Lee Marvin (February 19, 1924 – August 29, 1987) was an American film and television actor. Known for his bass voice and premature white hair, he is best remembered for playing hardboiled "tough guy" characters. Although initially typecast as the "heavy" (i.e. villainous character), he later gained prominence for portraying anti-heroes, such as Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger on the television series M Squad (1957–1960). Marvin's notable roles in film included: 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) and the Sergeant in The Big Red One (1980).
Marvin achieved numerous accolades when he portrayed both gunfighter Kid Shelleen and criminal Tim Strawn in a dual role for the comedy Western film Cat Ballou (1965), alongside Jane Fonda, a surprise hit which won him the Academy Award for Best Actor, along with a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, an NBR Award and the Silver Bear for Best Actor.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotesRef.1951You're in the Navy NowRadio ManUncreditedTeresaG.I.1952Diplomatic CourierMP at TriesteWe're Not Married!"Pinky"The Duel at Silver CreekTinhorn BurgessHangman's KnotRolph BainterEight Iron MenSgt. Joe Mooney1953Down Among the Sheltering PalmsPvt. SnivelyUncreditedSeminoleSgt. MagruderThe Glory BrigadeCpl. BowmanThe Stranger Wore a GunDan KurthThe Big HeatVince StoneGun FuryBlinkyThe Wild OneChino1954Gorilla at LargeShaughnessy, PolicemanThe Caine Mutiny"Meatball"The RaidLt. Keating1955Bad Day at Black RockHector DavidViolent SaturdayDill, Bank RobberNot as a StrangerBrundageA Life in the BalanceThe KillerPete Kelly's BluesAl GannawayI Died a Thousand TimesBabe KossuckShack Out on 101Slob / Mr. Gregory1956Seven Men from NowBill MastersMade by Batjac Productions, John Wayne's company.AttackLt. Col. Clyde BartlettPillars of the SkySergeant Lloyd CarracartThe RackCapt. John R. Miller1957Raintree CountyOrville "Flash" PerkinsNominated—Laurel Award for Best Male Supporting Performance1958The Missouri TravelerTobias Brown1961The ComancherosTully CrowNominated—Laurel Award for Best Male Supporting Performance1962The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceLiberty ValanceBronze Wrangler for Best Theatrical Motion Picture Nominated—Laurel Award for Best Action Performance1963Donovan's ReefThomas Aloysius "Boats" Gilhooley1964The KillersCharlie StromBAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (also for Cat Ballou) Nominated—Laurel Award for Best Action Performance1965Cat BallouKid Shelleen and Tim StrawnAcademy Award for Best Actor BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (also for The Killers) Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Laurel Award for Best Male Comedy Performance National Board of Review Award for Best Actor (also for Ship of Fools)
Silver Bear for Best Actor Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorShip of FoolsBill TennyNational Board of Review Award for Best Actor (also for Cat Ballou)1966The ProfessionalsHenry "Rico" FardanLaurel Award for Best Action Performance1967The Dirty DozenMajor John ReismanPoint BlankWalker1968Hell in the PacificAmerican Pilot1969Paint Your WagonBen RumsonNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy1970Monte WalshMonte WalshFotogramas de Plata Award for Best Foreign Performer Nominated—Laurel Award for Best Action Performance1972Pocket MoneyLeonardPrime CutNick Devlin1973Emperor of the North PoleA No. 1The Iceman ComethHickey1974The Spikes GangHarry SpikesThe KlansmanSheriff Track Bascomb1976 Shout at the DevilCol. Flynn O'FlynnThe Great Scout & Cathouse ThursdaySam Longwood1979Avalanche ExpressCol. Harry Wargrave1980The Big Red OneThe Sergeant1981Death HuntSergeant Edgar Millen1983Gorky ParkJack Osborne1984Dog DayJimmy CobbFrench title: Canicule1986The Delta ForceCol. Nick Alexander(final film role)
