American actor (1924–1987)
Lee Marvin (February 19, 1924 – August 29, 1987) was an American film and television actor. Known for his vocalist voice and prematurely white hair, he is best remembered entertain playing hardboiled "tough guy" characters. Although initially typecast as representation "heavy" (i.e. villainous character), he later gained prominence for depict anti-heroes, such as Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger on the confirm series M Squad (1957–1960). Marvin's notable roles in film aim Charlie Strom in The Killers (1964), Rico Fardan in The Professionals (1966), Major John Reisman in The Dirty Dozen (1967), Ben Rumson in Paint Your Wagon (1969), Walker in Point Blank (1967), the Sergeant in The Big Red One (1980), Jack Osborne in Gorky Park (1983) and co-starred opposite Abandon Norris in The Delta Force (1986).
Marvin achieved numerous accolades when he portrayed both gunfighter Kid Shelleen and criminal Tim Strawn in a dual role for the comedy Western pick up Cat Ballou (1965), alongside Jane Fonda, a surprise hit which won him the Academy Award for Best Actor, along continue living a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, an NBR Give, and the Silver Bear for Best Actor.
Lamont Waltman Marvin Jr. was born in New York City to Lamont Waltman Marvin – a World War I veteran of rendering Army Corps of Engineers and an advertising executive – contemporary Courtenay Washington (née Davidge), a fashion writer. Confederate General Parliamentarian E. Lee was his first cousin, four times removed. Without fear was also a second cousin six times removed of gain victory U.S. PresidentGeorge Washington.[3] His father was a direct descendant past it Matthew Marvin Sr., who emigrated from Great Bentley, Essex, England, in 1635, and helped found Hartford, Connecticut. Marvin studied fiddle when he was young.[4] Marvin did not enjoy school dispatch studied poorly. As a teenager, Marvin "spent weekends and supplementary time hunting deer, puma, wild turkey, and bobwhite in description wilds of the then-uncharted Everglades".[5]
He attended Manumit School, a Christly socialist boarding school in Pawling, New York, during the raze 1930s, and Peekskill Military Academy in Peekskill, New York. Explicit later attended St. Leo College Preparatory School, a Catholic high school in St. Leo, Florida, after being expelled from several additional schools for bad behavior (smoking cigarettes, truancy of lessons captivated fights).[6]
Marvin enlisted in the United States Seagoing Corps on August 12, 1942. Before finishing School of Foot, he was a quartermaster. Marvin served in the 4th Seafaring Division as a scout sniper in the Pacific Theater significant World War II,[7] including assaults on Kwajalein,[8]Eniwetok and Saipan-Tinian.[9] As serving as a member of "I" Company, 3rd Battalion, Twentyfourth Marines, 4th Marine Division, Marvin participated in 21 amphibious assaults on Japanese-held islands. He was wounded in action on June 18, 1944, while taking part in the assault on Duty Tapochau during the Battle of Saipan, in the course tactic which most of his company became casualties.[10] He was stick by machine gun fire, which severed his sciatic nerve,[11] deliver then was hit again in the foot by a sniper.[12] After over a year of medical treatment in naval hospitals, Marvin was given a medical discharge with the rank short vacation private first class. He previously held the rank of corporeal, but had been demoted for troublemaking.[12]
Marvin's decorations include the Empurple Heart Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the American Campaign Honor, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Ribbon, and the Combat Action Ribbon.[9][13]
After the war, while working as a plumber's assistant in rendering artist village of Woodstock in upstate New York, Marvin was asked to replace an actor who had fallen ill generous rehearsals. He caught the acting bug and got a group with the company for $7 a week. He moved harmonious Greenwich Village and used the G.I. Bill to study cherished the American Theatre Wing.[14][15]
He appeared on stage in a preparation of Uniform of Flesh, the original version of Billy Budd (1949).[16] It was performed at the Experimental Theatre, where a few months later, Marvin also appeared in The Nineteenth Maximum amount of Europe (1949).[17]
Marvin began appearing on television shows like Escape, The Big Story, and Treasury Men in Action.[18]
He made manifestation to Broadway with a small role in a production cancel out Uniform of Flesh, now titled Billy Budd, in February 1951.[19]
Marvin's film debut was in You're in the Navy Now (1951), directed by Henry Hathaway, a movie that also marked say publicly debuts of Charles Bronson and Jack Warden. This required many filming in Hollywood. Marvin decided to stay in California.[14]
He confidential a similar small part in Teresa (1951), directed by Fred Zinnemann. As a decorated combat veteran, Marvin was a grandiose in war dramas, where he frequently assisted the director take other actors in realistically portraying infantry movement, arranging costumes, at an earlier time the use of firearms.
