# Dolly Haas

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German actress (1910–1994)

Dolly Haas Haas in 1955 Born Dorothy Clara Louise Haas (1910-04-29)April 29, 1910 Hamburg, Germany Died September 16, 1994(1994-09-16) (aged 84) New York City, U.S. Occupations Actress, singer Years active 1927–1981 Spouse(s) John Brahm (m. 1937; div. 1941) Al Hirschfeld (m. 1943)

**Dorothy Clara Louise Haas** (29 April 1910 – 16 September 1994) was a German-American actress and singer who played in [German](/source/Cinema_of_Germany) and [American films](/source/Cinema_of_the_United_States). After moving to the United States, she often appeared in [Broadway plays](/source/Broadway_theatre). She became a naturalized US citizen and married [Al Hirschfeld](/source/Al_Hirschfeld), a noted portraitist and [caricaturist](/source/Caricature) in New York City.

## Life and work

Gielgud and Haas in *Crime and Punishment*

Haas was born in [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg), Germany, to Charles Oswald Haas, a bookseller of British-German origin,[1] and Margarethe (née Jagemann) on 29 April 1910.[2][3] She was already an accomplished actress in [German cinema](/source/German_cinema) before moving to the United States.[2]

Her father Charles was half-German, but had grown up in England, and had British citizenship. Dolly and her sister, Margarete, attended Jacob Loewenberg's girls' school Lyzeum in Hamburg, the *Anerkannte [höhere Mädchenschule](/source/H%C3%B6here_M%C3%A4dchenschule)*.[4] The Haas family's personal records, including diaries and letters, are currently held by the [Center for Jewish History](/source/Center_for_Jewish_History) in New York City, New York.[5]

## Marriage and family

Haas married German-born film director [John Brahm](/source/John_Brahm). At one time, he was resident director for acting troupes such as [Deutsches Theater](/source/Deutsches_Theater_(Berlin)) and the [Lessing Theater](/source/Lessing_Theater), both in [Berlin](/source/Berlin).[2] They divorced in 1941.[6]

After moving to the US, Haas became a naturalized U.S. citizen. She married again in 1943, to [Al Hirschfeld](/source/Al_Hirschfeld) in [Baltimore, Maryland](/source/Baltimore%2C_Maryland). They lived in New York, where he worked for *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* as a portraitist and caricaturist. His work was also published in *[The New York Review of Books](/source/The_New_York_Review_of_Books)*. They had a daughter, Nina, born in 1945.[7]

## Career

Dolly Haas had her debut as a professional actress in 1927 in Berlin. She worked at the city's [Großes Schauspielhaus](/source/Gro%C3%9Fes_Schauspielhaus) theatre, before embarking on a film career. The latter took her to England and to [Hollywood](/source/Hollywood%2C_Los_Angeles), United States.[5]

Haas enjoyed a brief but successful stage career in the United States as well. She made her New York stage debut in 1941 in [Erwin Piscator](/source/Erwin_Piscator)'s production of *[The Circle of Chalk](/source/The_Circle_of_Chalk).*[7] She also performed with [John Gielgud](/source/John_Gielgud) and [Lillian Gish](/source/Lillian_Gish) in the 1947 revival of *Crime and Punishment*.[8][9]

In 1946 Haas followed [Mary Martin](/source/Mary_Martin) in the lead role in *[Lute Song](/source/Lute_Song_(musical))* for the touring production.[2] Her co-star, [Yul Brynner](/source/Yul_Brynner), said that Haas's casting substantially improved the show. He said, "Dolly Haas understood the part. She had an affinity for it, and the play immediately improved. It wasn't at all that Dolly was a better actress. She was just better casting for the part than Mary."[2]

Mary Martin agreed with Brynner's assessment, and helped Haas to prepare for the role in the short time allotted for rehearsal.[10] Haas also performed in Off Broadway productions of *[The Threepenny Opera](/source/The_Threepenny_Opera)* and *Brecht on Brecht*.[7]

Although Haas did not appear in many [English language](/source/English_language) films, she had an important role in [Alfred Hitchcock](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock)'s 1953 film, *[I Confess](/source/I_Confess_(film))*.[11] Haas was a personal friend of Hitchcock, and he cast her as Alma Keller, the wife of the murderer—janitor Otto Keller.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] This high-profile film also starred [Montgomery Clift](/source/Montgomery_Clift), [Anne Baxter](/source/Anne_Baxter), [Karl Malden](/source/Karl_Malden) and [Brian Aherne](/source/Brian_Aherne).[12]

## Death

Haas died 16 September 1994 from [ovarian cancer](/source/Ovarian_cancer) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City), aged 84.[7]

## Filmography

- *[Dolly Gets Ahead](/source/Dolly_Gets_Ahead)* (1930) - Dolly Klaren

- *[One Hour of Happiness](/source/One_Hour_of_Happiness)* (1931) - Die Puppe

- *[Der Ball](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Der_Ball&action=edit&redlink=1) [[de](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Ball_(1931))]* (1931) - Antoinette Kampf

- *[The Virtuous Sinner](/source/The_Virtuous_Sinner)* (1931) - Hedwig Pichlers-Tochter

- *[Liebeskommando](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liebeskommando&action=edit&redlink=1) [[it](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_cadetti_di_Vienna)]* (1931) - Antonia

- *[You Don't Forget Such a Girl](/source/You_Don't_Forget_Such_a_Girl)* (1932) - Lisa Brandes