Television YearTitleRoleNotesRef.1950EscapeEpisode: "Whappernocker Song"The Big StoryEpisode: "Eugene Travis, Memphis Tennessee Reporter"Treasury Men in ActionEpisode: "The Case of the Deadly Fish"1950–1953SuspenseBarrow2 episodes1952ReboundSgt. Krone / BullFireside TheatreEpisode: "Sound in the Night"Biff Baker, U.S.A.Michler / Captain HollisEpisode: "Alpine Assignment"1952–1953DragnetJames Mitchell / Henry Ross2 episodes1953The DoctorEpisode: "The Runaways"The Revlon Mirror TheaterRed JohnsonEpisode: "Lullaby"The Motorola Television HourEpisode: "Outlaw's Reckoning"Plymouth Playhouse1954The Pepsi-Cola PlayhouseJohn Temple2 episodesCenter StageZach ToombsEpisode: "The Day Before Atlanta"MedicLarry CollinsEpisode: "White Is the Color"1954–1959Schlitz Playhouse of StarsJim Patterson / Russ Anderson3 episodes1954–1961General Electric TheaterSid Benton / Clerk / Joe Kittridge / Dick Giles / Art Temple / Captain Morrissey7 episodes1955TV Reader's DigestCharlie FaustEpisode: "How Charlie Faust Won a Pennant for the Giants"Fireside TheatreJiggerEpisode: "Little Guy"Studio OneTealeEpisode: "Shakedown Cruise"1955–1958Climax!Mannon Tate / 'Little Man' Brush / Charter Plane Pilot / Capt. Cavallero4 episodes1956Kraft Television TheatreMilo BogardusEpisode: "The Fool Killer"Front Row CenterDavid HawkenEpisode: "Dinner Date"1957Studio 57Episode: "You Take Ballistics"The United States Steel HourEpisode: "Shadow of Evil"1957–1960M SquadDetective Lt. Frank Ballinger / Lt. Frank Ballinger / Barney117 episodes1959Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseCaptain David RobertsEpisode: "Man in Orbit"1960NBC Sunday ShowcaseIra HayesEpisode: "The American"1960–1961Wagon TrainJud Benedict / Jose Morales2 episodes1961Route 66John Ryan / Woody BiggsThe Barbara Stanwyck ShowJud HollisterEpisode: "Confession"The AmericansCapt. JuddEpisode: "Reconnaissance"CheckmateLee TaborEpisode: "Jungle Castle"Alcoa PremiereHughesEpisode: "People Need People" Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleThe Investigators"Nostradamus" (Walter Mimms)Episode: "The Oracle"1961–1962The UntouchablesMike Brannon / Victor Rait / Howard Carson / Nick Acropolis3 episodes1961–1963The Twilight ZoneSam "Steel" Kelly / Conny MillerEpisodes: "The Grave" and "Steel"1962Ben CaseyGerry BramsonEpisode: "A Story to Be Softly Told"BonanzaPeter KaneEpisode: "The Crucible"The DuPont Show of the WeekJuan de NuñezEpisode: "The Richest Man in Bogotá"The VirginianMartin KaligEpisode: "It Tolls for Thee"1962–1964Dr. KildareBuddy Bishop / Dr. Paul Probeck2 episodes1963The Dick Powell ShowFinn / Dave BlassingameCombat!Sgt. TurkEpisode: "The Bridge at Châlons"Kraft Suspense TheatreSgt. Paul Ryker2 episodesThe Great AdventureMisok BedrozianEpisode: "Six Wagons to the Sea"1963–1964LawbreakersHimself – Host / Narrator35 episodes1965Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler TheatreNick KarajanianEpisode: "The Loving Cup"1968Sergeant RykerSgt. Paul RykerKraft Suspense Theatre1985The Dirty Dozen: Next MissionMaj. John ReismanTelevision film
Stage YearTitleRoleVenueNotesRef.1951Billy BuddHallamBiltmore Theatre, New YorkBroadway debut1955The RainmakerNoah CurryLa Jolla Playhouse, San Diego1956Bus StopBo Decker References