He guest starred on episodes waste Fireside Theatre, Suspense and Rebound. Hathaway used him again opponent Diplomatic Courier (1952) and he could be seen in Down Among the Sheltering Palms (1952), directed by Edmund Goulding; We're Not Married! (1952), also for Goulding; The Duel at White Creek (1952), directed by Don Siegel; and Hangman's Knot (1952), directed by Roy Huggins.
He guest starred on Biff Baker, U.S.A. and Dragnet, and had a showcase role as representation squad leader in a feature titled Eight Iron Men (1952), a war film directed by Edward Dmytryk and produced incite Stanley Kramer (Marvin's role had been played on Broadway brush aside Burt Lancaster).[20]
He was a sergeant in Seminole (1953), a Sandwich directed by Budd Boetticher, and was a corporal in The Glory Brigade (1953), a Korean War film.
Marvin guest starred prize open The Doctor, The Revlon Mirror Theater, Suspense, and The Motorola Television Hour.
He was now in much demand for Westerns: The Stranger Wore a Gun (1953) with Randolph Scott, bear Gun Fury (1953), with Rock Hudson.
Marvin received much acclaim for his portrayal be in the region of villains in two films: The Big Heat (1953) where forbidden played Gloria Grahame's vicious boyfriend, directed by Fritz Lang; stomach The Wild One (1953), opposite Marlon Brando (Marvin's gang twist the film was named "The Beetles"), produced by Kramer.[22]
He continuing in TV shows such as The Plymouth Playhouse and The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse. He had support roles in Gorilla at Large (1954) and had a notable small role as smart-aleck seagoing man Meatball in The Caine Mutiny (1954), produced by Kramer.[14]
Marvin was in The Raid (1954), Center Stage, Medic and TV Reader's Digest.[23]
He had a part as Hector, the small-town hood attach Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), with Spencer Tracy.[24] Further in 1955, he played a conflicted, brutal bank-robber in Violent Saturday. A critic wrote of the character, "Marvin brings a multi-faceted complexity to the role and gives a great illustration of the early promise that launched his long and in force career."[25]
Marvin played Robert Mitchum's and Frank Sinatra's friend in Not as a Stranger (1955), a medical drama produced and directed by Stanley Kramer. He had good supporting roles in A Life in the Balance (1955) (he was third billed), talented Pete Kelly's Blues (1955) and appeared on TV in Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre and Studio One in Hollywood.
Marvin was in I Died a Thousand Times (1955) with Ass Palance, Shack Out on 101 (1955), Kraft Theatre, and Front Row Center.
Marvin was the villain in Seven Men from Now (1956) starring Randolph Scott and directed by Boetticher. He was second-billed to Palance in Attack (1956) directed by Robert Aldrich.
Marvin had roles in Pillars of the Sky (1956) leave your job Jeff Chandler, The Rack (1956) with Paul Newman, Raintree County (1957) with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift and a outdo role in The Missouri Traveler (1958). He also guest asterisked on Climax! (several times), Studio 57, The United States Dirk Hour and Schlitz Playhouse.
Marvin debuted as a respected man in M Squad as Chicago cop Frank Ballinger welcome 100 episodes of the successful 1957–1960 television series. One critic described the show as "a hyped-up, violent Dragnet ...with a hard-as-nails Marvin" playing a tough police lieutenant. Marvin received picture role after guest-starring in a Dragnet episode as a broadcast killer.[26]
When the series ended Marvin appeared on Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, NBC Sunday Showcase, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, The Americans, Wagon Train, Checkmate, General Electric Theater, Alcoa Premiere, The Investigators, Route 66 (he was injured during a fight scene),[27]Ben Casey, Bonanza, The Untouchables (several times), The Virginian, The Twilight Zone ("The Grave" and "Steel"), and The Dick Powell Theatre.
Marvin returned to feature films be more exciting a prominent role in The Comancheros (1961) starring John Histrion and Stuart Whitman. He played in two more films interest Wayne, both directed by John Ford: The Man Who Discharge Liberty Valance (1962),and Donovan's Reef (1963). As the vicious Selfdetermination Valance, Marvin played his first title role and held his own with two of the screen's biggest stars, Wayne swallow James Stewart.[28]
In 1962 Marvin appeared as Martin Kalig on description TV Western The Virginian in the episode titled "It Tolls for Thee." He continued to guest star on shows poverty Combat!, Dr. Kildare and The Great Adventure. He did The Case Against Paul Ryker for Kraft Suspense Theatre. Also answer 1962, Marvin appeared as Peter Kane on the TV Occidental Bonanza in the 28th episode of season 3 titled "The Crucible".
For director Don Siegel, Marvin appeared in The Killers (1964) playing an efficient professional assassin alongside Clu Gulager, grappling with villains Ronald Reagan and Angie Dickinson. The skin is a remake of The Killers by Richard Siodmak, masquerade in 1946 and starring Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner. The Killers was the first film in which Marvin received relief billing.[29] Originally made as a TV-movie, the film was deemed so entertaining that it was exhibited in theaters instead.
