Osa Massen (born Aase Madsen Iversen, 13 January 1914 – 2 January 2006) was a Danish actress who became a successful movie actress in Hollywood. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1941.
Background and early career
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, she began her career as a newspaper photographer, then became an actress. She first came to the United States in 1937. She was recorded as Aase Madsen-Iversen, Danish actress, aged 23, on the manifest of the S/S Normandie, which sailed from Southampton, England, on December 18, 1937, and arrived at the Port of New York on December 23, 1937.
Massen’s first film was Kidnapped (1935). She notably appeared as Melvyn Douglas’ unfaithful wife dealing with blackmailer Joan Crawford in A Woman’s Face (1941). She also appeared as a mysterious woman with something to hide in Deadline at Dawn (1946). She also starred with Lloyd Bridges in the movie Rocketship X-M (1950), the first space adventure of the post-World War II era.
Later in her career, Massen appeared in guest roles on many television programs. She made three guest appearances on Perry Mason. In 1958, she played Lisa Bannister in “The Case of the Desperate Daughter”, where she was reunited with her “Master Race” daughter Gigi Perreau, 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 December 15, 1938.:229
Death
Massen died on January 2, 2006, 11 days before her 92nd birthday, following unspecified surgery in Hollywood, California. Her remains are buried at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California with a plaque that lists her name as Osa Massen Vogel.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Kidnapped | Grethe | |
| 1935 | Bag Københavns kulisser | Eva Lindemann | |
| 1939 | Honeymoon in Bali | Noel Van Ness | |
| 1941 | Honeymoon for Three | Julie Wilson | |
| 1941 | A Woman’s Face | Vera Segert | |
| 1941 | Accent on Love | Osa | |
| 1941 | You’ll Never Get Rich | Sonya | |
| 1941 | The Devil Pays Off | Valeria DeBrock | |
| 1942 | Iceland | Helga Jonsdottir | |
| 1943 | Background to Danger | Ana Remzi | |
| 1943 | Jack London | Freda Maloof | |
| 1943 | Undercover | Sailor’s Girlfriend | uncredited |
| 1944 | The Black Parachute | Marya Orloff | |
| 1944 | Cry of the Werewolf | Elsa Chauvet | |
| 1944 | The Master Race | Helena | |
| 1946 | Tokyo Rose | Greta Norburg | |
| 1946 | Deadline at Dawn | Helen Robinson | |
| 1946 | The Gentleman Misbehaves | Chincilla | |
| 1946 | Strange Journey | Christine Jenner | |
| 1948 | Million Dollar Weekend | Cynthia Strong | |
| 1949 | Night Unto Night | Lisa | |
| 1950 | Rocketship X-M | Dr. Lisa Van Horn | |
| 1955 | Wiegenlied | Ernestine Schumann-Heink | |
| 1958 | Outcasts of the City | Leda Mueller |