Kaaren Verne

Kaaren Verne (6 April 1918 – 23 December 1967) was a German-born actress, long based in the United States. Sometimes billed as Karen Verne, she was originally a stage actress and member of the Berlin State Theatre.

Kaaren Verne
Verne in 1942
Born
Ingeborg Greta Katerina Marie-Rose Klinckerfuss

(1918-04-06)6 April 1918
Berlin, German Empire
Died23 December 1967(1967-12-23) (aged 49)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting placeCalvary Cemetery, St Paul, Minnesota
Other namesKaren Verne
Catherine Young
OccupationActress
Years active1940–1966
Spouses
Arthur Young
​
​
(m. 1936; div. 1945)​
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1945; div. 1950)​
      James Powers
      ​
      (m. 1951)​
      Children2

      Life and career

      Verne was born in Berlin and christened Ingeborg Greta Katerina Marie-Rose Klinckerfuss.[1] Related to the Bechstein family, her first marriage took place when she was 18.[2] She fled[3] the Nazis in 1938 and made her English language film début in the 1939 British film Ten Days in Paris.[4] When British film production stopped during World War II, she emigrated to the USA.[2] At first, the studios tried to downplay her German heritage by briefly changing her professional name to Catherine Young, but after America's entry into World War II, the publicity value of a Teutonic actress who had turned her back on Nazism was too good to avoid.

      Verne was married three times, to:

      • Musician Arthur Young (30 August 1936 – May 1945; divorced); 1 son, Alastair (1937–2015)
      • Actor Peter Lorre (25 May 1945 – 1950; divorced)
      • Film historian James Powers (1951 – December 23, 1967; her death)

      Verne and James Powers adopted Peter Lorre's daughter, Catharine Lorre Baker (1953–1985), following his death in 1964.

      An Associated Press news story published January 19, 1955, tells that Verne obtained a divorce decree from Harold R. Susman, who was described as "sales director for a clothing manufacturer."[5]

      Kaaren Verne remained in films until her death, appearing in Ship of Fools (1965).[6]

      Death

      Verne died at age 49 of a reported heart ailment in Hollywood, California. She was interred in Calvary Cemetery, St Paul, Minnesota.[7]

      Filmography

      See also

      References

      Notes

      1. Youngkin, Stephen D. (2005). The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2360-7.
      2. "As Exotic as Dietrich or Lamarr". Wide World News. 10 February 1942. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
      3. The New York Times Movies
      4. Lowrance, Dee (8 March 1942). "From Hitler to Hollywood". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. Every Week Magazine. p. 25. Retrieved 22 April 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
      5. "Close Watch on Actress". The Kansas City Times. Missouri, Kansas City. Associated Press. 19 January 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 22 April 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
      6. Hal Erickson (2011). "Movies: Biography for Kaaren Verne". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011.
      7. Resting Places, books.google.ca; accessed 6 August 2021.
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