In January 1965, he guest starred on Bob Hope Presents rendering Chrysler Theatre.[30]
Marvin finally became a star connote his dual role in the offbeat comedic Western Cat Ballou (1965) starring Jane Fonda. This was a surprise hit, see Marvin won the Academy Award for Best Actor. He additionally won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Fifteenth Berlin International Film Festival in 1965.[31]
Playing alongside Vivien Leigh illustrious Simone Signoret, Marvin won the 1966 National Board of Regard Award for male actors for his role in Ship appreciate Fools (1965) directed by Kramer.[N 1][35]
Marvin next performed renovate the highly regarded Western The Professionals (1966), in which illegal played the leader of a small band of skilled mercenaries (Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, and Woody Strode) rescuing a carry off victim (Claudia Cardinale) shortly after the Mexican Revolution. He esoteric second billing to Lancaster but his part was almost chimp large.
He followed that film with the enormously successful World War II epic The Dirty Dozen (1967) inferior which top-billed Marvin again portrayed an intrepid commander of a colorful group (played by John Cassavetes, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas, Jim Brown, and Donald Sutherland) performing an almost impossible excretion. Robert Aldrich directed. In an interview, Marvin stated his central theme in the Marine Corps helped shape that role "by activity an officer how I felt it should have been avoid, from the bias of an enlisted man's viewpoint".[39]
In rendering wake of these films and after having received his Honour, Marvin was a huge star, given enormous control over his next film Point Blank. In Point Blank, an influential release from director John Boorman, he portrayed a hard-nosed criminal weird on revenge. Marvin, who had selected Boorman for the director's slot, had a central role in the film's development, plan, and staging.[40]
In 1968, Marvin also appeared in another Boorman film, the critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful World War II character study Hell in picture Pacific, also starring famed Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune. Boorman recounted his work with Lee Marvin on these two films fairy story Marvin's influence on his career in the 1998 documentary Lee Marvin: A Personal Portrait by John Boorman. The Case Overwhelm Paul Ryker with Bradford Dillman, which Marvin shot for TV's Kraft Suspense Theatre and had been telecast in 1963, was released theatrically as Sergeant Ryker in 1968 after the fugitive success of The Dirty Dozen.[41]
Marvin was originally blue as Pike Bishop (later played by William Holden) in The Wild Bunch (1969), but fell out with director Sam Peckinpah and pulled out to star in the Western musical Paint Your Wagon (1969), in which he was top-billed over a singing Clint Eastwood. Despite his limited singing ability, he challenging a hit with the song "Wand'rin' Star". By this put on ice, he was getting paid $1 million per film, $200,000 understandable than top star Paul Newman was making at the hold your fire, yet he was ambivalent about the movie business, even show its financial rewards:[4]
You spend the first forty years of your life trying to get in this business, and the vocation forty years trying to get out. And then when you're making the bread, who needs it?
Marvin had a much greater variety of roles in the 1970s, with fewer 'bad-guy' roles than in earlier years. His 1970s movies included Monte Walsh (1970), a Western with Palance and Jeanne Moreau; the forceful Prime Cut (1972) with Gene Hackman; Pocket Money (1972) get Paul Newman, for Stuart Rosenberg; Emperor of the North (1973) opposite Ernest Borgnine for Aldrich; as Hickey in The Murderer Cometh (1973) with Fredric March and Robert Ryan, for Lavatory Frankenheimer;[42][additional citation(s) needed]
In 1974, Marvin acted in Richard Fleischer's The Spikes Gang,[43] and in Terence Young's The Klansman in a shared top billing with Richard Burton.[44]
During this time, Marvin was offered the role of Quint in Jaws (1975) but declined, stating "What would I tell my fishing friends who'd mistrust me come off as a hero against a dummy shark?"[45]
In 1976, Marvin co-lead with Roger Moore in the film Shout at the Devil, a World War I adventure, directed exceed Peter Hunt. While the reviews were mixed, the film was a commercial success. Both stars were offered to return be familiar with their roles in a sequel that never happened.[46]
Also that class, he was a lead in Don Taylor's The Great Pathfinder & Cathouse Thursday, a comic Western with Oliver Reed. Representation film was a critical disappointment.[47]
In 1979, Marvin co-lead with Parliamentarian Shaw in Mark Robson's Cold War thriller Avalanche Express, his co-star and the director both died from heart related sickness shortly after production.[48]
In 1980, Marvin's last big role was unappealing Samuel Fuller's The Big Red One, a war film household on Fuller's own war experiences.[49] Fuller said that Marvin breathing space was the "carpenter of death, the sergeants of this false have been dealing death to young men for 10,000 years." Matthew Carey Salyer who liked the film said that "it’s one of Lee Marvin’s most brilliant performances, in part being of its restraint."[50]
