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Lee J. Cobb

Acting Born Dec 8, 1911 New York City, New York, USA 24 credits

Biography

Lee J. Cobb (December 8, 1911 — February 11, 1976) was an American actor. He was best known for his performances in On the Waterfront (1954), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, 12 Angry Men (1957), and The Exorcist (1973). He also played the role of Willy Loman in the original Broadway production of Arthur Miller's 1949 play Death of a Salesman under the direction of Elia Kazan. On television, Cobb costarred in the first four seasons of the popular, long-running western series The Virginian. He typically played arrogant, intimidating, and abrasive characters, but often had roles as respectable figures such as judges. Born Leo Jacob in New York City, he grew up in The Bronx,  before studying at New York University and making his film debut in The Vanishing Shadow (1934).  Cobb performed in numerous theater productions and companies, including Group Theatre (New York) before serving in the First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Force during World War II.  

Following the war, Cobb returned to film, television and theater before being accused of being a Communist in 1951 testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee by Larry Parks, himself a former Communist Party member. Cobb was called to testify before HUAC but refused to do so for two years until, with his career threatened by the blacklist, he relented in 1953 and gave testimony in which he named 20 people as former members of the Communist Party USA. Following the hearing he resumed his career and worked with Elia Kazan and Budd Schulberg, two other HUAC "friendly witnesses", on the 1954 film On the Waterfront, which is widely seen as an allegory and apologia for testifying.  His 1968 performance as King Lear achieved the longest run (72 performances) for the play in Broadway history.  One of his final film roles was that of police detective Lt. Kinderman in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist.

Cobb died of a heart attack in February 1976 in Woodland Hills, California, and was buried in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. He was survived by his second wife, Mary Hirsch, and daughter, also an accomplished actress, Julie Cobb.

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Known for

The Virginian

as Richter Henry Garth

The Virginian

as Ritcher Henry Garth
Film

Ikiru

as Paul Delito
Film

12 Angry Men

as Juror 3
Film

On the Waterfront

as Johnny Friendly

Full filmography

  • The Virginian (1962) as Richter Henry Garth
  • The Virginian (1962) as Ritcher Henry Garth
  • Tony Awards (1956) as Willy Loman (archive footage)
  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) as Ernie Wigman
  • Lights Out (1949)
  • Gunsmoke (1955) as Col. Josiah Johnson
  • Naked City (1958) as Paul Delito
  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Captain Andrew Watling
  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Drifter - Frank MacKinnon
  • 12 Angry Men (1957) as Juror 3
  • Studio One (1948) as Dr. Joseph Pearson
  • The Oscars (1953) as Self
  • McCloud (1970) as Alexander Montello
  • Tales of Tomorrow (1951)
  • The Exorcist (1973) as Lt. Bill Kinderman
  • The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Matt Erwin
  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)
  • The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Captain Maximillian Gault
  • Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Emile Zola
  • On the Waterfront (1954) as Johnny Friendly
  • Medic (1954) as Henry Fisher
  • How the West Was Won (1962) as Marshal Lou Ramsey
  • General Electric Theater (1953) as Dominic Roma
  • General Electric Theater (1953) as Grayson Foxhall