Kaaren Verne

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

Life and career

Verne was born in Berlin and christened Ingeborg Greta Katerina Marie-Rose Klinckerfuss, Related to the Bechstein family, her first marriage took place when she was 17.

She fled the Nazis in 1938 and made her English language film début in the 1939 British film Ten Days in Paris. When British film production stopped during World War II, she emigrated to the United States.

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), who lived in South West England
• Actor Peter Lorre (25 May 1945 – 1950; divorced)
• Film historian James Powers (1951 – 23 December 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.")

Verne remained in films until her death, appearing in such films as Ship of Fools (1965). She died at age 49 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery, St Paul, Minnesota.