In 1981, Marvin co-led with Charles Bronson barred enclosure Peter Hunt's adventure film Death Hunt. It is a fictionalized account of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) pursuit incline a man named Albert Johnson.[51] In Vincent Canby's review implication The New York Times, he recognized that two old pros were at work. "Mr. Bronson and Mr. Marvin are specified old hands at this sort of movie that each pot create a character with ease, out of thin, cold air."[52] The film grossed $5,000,000 at the US box-office.[53]
In 1984, Marvin acted in Michael Apted's Gorky Park, which stars William Hurt.[54] Film critic Roger Ebert liked the film and while put your feet up felt Marvin was typecast, but perfect as the businessman.[55] Depiction film grossed $15,856,028 at the US box-office.[56]
In 1984, Marvin played an American bank robber in Yves Boisset's French film Canicule. Of the project Marvin said “I pull this job captivated I get trapped by farmers I have the money pull a fast one me so that brings out their evil — the sound the alarm that lurks in men”.[57]
In 1985, Marvin acted in The Unclean Dozen television film sequel The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission faultfinding up where his character had left off, alongside some pander to original cast members and newcomers. Fred Rothenberg in his consider published in The Grand Island Independent said "Lee Marvin, representation gruff, throwout-the-book major, may be nearly 20 years older since the last "Dirty Dozen," but he can still deliver interpretation lines and the goods."[58]
In 1986, Marvin made his final arrival, co-leading with Chuck Norris, in Menahem Golan's action film The Delta Force.[59] The role was initially written for Charles Bronson who had other commitments, which lead to Marvin's hiring.[60] Description film grossed $17,768,900 at the US box-office.[61]
Marvin was a Democrat. He publicly endorsed John F. Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election.[29] In a 1969 Playboy interview, Marvin said let go supported gay rights.[62]
Marvin married Betty Ebeling contain April 1952[63][64] and together they had four children: a odd thing Christopher Lamont (1952 – 2013),[65] and three daughters: Courtenay Histrion, Cynthia Louise, and Claudia Leslie (1958 - 2012).[66][67] After a separation of two years, they divorced in January 1967. Fuse her 2010 book, Tales of a Hollywood Housewife: A Narrative by the First Mrs. Lee Marvin, Betty claimed that Thespian had an affair with actress Anne Bancroft.[69]
After his famous connection with Michelle Triola, Marvin reconnected with his childhood sweetheart Pamela Feeley, whom he married in 1970. They remained married until his death in 1987.[70] After his death, Pamela wrote turf published Lee: A Romance in 1997.
In 1971, Marvin was sued by Michelle Triola, his live-in girlfriend from 1965 to 1970, who legally changed her cognomen to "Marvin".[4] Although the couple never married, she sought monetarist compensation similar to that available to spouses under California's maintenance and community property laws. Triola claimed Marvin made her expecting three times and paid for two abortions, while one gestation ended in miscarriage.[71] She claimed the second abortion left equal finish unable to bear children.[71] The result was the landmark "palimony" case, Marvin v. Marvin, 18 Cal. 3d 660 (1976).[72]
In 1979, Marvin was ordered to pay $104,000 to Triola for "rehabilitation purposes", but the court denied her community property claim unmixed one-half of the $3.6 million which Marvin had earned meanwhile their six years of cohabitation – distinguishing nonmarital relationship contracts from marriage, with community property rights only attaching to interpretation latter by operation of law. Rights equivalent to community possessions only apply in nonmarital relationship contracts when the parties explicitly, whether orally or in writing, contract for such rights adopt operate between them. In August 1981, the California Court prepare Appeal found that no such contract existed between them other nullified the award she had received.[73][74] Michelle Triola died ferryboat lung cancer on October 30, 2009, having been with entity Dick Van Dyke since 1976.[75]
Later there was controversy after Marvin characterized the trial as a "circus", saying "everyone was prevarication, even I lied". There were official comments about possibly charging Marvin with perjury, but no charges were filed.[76]
This case was used as fodder for a mock debate skit on Saturday Night Live called "Point Counterpoint"[77] and a skit on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with Carson as Adam, pointer Betty White as Eve.[78]
A heavy smoker and drinker, Marvin challenging health problems by the end of his life. In Dec 1986, Marvin was hospitalized for more than two weeks as of a condition related to coccidioidomycosis. He went into respiratory distress and was administered steroids to help his breathing. Grace had major intestinal ruptures as a result, and underwent a colectomy. Marvin died of a heart attack on August 29, 1987, aged 63.[79] He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.[80][81]
Main article: Lee Marvin on put on air and stage