- *[Things Are Getting Better Already](/source/Things_Are_Getting_Better_Already)* (1932) - Edith

- *[A Tremendously Rich Man](/source/A_Tremendously_Rich_Man)* (1932) - Dolly

- *[Scampolo](/source/Scampolo_(1932_film))* (1932) - Scampolo

- *Großstadtnacht* (1932) - Madeleine Duchanef

- *[Das häßliche Mädchen](/source/Das_h%C3%A4%C3%9Fliche_M%C3%A4dchen)* (1933) - Lotte

- *[The Little Crook](/source/The_Little_Crook)* (1933) - Annette

- *[Little Girl, Great Fortune](/source/Little_Girl%2C_Great_Fortune)* (1933) - Annie Schierke

- *[The Page from the Dalmasse Hotel](/source/The_Page_from_the_Dalmasse_Hotel_(1933_film))* (1933) - Friedel Bornemann

- *Ein Mädel mit Tempo* (1934) - Susanne 'Susi' Wegener - Tochter

- *[Girls Will Be Boys](/source/Girls_Will_Be_Boys)* (1934) - Pat Caverley

- *Warum lügt Fräulein Käthe?* (1935) - Käthe Wilkens - Fotografin

- *[Broken Blossoms](/source/Broken_Blossoms_(1936_film))* (1936) - Lucy

- *[Star for a Night](/source/Star_for_a_Night_(film))* (1936) - Chorine (uncredited)

- *[Spy of Napoleon](/source/Spy_of_Napoleon)* (1936) - Eloise

- *[Carefree](/source/Carefree_(film))* (1938) - Minor Role (uncredited)

- *[The Bank Dick](/source/The_Bank_Dick)* (1940) - Script Girl (uncredited)

- *[Unfinished Business](/source/Unfinished_Business_(1941_film))* (1941) - Woman (uncredited)

- *[I Married an Angel](/source/I_Married_an_Angel_(film))* (1942) - Infanta (uncredited)

- *[Du Barry Was a Lady](/source/Du_Barry_Was_a_Lady_(film))* (1943) - Miss April (uncredited)

- *[The Merry Widow](/source/The_Merry_Widow_(1952_film))* (1952) - First Little Girl (uncredited)

- *[I Confess](/source/I_Confess_(film))* (1953) - Alma Keller

- *[Main Street to Broadway](/source/Main_Street_to_Broadway)* (1953) - Herself (uncredited)

- *[Armstrong Circle Theatre](/source/Armstrong_Circle_Theatre)* (1954, TV Series) - Sister Madeline

- *[Studio One](/source/Studio_One_(radio-TV_series))* (1950-1956, TV Series) - Mrs. Kneiper (final appearance)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["German movie institute profile"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091020111606/http://www.deutsches-filminstitut.de/dt2tp0141.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.deutsches-filminstitut.de/dt2tp0141.htm) on 20 October 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-allmovie_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-allmovie_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-allmovie_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-allmovie_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-allmovie_2-4) ["Dolly Haas | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos"](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/dolly-haas-p29437). *AllMovie*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Dolly Haas Family Collection | Center for Jewish History Archives"](https://archives.cjh.org/repositories/5/resources/14154). *archives.cjh.org*. Retrieved 4 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Guide to the Papers of the Dolly Haas Family1883-2011AR 25447"](http://digifindingaids.cjh.org/?pID=1525628). *digifindingaids.cjh.org*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dhfc_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dhfc_5-1) ["Dolly Haas Family Collection"](https://archives.cjh.org/repositories/5/resources/14154). *Center for Jewish History*. Retrieved 5 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Brahm (John) papers - Online Archive of California"](https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:%2F13030%2Fc80c5347). *oac.cdlib.org*. Retrieved 4 May 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nytimes_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nytimes_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nytimes_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-nytimes_7-3) Gussow, Mel (17 September 1994). ["Dolly Haas, 84, an Actress And the Wife of Hirschfeld"](https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/17/obituaries/dolly-haas-84-an-actress-and-the-wife-of-hirschfeld.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved 19 February 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Crime and Punishment – Broadway Play – 1947 Revival | IBDB"](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/crime-and-punishment-1624). *www.ibdb.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Dolly Haas – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB"](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/dolly-haas-78009). *www.ibdb.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Davis, Ronald L. *Mary Martin, Broadway Legend*. University of Oklahoma Press, 2008, pp. 100-101.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Dolly Haas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190724112603/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f4e4b14). *BFI*. Archived from [the original](https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f4e4b14) on 24 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["I Confess (1953) - Alfred Hitchcock | Cast and Crew"](https://www.allmovie.com/movie/i-confess-v24029/cast-crew). *AllMovie*.

## External links

- [Dolly Haas](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0351930/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Dolly Haas](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/78009) at the [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)

- [Dolly Haas](https://web.archive.org/web/http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/24466) at the [Internet Off-Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Off-Broadway_Database) (archived)

- [Dolly Haas Family Collection, AR 25447](https://www.lbi.org/digibaeck/results/?qtype=pid&term=1525628) Archival Collection at the [Leo Baeck Institute, New York](/source/Leo_Baeck_Institute%2C_New_York)

- [Photographs and literature](http://film.virtual-history.com/person.php?personid=621)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Czech Republic Israel Artists MusicBrainz FID People Deutsche Biographie Deutsche Synchronkartei DDB Other Open Library SNAC Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dolly Haas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_Haas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_Haas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.