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.

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 18. 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 USA. 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: 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." Kaaren Verne remained in films until her death, appearing in Ship of Fools (1965).

Death

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

Filmography

Films Television