Clara Bow-Phillips Holmes in The Wild Party

Phillips Holmes, William Powell, and Fay Wray in 'Pointed Heels', 1929

The Secret of Madame Blanche (1933) trailer 1

Phillips Raymond Holmes (July 22, 1907 – August 12, 1942) was an American actor. For his contributions to the film industry, he was posthumously given a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

in 1960.

Early life, education and career

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Edna Phillips and stage star

Taylor Holmes Taylor Holmes (May 16, 1878 – September 30, 1959) was an American actor who appeared in over 100 Broadway plays in his five-decade career. However, he is probably best remembered for his screen performances, which he began in silent films in ...

, Holmes enjoyed a privileged childhood and received his education at

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge ...

, the

University of Grenoble The Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA, French: meaning "''Grenoble Alps University''") is a public research university in Grenoble, France. Founded in 1339, it is the third largest university in France with about 60,000 students and over 3,000 resea ...

and a year at

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...

where he was spotted in the undergraduate crowd during the filming of

Frank Tuttle Frank Wright Tuttle (August 6, 1892 – January 6, 1963) was a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film director and writer who directed films from 1922 (''The Cradle Buster'') to 1959 (''Island of Lost Women''). Biography Frank Tuttle wa ...

's ''Varsity'' in 1928 and offered a screen test. In the early 1930s, he became a popular leading man, playing leads in a few important productions, notably in

Josef von Sternberg Josef von Sternberg (; born Jonas Sternberg; May 29, 1894 – December 22, 1969) was an Austrian-American filmmaker whose career successfully spanned the transition from the silent to the sound era, during which he worked with most of the major ...

's ''

An American Tragedy ''An American Tragedy'' is a 1925 novel by American writer Theodore Dreiser. He began the manuscript in the summer of 1920, but a year later abandoned most of that text. It was based on the notorious murder of Grace Brown in 1906 and the trial of ...

'' (1931) and

Ernst Lubitsch Ernst Lubitsch (; January 29, 1892November 30, 1947) was a German-born American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as ...

's ''

Broken Lullaby ''Broken Lullaby'' (a.k.a. ''The Man I Killed'') is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Ernst Lubitsch and released by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay by Samson Raphaelson and Ernest Vajda is based on the 1930 play ''L'homme que j ...

'' (1932). At

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...

, he starred in melodrama and comedy. In 1933, his contract with Paramount ran out and he moved to

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

for one year. As the decade progressed, Holmes' career declined, and he appeared in a few box-office failures, including

Sam Goldwyn Samuel Goldwyn (born Szmuel Gelbfisz; yi, שמואל געלבפֿיש; August 27, 1882 (claimed) January 31, 1974), also known as Samuel Goldfish, was a Polish-born American film producer. He was best known for being the founding contributor an ...

's poorly received ''

Nana Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to: People and fictional characters * Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname * Nana ( ...

'' (1934). His last American movie was ''

General Spanky ''General Spanky'' is a 1936 American comedy film produced by Hal Roach. A spin-off of Roach's popular ''Our Gang'' short subjects, the film stars George McFarland, Phillips Holmes, Rosina Lawrence, Billie Thomas and Carl Switzer. Directed by Fre ...

'' (1936). In 1938, he appeared in two UK movies. ''

Housemaster {{refimprove, date=September 2018 In British education, a housemaster is a schoolmaster in charge of a boarding house, normally at a boarding school and especially at a public school. The housemaster is responsible for the supervision and care o ...

'' was his last film, and he returned to acting on stage in the United States.

Scandal

In 1933, Holmes was driving with actress

Mae Clarke Mae Clarke (born Violet Mary Klotz; August 16, 1910 – April 29, 1992) was an American actress. She is widely remembered for playing Henry Frankenstein's bride Elizabeth, who is chased by Boris Karloff in ''Frankenstein'', and for being o ...

when he crashed into a parked car. Clarke, who suffered a broken jaw and facial cuts, sued Holmes for , claiming that he had been driving while drunk. Clarke dropped the suit when Holmes agreed to pay her medical expenses. The changes in her face adversely affected her burgeoning career in the long run (in 1931, she had played both Victor Frankenstein's bride in ''

Frankenstein ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific ex ...

'' and was the recipient of half a grapefruit in the face from

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor, dancer and film director. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He ...

in ''

The Public Enemy ''The Public Enemy'' (''Enemies of the Public'' in the UK) is a 1931 American all-talking pre-Code gangster film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. The film was directed by William A. Wellman and stars James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward ...

'').

Military service and death

At the start of World War II, he joined the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

. He was killed in a mid-air collision in northwest Ontario, Canada.

