Quick Facts
Biography
Osa Massen (13 January 1914 – 2 January 2006) was a Danish actress who went on to become a successful movie actress in Hollywood. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1941.
Background and early career
Born Aase Madsen Iversen in 1914, she began her career as a newspaper photographer, before becoming an actress. She first came to the United States in 1937. Massen notably appeared as Melvyn Douglas' unfaithful wife dealing with blackmailer Joan Crawford in A Woman's Face (1941).
Massen's first film was Kidnapped (1935). She also appeared as a mysterious woman with something to hide in Deadline at Dawn. Later in her career, she appeared in guest roles on many television programs. She also starred with Lloyd Bridges in the science fiction film Rocketship X-M (1950), the first space adventure of the post-World War II era. She made three guest appearances on Perry Mason: in 1958, she played Lisa Bannister in "The Case of the Desperate Daughter", and in 1959, she played Sarah Werner in "The Case of the Shattered Dream". Her last television role was in 1962 when she played Lisa Pedersen in "The Case of the Tarnished Trademark".
Personal life
She was married three times, including once to Allan Hersholt, the son of Jean Hersholt, on 15 December 1938.
Death
Massen died on 2 January 2006, 11 days before her 92nd birthday, following unspecified surgery in Hollywood, California. She had previously been living just outside Copenhagen until just before her final relocation (to California).
Partial filmography
- Kidnapped (1935)
- Bag Københavns kulisser (1935)
- Honeymoon in Bali (1939)
- Honeymoon for Three (1941)
- You'll Never Get Rich (1941)
- A Woman's Face (1941)
- The Devil Pays Off (1941)
- Accent on Love (1941)
- Background to Danger (1943)
- Jack London (1943)
- Cry of the Werewolf (1944)
- Deadline at Dawn (1946)
- Million Dollar Weekend (1948)
- Night Unto Night (1949)
- Rocketship X-M (1950)
- Outcasts of the City (1958)