Lee J. Cobb
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- December 8, 1911 in New York City, New York, USA
- Died
- February 11, 1976
- Active Years
- 1934–1979 (46 Years)
- Total Credits
- 107 credits in database
Biography
Lee J. Cobb was an American actor born as Leo Jacob on December 8, 1911, in New York City, where he grew up in The Bronx. He passed away on February 11, 1976. Cobb was best known for his film performances in On the Waterfront from 1954, for which he received an Academy Award nomination, 12 Angry Men from 1957, and The Exorcist from 1973. On stage, he portrayed Willy Loman in the original 1949 Broadway production of Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, which was directed by Elia Kazan. On television, Cobb costarred during the first four seasons of the western series The Virginian. Throughout his career, he typically portrayed arrogant, intimidating, and abrasive characters, as well as respectable figures such as judges.
Career overview
Lee J. Cobb was an American actor born on December 8, 1911, in New York City, where he grew up in The Bronx. Known for his work in film, television, and theatre, he accumulated 104 known credits in his acting career. Throughout his screen work, he typically portrayed arrogant, intimidating, and abrasive characters, while also frequently taking on roles as respectable figures such as judges.
In film, Cobb was best known for his performances in On the Waterfront from 1954, for which he received an Academy Award nomination, 12 Angry Men from 1957, and The Exorcist from 1973. On television, he costarred in the first four seasons of the western series The Virginian.
His stage work included playing the role of Willy Loman in the original Broadway production of Arthur Miller's 1949 play Death of a Salesman, which was directed by Elia Kazan. Cobb passed away on February 11, 1976, at the age of 64.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
107 titles- Arthur Miller on Home Ground (1979)
- The Meanest Men in the West (1978) as Judge Henry Garth
- Origins of the Mafia (1976) as Bartolomeo Gramignano
- Cross Shot (1976) as Dante Ragusa
- Nick the Sting (1976) as Robert Clark
- That Lucky Touch (1975) as Henry Steedman
- Mark Shoots First (1975) as Il commedator Benzi
- Blood, Sweat and Fear (1975) as Benzi
- The Great Ice Rip-Off (1974) as Willy Calso
- The Balloon Vendor (1974) as Twenty Years
- Dr. Max (1974) as Maxwell Gordon
- Trapped Beneath the Sea (1974) as Victor Bateman
- The Exorcist (1973) as Lt. Bill Kinderman
- The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973) as Lapchance
- Double Indemnity (1973) as Barton Keyes
- The Great Kidnapping (1973) as Jovine
- The Bull of the West (1972) as Judge Garth
- Heat of Anger (1972) as Frank Galvin
- Lawman (1971) as Vincent Bronson
- Macho Callahan (1971) as Duffy
- McCloud (1970) as Alexander Montello
- The Young Lawyers (1970)
- The Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970) as Oman Hedgepath
- Annie: The Women in the Life of a Man (1970) as Himself
- Mackenna's Gold (1969) as The Editor
- The Day of the Owl (1968) as Don Mariano Arena
- Coogan's Bluff (1968) as Lt. McElroy
- They Came to Rob Las Vegas (1968) as Steve Skorsky
- In Like Flint (1967) as Lloyd C. Cramden
- Our Man Flint (1966) as Cramden
- Death of a Salesman (1966) as Willy Loman
- The Final Hour (1965) as Judge Henry Garth
- The Brazen Bell (1964) as Judge Henry Garth
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) as Ernie Wigman
- Come Blow Your Horn (1963) as Harry R. Baker
- The Virginian (1962) as Richter Henry Garth
- The Virginian (1962) as Ritcher Henry Garth
- How the West Was Won (1962) as Marshal Lou Ramsey
- The Devil's Children (1962) as Judge Henry Garth
- The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1962) as Julio Madariaga
- Exodus (1960) as Barak Ben Canaan
- Startime (1959) Director
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Captain Maximillian Gault
- Green Mansions (1959) as Nuflo
- The Trap (1959) as Victor Massonetti
- But Not for Me (1959) as Jeremiah MacDonald
- I, Don Quixote (1959) as Miguel de Cervantes / Don Quixote de la Mancha / Alonso Quijana
- Naked City (1958) as Paul Delito