Legacy

Holmes has a star on the

Filmography

*''Uneasy Money'' (1918) as Caddy (film debut, uncredited) *'' Her Market Value'' (1925) as Party Boy (uncredited) *'' Varsity'' (1928) as Middlebrook *'' His Private Life'' (1928) as Pierrot (uncredited) *'' The Wild Party'' (1929) as Phil *''

The Studio Murder Mystery ''The Studio Murder Mystery'' is a 1929 American mystery film directed by Frank Tuttle and written by Ethel Doherty, A. Channing Edington, Carmen Ballen Edington, Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Frank Tuttle. The film stars Neil Hamilton, Doris Hill, ...

'' (1929) as Young Actor (uncredited) *''

Stairs of Sand ''Stairs of Sand'' is a 1929 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film starring Wallace Beery, Jean Arthur and Phillips Holmes, made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Otto Brower, and written by Agnes Brand Leahy, Sam Mintz an ...

'' (1929) as Adam Wansfell *''

Illusion An illusion is a distortion of the senses, which can reveal how the mind normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. Although illusions distort the human perception of reality, they are generally shared by most people. Illusions may o ...

'' (1929) as Eric's Friend in Audience (uncredited) *''

The Return of Sherlock Holmes ''The Return of Sherlock Holmes'' is a 1905 collection of 13 Sherlock Holmes stories, originally published in 1903–1904, by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle. The stories were published in the '' Strand Magazine'' in Britain and ''Collier's'' i ...

'' (1929) as Roger Longmore *'' Pointed Heels'' (1929) as Donald Ogden *'' Only the Brave'' (1930) as Capt. Robert Darrington *''

Paramount on Parade ''Paramount on Parade'' is a 1930 all-star American pre-Code revue released by Paramount Pictures, directed by several directors including Edmund Goulding, Dorothy Arzner, Ernst Lubitsch, Rowland V. Lee, A. Edward Sutherland, Lothar Mendes, Ot ...

'' (1930) as Hunter - Episode 'Dream Girl' *''

The Devil's Holiday ''The Devil's Holiday'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code film starring Nancy Carroll, Phillips Holmes, ZaSu Pitts, James Kirkwood, Sr., Hobart Bosworth, and Ned Sparks, and released by Paramount Pictures. The movie was adapted by Edmund Goulding f ...

'' (1930) as David Stone *'' Grumpy'' (1930) as Ernest Heron *'' Her Man'' (1930) as Dan Keefe *'' The Dancers'' (1930) as Tony *'' Man to Man'' (1930) as Michael Bolton *''

The Criminal Code ''The Criminal Code'' is a 1931 American pre-Code romantic crime drama film directed by Howard Hawks and starring Walter Huston and Phillips Holmes. The screenplay, based on a 1929 play of the same name by Martin Flavin, was written by Fred Ni ...

'' (1931) as Robert Graham *'' Stolen Heaven'' (1931) as Joe Bartlett *''

Confessions of a Co-Ed Confessions are acknowledgements of facts by those who would have otherwise preferred to keep those facts hidden. Confessions may also refer to: Film, television, and radio * ''Confessions'' (1925 film), a British silent film * ''Confessions'' ...

'' (1931) as Dan Carter *''

'' (1931) as Clyde Griffiths *'' Two Kinds of Women'' (1932) as Joseph Gresham Jr. *''

'' (1932) as Paul Renard *''

Night Court ''Night Court'' is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984 to May 31, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan municipal court presided over by a young, unorthodox judge, Harold "Harry" T. Stone (portray ...

'' (1932) as Mike Thomas *'' Make Me a Star'' (1932) as Phillips Holmes (uncredited) *''

70,000 Witnesses ''70,000 Witnesses'' is a 1932 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Ralph Murphy, written by Garrett Fort, Robert N. Lee, Allen Rivkin and P.J. Wolfson, and starring Phillips Holmes, Dorothy Jordan, Charlie Ruggles, Johnny Mack Brown, J ...

'' (1932) as Buck Buchan *'' The Secret of Madame Blanche'' (1933) as Leonard St. John *'' Men Must Fight'' (1933) as Bob Seward *''

Looking Forward ''Looking Forward'' is the third and final studio album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and their fifth, overall. It is the fourteenth and final album when conflated with releases by the trio of Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was released on Reprise ...

'' (1933) as Michael Service *''

Storm at Daybreak ''Storm at Daybreak'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Richard Boleslawski, written by Bertram Millhauser, and starring Kay Francis, Nils Asther, Walter Huston, Phillips Holmes, Eugene Pallette and C. Henry Gordon. It was relea ...

