The Courageous Dr. Christian (40) Dr. Christian Meets the Women (40) Remedy for Riches (40) They Meet Again (41) Melody for Three (41) Dancing in the Dark (49) Run for Cover (55)