Phillips Holmes - Actor Profile

Phillips Holmes

Acting
Freshness: Jan 13, 2026
46Total Films
8.0 Highest Rated
Born: Jul 22, 1907
Birth Place: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

About Phillips Holmes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Phillips Raymond Holmes (July 22, 1907 – August 12, 1942) was an American actor. In 1928 Holmes was spotted in the undergraduate crowd at Princeton University during the filming of Frank Tuttle's Varsity 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's An American Tragedy. At Paramount, Holmes starred in melodrama and comedy. In 1933 his Paramount contract ran out and he moved to MGM for one year. As the decade progressed, his career declined, and he appeared in a few box-office failures, including Sam Goldwyn's poorly received Nana (1934). His last American movie was General Spanky (1936). In 1938 Holmes appeared in two UK movies. Housemaster was his last film. Then he returned to acting on stage in the United States. At the start of World War II, Holmes joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was killed in a mid-air collision in northwest Ontario, Canada in 1942. For his contributions to the film industry, Phillips Holmes was posthumously given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Phillips Holmes reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 46 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Phillips Holmes's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 15% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Phillips Holmes remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Phillips Holmes Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Phillips Holmes's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Phillips Holmes.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
1988 The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1972 Hollywood: The Dream Factory Self (archive footage) Average Similar →
1964 The Big Parade of Comedy Ernest DeGraff in 'Dinner at Eight' (arch. footage) (uncredited) Average Similar →
1938 Housemaster Philip de Pourville Flop Similar →
1937 The Dominant Sex Dick Shale Average Similar →
1936 General Spanky Marshall Valient Average Similar →
1936 The House of a Thousand Candles Tony Carleton Flop Similar →
1936 Chatterbox Philip 'Phil' Greene Jr. Average Similar →
1935 Ten Minute Alibi Colin Derwent Average Similar →
1935 The Divine Spark Vincenzo Bellini Flop Similar →
1934 Caravan Lieutenant Von Tokay Flop Similar →
1934 Great Expectations Pip Average Similar →
1934 No Ransom Tom Wilson Flop Similar →
1934 Million Dollar Ransom Stan Casserly Flop Similar →
1934 Nana Lieutenant George Muffat Flop Similar →
1933 Dinner at Eight Ernest DeGraff Hit Similar →
1933 Stage Mother Lord Reggie Aylesworth Flop Similar →
1933 Penthouse Tom Siddall Hit Similar →
1933 Beauty for Sale Burt Barton Hit Similar →
1933 The Big Brain Terry Van Sloan Flop Similar →
1933 Storm at Daybreak Csaholyi Average Similar →
1933 Looking Forward Michael Service Average Similar →
1933 Men Must Fight Bob Seward Average Similar →
1933 The Secret of Madame Blanche Leonard St. John Flop Similar →
1932 70,000 Witnesses Buck Buchan Flop Similar →
1932 Make Me a Star Phillips Holmes (uncredited) Average Similar →
1932 Night Court Mike Thomas Average Similar →
1932 Broken Lullaby Paul Renard Super Hit Similar →
1932 Two Kinds of Women Joseph Gresham Jr. Flop Similar →
1931 An American Tragedy Clyde Griffiths Average Similar →
1931 Confessions of a Co-Ed Dan Carter Average Similar →
1931 The House That Shadows Built (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1931 Stolen Heaven Joe Bartlett Flop Similar →
1931 The Criminal Code Robert Graham Average Similar →
1930 Man to Man Michael Bolton Average Similar →
1930 Her Man Dan Flop Similar →
1930 Grumpy Ernest Heron Flop Similar →
1930 The Devil's Holiday David Stone Average Similar →
1930 Paramount on Parade Hunter ('Dream Girl') Average Similar →
1930 Only the Brave Capt. Robert Darrington Flop Similar →
1929 Pointed Heels Donald Ogden Average Similar →
1929 The Return of Sherlock Holmes Roger Longmore Flop Similar →
1929 Stairs of Sand Adam Wansfell (as Phillips R. Holmes) Flop Similar →
1929 The Wild Party Phil Hit Similar →
1928 His Private Life Pierrot (uncredited) Flop Similar →
1928 Varsity Middlebrook Flop Similar →

Phillips Holmes - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Phillips Holmes?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Phillips Holmes is "The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind" with a rating of 8.0/10.

How many movies has Phillips Holmes acted in?

Phillips Holmes has been featured in at least 46 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Phillips Holmes?

Other notable films include "Broken Lullaby", "Beauty for Sale", and "The House That Shadows Built".