'' (1933) as Csaholyi *''

The Big Brain ''The Big Brain'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Archainbaud and written by Sy Bartlett and Warren Duff. The film stars George E. Stone, Phillips Holmes, Fay Wray, Minna Gombell and Lilian Bond. The film was released o ...

'' (1933) as Terry Van Sloan *'' Dinner at Eight'' (1933) as Ernest DeGraff *''

Beauty for Sale ''Beauty for Sale'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code film about the romantic entanglements of three beauty salon employees. Based on the 1933 novel ''Beauty'' by Faith Baldwin, it stars Madge Evans, Alice Brady, Otto Kruger and Un ...

'' (1933) as Burt Barton *''

Penthouse Penthouse most often refers to: *Penthouse apartment, a special apartment on the top floor of a building *Penthouse (magazine), ''Penthouse'' (magazine), a British-founded men's magazine *Mechanical penthouse, a floor, typically located directly u ...

'' (1933) as Tom Siddall *'' Stage Mother'' (1933) as Lord Aylesworth *''

'' (1934) as Lieutenant George Muffat *''

Caravan Caravan or caravans may refer to: Transport and travel *Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together **Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop *Camel train, a convoy using camels as pack animals *Convoy, a group of veh ...

'' (1934) as Lt. von Tokay *''

Private Scandal ''Private Scandal'' is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by Vera Caspary, Garrett Fort and Bruce Manning. The film stars ZaSu Pitts, Phillips Holmes, Mary Brian, Ned Sparks, Lew Cody, June Brewster and ...

'' (1934) as Cliff Barry *''

Million Dollar Ransom ''Million Dollar Ransom'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by Murray Roth and written by William R. Lipman and Ben Ryan. The film stars Phillips Holmes, Edward Arnold, Mary Carlisle, Wini Shaw, Andy Devine and Robert Gleckler. The film was ...

'' (1934) as Stanton Casserly *''

No Ransom No Ransom is a 1934 American film directed by Frec C. Newmeyer. Cast *Leila Hymas as Barbra Winfield *Phillips Holmes as Tom Wilson *Jack La Rue as Larry Romero *Robert McWade as John Winfield *Hedda Hopper as Mrs. Winfield *Vince Barnett as Bu ...

'' (1934) as Tom Wilson *''

Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. It depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip (Great Expectations), Pip (the book is a ''bildungsroman''; a coming-of-age story). It ...

'' (1934) as Pip *''

Ten Minute Alibi ''Ten Minute Alibi'' is a 1935 British crime film directed by Bernard Vorhaus and starring Phillips Holmes, Aileen Marson and Theo Shall. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios.Wood p.84 The film's sets were designed by the art director Andre ...

'' (1935) as Colin Derwent *''

The Divine Spark ''The Divine Spark'' is a 1935 British musical film directed by Carmine Gallone and starring Marta Eggerth, Phillips Holmes, Benita Hume and Donald Calthrop. An Italian-language version '' Casta Diva'' was shot simultaneously. Both films were ...

'' (1935) as Vincenzo Bellini *''

Chatterbox Chatterbox also styled as CHATTERbOX was a project of the Crucified's Jeff Bellew. The project has hosted many session musicians, including Stavesacre and the Crucified's Mark Salomon, and Argyle Park and Circle of Dust's Scott Albert. Bellew ha ...

'' (1936) as Philip 'Phil' Greene Jr *''

The House of a Thousand Candles ''The House of a Thousand Candles'' is a 1936 American thriller film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Phillips Holmes, Mae Clarke and Irving Pichel. It is based on the 1906 novel by Meredith Nicholson. The novel had been filmed twice before, ...

'' (1936) as Tony Carleton *''

'' (1936) as Marshall Valient *''

The Dominant Sex ''The Dominant Sex'' is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Herbert Brenon and starring Phillips Holmes, Diana Churchill and Romney Brent. The film was based on a play by Michael Egan. It was made by British International Pictures at its main ...

'' (1937) as Dick Shale *''

'' (1938) - Philip de Pourville

References

External links

* *
Photographs of Phillips Holmes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, Phillips 1907 births 1942 deaths 20th-century American male actors Accidental deaths in Ontario Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge American expatriate male actors in Canada American expatriate male actors in France American expatriate male actors in the United Kingdom American expatriates in England American male film actors Burials at Gate of Heaven Cemetery (Hawthorne, New York) Canadian military personnel killed in World War II Male actors from Grand Rapids, Michigan Princeton University alumni Military personnel from Michigan Royal Canadian Air Force personnel of World War II Grenoble Alpes University alumni Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Canada Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1942 Royal Canadian Air Force airmen