'Van' is a common preposition found in many Dutch family names, while 'Von' is its counterpart in the German language.
Which actor/actress with the preposition 'Van' or 'Von' in his or her last name is your favorite?
List: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls097089646/
Poll: https://www.imdb.com/poll/pO2_tAWMZMs/
Which actor/actress with the preposition 'Van' or 'Von' in his or her last name is your favorite?
List: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls097089646/
Poll: https://www.imdb.com/poll/pO2_tAWMZMs/
- 1982 Posts
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Posted 2 months ago
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Perhaps you could change the wording of the intro to include not just screen actors; Eddie Van Halen needs to be here!
- 1982 Posts
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Thanks, Narnia. Van Halen is great indeed! But if I have to add musicians to this poll, I would have to include others as well and I'm already close to 35. For the same reason I'm not taking directors, writers or producers such as
Lars von Trier on board either.
Jessica, Champion
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How about a special dispensation for this great character actor.
Reginald VelJohnson (Actor, Die Hard (1988))
I know he'd get votes!!!

I know he'd get votes!!!
(Edited)
- 1982 Posts
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It would have been a good addition, Ed, but unfortunately Vel is not the same as Van or Von. According to the dictionary, the preposition 'Vel' means "almost the same thing, implying that you can choose one or the other". I'm not sure though how this definition can be applied to a family name.
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FYC
Shantel VanSanten
776 on the STARmeter
Emily VanCamp 1034 STARmeter
Grace Van Patten
Relation of Dick Van Patten (Daughter of Dick's half brother Timothy)

776 on the STARmeter


Relation of Dick Van Patten (Daughter of Dick's half brother Timothy)
- 1982 Posts
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Some much needed female Van's making my list a little bit more gender-balanced. Thanks, Ed!
(Edited)
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Was beginning to wonder if you noticed!!!
Nikolay Yeriomin (Mykola Yeromin), Champion
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FYC:
Edward Van Sloan, a great character actor who was in numerous classic Universal monster movies.
Edward Van Sloan, a great character actor who was in numerous classic Universal monster movies.
rubyfruit76, Champion
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von Sydow
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I voted for him, too. He's pretty good. Maybe I'll revote for von Stroheim later, if you put him on list. According to Wikipedia, he seems to be a good. I gotta watch something with him in it before to see. ;)
Dan Dassow, Champion
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Lars von Trier?
Peter, Champion
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Actors only.
But I just remembered Erich von Stroheim, who could have been included.
But I just remembered Erich von Stroheim, who could have been included.
- 1979 Posts
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Do you want me to add Erich von Stroheim to the list?
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Just read about him on Wikipedia. Seems to be a good choice. Maybe I'll revote. :)
Nikolay Yeriomin (Mykola Yeromin), Champion
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Peter, to be honest, while it's not his primary profession, Lars von Trier has 16 actor credits so far.
Peter, Champion
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Sure, but no one should want to vote for him as their favorite actor.
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Congratulations, leavey-2. Exactly the title "von" is a title of nobilty used for Barons.
I do really like that.
"Baron of Hildesheim" in German would be:
"Freiherr Baron von Hildesheim"
sometimes they use the word "zu", too. That would be
"Freiherr Baron von Hildesheim zu Stauffenstätt" (the last name is very fictional)
When Germans make jokes about it, they talk about "von und zu und mit"
That's a joking pun for a higher person or a simply a snob. "Herr von und zu und mit"
Like "Mr. of and to and with"
I do really like that.
"Baron of Hildesheim" in German would be:
"Freiherr Baron von Hildesheim"
sometimes they use the word "zu", too. That would be
"Freiherr Baron von Hildesheim zu Stauffenstätt" (the last name is very fictional)
When Germans make jokes about it, they talk about "von und zu und mit"
That's a joking pun for a higher person or a simply a snob. "Herr von und zu und mit"
Like "Mr. of and to and with"
- 1982 Posts
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Thanks for the extra info, Breumaster. Very interesting.
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"van" is used in Flanders, Belgium and the Netherlands.
But we even have Dutchman in Gemany. ;D
But we even have Dutchman in Gemany. ;D