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)
- The Brothers Karamazov (1958) as Fyodor Karamazov
- Man of the West (1958) as Dock Tobin
- Party Girl (1958) as Rico Angelo
- 12 Angry Men (1957) as Juror 3
- The Three Faces of Eve (1957) as Doctor Curtis Luther
- The Garment Jungle (1957) as Walter Mitchell
- Tony Awards (1956) as Willy Loman (archive footage)
- Miami Exposé (1956) as Lt. Barton 'Bart' Scott
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Captain Andrew Watling
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Drifter - Frank MacKinnon
- The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956) as Judge Bernstein
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Col. Josiah Johnson
- The Left Hand of God (1955) as Mieh Yang
- The Road to Denver (1955) as Jim Donovan
- The Racers (1955) as Maglio
- Medic (1954) as Henry Fisher
- On the Waterfront (1954) as Johnny Friendly
- Gorilla at Large (1954) as Detective Sgt. Garrison
- Yankee Pasha (1954) as Sultan
- Day of Triumph (1954) as Zadok
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Dominic Roma
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Grayson Foxhall
- The Tall Texan (1953) as Capt. Theodore Bess
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Matt Erwin
- The Fighter (1952) as Durango
- Tales of Tomorrow (1951)
- Sirocco (1951) as Col. Feroud
- The Family Secret (1951) as Howard Clark
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Emile Zola
- The Man Who Cheated Himself (1950) as Lt. Ed Cullen
- Lights Out (1949)
- Thieves' Highway (1949) as Mike Figlia
- The Phantom Creeps (1949) as Road Crew Foreman (uncredited)
- Studio One (1948) as Dr. Joseph Pearson
- The Luck of the Irish (1948) as David C. Augur
- Call Northside 777 (1948) as Brian Kelly
- The Dark Past (1948) as Dr. Andrew Collins
- The Miracle of the Bells (1948) as Marcus Harris
- Captain from Castile (1947) as Juan Garcia
- Johnny O'Clock (1947) as Inspector Koch
- Boomerang! (1947) as Chief Harold F. 'Robbie' Robinson
- Anna and the King of Siam (1946) as Kralahome
- Winged Victory (1944) as Doctor
- Flight Characteristics of the P-51 Airplane (1944) as Arthur Deeds
- Tonight We Raid Calais (1943) as Bonnard
- The Song of Bernadette (1943) as Dr. Dozous
- Buckskin Frontier (1943) as Jeptha Marr
- The Moon Is Down (1943) as Dr. Albert Winter
- Men of Boys Town (1941) as Dave Morris
- Paris Calling (1941) as Captain Schwabe
- This Thing Called Love (1940) as Julio Diestro
- The Phantom Creeps (1939) as Road Crew Foreman (archive footage)
- Golden Boy (1939) as Mr. Bonaparte
- Danger on the Air (1938) as Tony Lisotti
- North of the Rio Grande (1937) as President Wooden
- Rustlers' Valley (1937) as Cal Howard
- The Vanishing Shadow (1934) as Roadwork Foreman
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Lee J. Cobb best known for?
Lee J. Cobb is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Exorcist (1973), The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973), The Bull of the West (1972), Lawman (1971).
When and where was Lee J. Cobb born?
Lee J. Cobb was born on December 8, 1911 in New York City, New York, USA. They passed away on February 11, 1976.
How many credits does Lee J. Cobb have?
Lee J. Cobb has accumulated over 107 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1934 to 1979.
What is Lee J. Cobb's background in cinema and television?
Lee J. Cobb was an American actor born as Leo Jacob on December 8, 1911, in New York City, where he grew up in The Bronx. He passed away on February 11, 1976. Cobb was best known for his film performances in On the Waterfront from 1954, for which he received an Academy Award nomination, 12 Angry Men from 1957, and The ...
Lee J. Cobb by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- 12 Angry Men (1957) as Juror 3 — aged about 45
- On the Waterfront (1954) as Johnny Friendly — aged about 42
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Matt Erwin — aged about 40
- The Exorcist (1973) as Lt. Bill Kinderman — aged about 61
- McCloud (1970) as Alexander Montello — aged about 58
- The Three Faces of Eve (1957) as Doctor Curtis Luther — aged about 45
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