Phillip Terry, born Frederick Henry Kormann on March 7, 1909, in San Francisco, was the only child of a couple. His father, a chemical engineer, worked in the oil fields, which led to the family's frequent moves. To provide a stable education, Phillip was sent to live with relatives in New Jersey.
After high school graduation, Phillip worked in the oil fields alongside his father, holding various roles such as a roustabout, tool pusher, and rig builder. He later attended Sacred Heart College and Stanford University, where he excelled in football and track, and developed an interest in acting.
Phillip briefly studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England in 1933, but grew homesick and returned to the United States. He landed a job with CBS Radio in Los Angeles, performing in dramatic roles and eventually caught the attention of an MGM agent.
Phillip signed with MGM and appeared in several films, including Mannequin (1937) starring Joan Crawford, with whom he would have a significant relationship. He later moved to Paramount, where he gained more visibility in films such as The Monster and the Girl (1941),The Parson of Panamint (1941),Torpedo Boat (1942),and Wake Island (1942).
In 1942, Phillip married Joan Crawford in a whirlwind romance, but the marriage ended in divorce four years later. He continued to act, appearing in films such as Music in Manhattan (1944) and Pan-Americana (1945) before leaving Paramount.
Phillip's career slowed down, and he started focusing on real estate, making smart investments that made him a wealthy man. From the 1950s on, he appeared only sporadically in films and on television. He retired in 1973 after suffering a series of strokes and died of pneumonitis in 1993.
