Harry Turpin

born: 11 December 1879 Evansville, Indiana, United States of America

died: 02 December 1932 Los Angeles, California, United States of America (heart attack, age 52)

American actor. He was quite successful in Vaude and many successful stage plays including several Broadways. In 1921 he sang and danced in JOLSON's mega hit "Bombo" and went on tour. When they closed in LA about 1924, he remained with his wife and daughter (his Death Certificate confirms this). It looks like he started in Vaude around 1904 in NYC. He managed and played in the popular "Gibson's Girl Review Co" in 1908/09. He was the "Gibson Man" who sang and introduced each girl. (There's an interesting 1909 newspaper story around it involving a suicide). During the same time period was HARRY BROWN TURPIN, a successful singer, piano accompanist and voice teacher. He and students toured nationally and in Europe. They did public and private concerts. His real/performing name was "HARRY B. TURPIN" while "our guy" was born "HUGO PHILIP DETERMANN" in Evansville, IN (1879).

Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography.

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1932 Free Eats [?] 1932 First In War [?] DEATH CERTIFICATE (click image to enlarge) MISCELLANEOUS (click any image to enlarge) Acknowledgements: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2XY-GT7 (1879 Dec 11: birth/christening) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHS2-LXS (1880 Census Evansville, IN) https://www.newspapers.com/image/299644263/?terms=determann&match=1 (1900 Mar. Columbus: Dad dies: speaks 8 languages) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMZ5-QYG (1900 C Col OH: student: w widow Mom) https://cdnc LA Herald (1909 Oct 15: ID's body of bank robber (stalker) suicide Chicago) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2CK-WL37 (1910 Jul 09 Brkln NY marries Augusta F Behrens) https://www.newspapers.com/image/685855356/?erms=%22HARRY%20TURPIN%22&match=1 (1916 Aug 22 Turpin sells prop) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXYK-98Y (1918 Oct NYC: Determann: actor: r 731 Rogers Av) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K4M-YLQZ (1918 Oct Bkln NYC: dau born "Jeanne TURPIN Determann") https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/87280627:6061?ssrc=pt&tid=57385361&pid=352160875312 (1920 C r 731 Rogers) https://www.newspapers.com/image/276258688/?terms=%22HARRY%20TURPIN%22&match=1 (1921 Sep 26 Bombo opens) Fultonhistory.com (1921 Oct 14 NYC: first opening "Bombo" w Jolson & Turpin on Broadway) https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DNLA19240427.1.38&srpos=3&e=------192-en--20-DNLA-1-byDA-txt-txIN-bombo----1924--- (Bombo in LA) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/89895277:6224 (1930 C LA:Hugo P Determann: actor: MP) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPWW-JG65 (1932 Dec 02 LA: Death Certificate) https://www.newspapers.com/image/380461119/?terms=%22HARRY%20TURPIN%22&match=1 (1932 Dec 02 Determann=Turpin) https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/harry-turpin-62811 (1912-24 Broadway Plays (5). https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/700858839/ https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/701115680/ https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-5d6f-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 (image) Jim Jarvis (bio notes and research) Jesse Brisson (additional help) This page was last updated on: 17 February 2025