Lee Marvin
Biography
Lee Marvin was an American actor born on February 19, 1924, in New York City, New York, USA. He initially appeared in supporting roles, often playing villains, soldiers, and hard-boiled characters. Marvin is known for his distinctive voice and premature white hair. A prominent television role was that of Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger in the crime series M Squad, which aired from 1957 to 1960. Marvin's film career included notable roles in The Killers, The Professionals, The Dirty Dozen, Point Blank, and The Big Red One. He is also associated with the movie Cat Ballou, released in 1965. Marvin passed away on August 29, 1987.
Career overview
Lee Marvin was an American actor known for his distinctive voice and premature white hair. He initially appeared in supporting roles, often portraying villains, soldiers, and other hard-boiled characters. Marvin's early work included television roles, with one notable series being M Squad, where he played Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger from 1957 to 1960.
Marvin is best remembered for his lead roles as tough guy characters in various films. His performances in The Killers, The Professionals, The Dirty Dozen, Point Blank, and The Big Red One showcased his ability to portray complex and often gritty characters. Marvin's film career spanned multiple genres and decades, with one of his notable movie projects being Cat Ballou in 1965.
Throughout his career, Marvin accumulated a significant number of credits, with over 130 known acting roles. His work in film and television helped establish him as a prominent actor of his time. Marvin's distinctive voice and presence on screen have left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
155 titles- Point Blank the Documentary (2024) as Self
- Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014) as Col. Nick Alexander (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Size of Legends, The Soul of Myth (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Operation Dirty Dozen (2006) as Self
- Armed and Deadly: The Making of 'The Dirty Dozen' (2006) as Self (archive footage)
- The Big Red One: The Reconstruction (2005) as The Sergeant
- The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller (2002) as The Sergeant (archive footage)
- The Delta Force (1986) as Colonel Nick Alexander
- Combat Leadership: The Ultimate Challenge (1986) as Himself
- The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn (1986) as Self
- The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985) as Maj. John Reisman
- Dog Day (1984) as Jimmy Cobb
- Sam Fuller & the Big Red One (1984) as Self
- Gorky Park (1983) as Jack Osborne
- Canicule (1983)
- Wogan (1982) as Self
- Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
- Death Hunt (1981) as RCMP Sgt. Edgar Millen
- The Big Red One (1980) as The Sergeant
- Avalanche Express (1979) as Harry Wargrave
- The Meanest Men in the West (1978) as Kalig Talbot
- Superstunt (1977) as Self - Host
- Bob Hope's World of Comedy (1976) as Self (archive footage)
- The Great Scout & Cathouse Thursday (1976) as Sam Longwood
- Shout at the Devil (1976) as Colonel Flynn O'Flynn
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self - Presenter
- The Spikes Gang (1974) as Harry Spikes
- The Klansman (1974) as Sheriff Track Bascomb
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- Emperor of the North (1973) as A No. 1
- The Iceman Cometh (1973) as Theodore 'Hickey' Hickman
- Pocket Money (1972) as Leonard
- Prime Cut (1972) as Nick Devlin
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- Monte Walsh (1970) as Monte Walsh
- It Couldn't Be Done (1970) as Narrator
- Paint Your Wagon (1969) as Ben Rumson
- No Name City (1969) as Self
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Hell in the Pacific (1968) as American Pilot
- Sergeant Ryker (1968) as Sgt. Paul Ryker
- Autumn and Cardboard (1968) as Narrator
- The Dirty Dozen (1967) as Maj. John Reisman
- Lionpower from MGM (1967) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Point Blank (1967) as Walker
- The Rock (1967) as Self (uncredited)
- Tonite Let's All Make Love in London (1967) as Self
- Our Time In Hell (1967) as Narrator
- The Professionals (1966) as Fardan
- Cat Ballou (1965) as Kid Shelleen / Tim Strawn
- Ship of Fools (1965) as Tenny
- Top of the Pops (1964) as Self
- The Killers (1964) as Charlie Strom
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) as Nick Karajanian
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Sgt. Paul Ryker
- The Great Adventure (1963) as Misok Bedrozian
- Donovan's Reef (1963) as Thomas "Boats" Gilhooley
- The Lawbreakers (1963) as Self - Host
- The Losers (1963) as Dave Blassingame
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Virginian (1962) as Martin Kalig
- Combat! (1962) as Sgt. Turk
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) as Liberty Valance
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Dr. Paul Probeck
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Buddy Bishop
- Ben Casey (1961)
- The Dick Powell Show (1961) as Finn
- The Investigators (1961) as Nostradamus
- The Comancheros (1961) as Crow
- The DuPont Show of the Week (1961) as Juan de Nuñez
- Route 66 (1960) as Woody Biggs
- Route 66 (1960) as John Ryan
- Checkmate (1960) as Lee Tabor
- The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960) as Jud Hollister
- Bonanza (1959) as Peter Kane
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Steel Kelly
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Conny Miller
- The Untouchables (1959) as Mike Brannon
- The Untouchables (1959) as Victor Rait / Howard Carson
- The Untouchables (1959) as Nick Acropolis
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)
- The Missouri Traveler (1958) as Tobias Brown
- Wagon Train (1957) as Jud Benedict
- Wagon Train (1957) as Jose Morales
- M Squad (1957) as Detective Lt. Frank Ballinger
- Raintree County (1957) as Orville 'Flash' Perkins
- The Steve Allen Show (1956) as Self - M-Squad
- The Steve Allen Show (1956) as Self - Detective
- The Steve Allen Show (1956) as Self - Guest
- The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (1956) as Self
- 7 Men from Now (1956) as Bill Masters
- Attack (1956) as Clyde Bartlett
- The Rack (1956) as Capt. John R. Miller
- Pillars of the Sky (1956) as Sgt. Lloyd Carracart
- Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) as Hector David
- I Died a Thousand Times (1955) as Babe Kossuck
- A Life in the Balance (1955) as The Killer
- Violent Saturday (1955) as Dill, Bank Robber
- Not as a Stranger (1955) as Brundage
- Shack Out on 101 (1955) as Slob / Mr. Gregory
- Pete Kelly's Blues (1955) as Al Gannaway
- Climax! (1954) as Capt. Cavallero
- Climax! (1954) as 'Little Man' Brush
- Climax! (1954) as Mannon Tate
- Studio 57 (1954)
- The Caine Mutiny (1954) as Meatball
- The Caine Mutiny (1954) Technical Supervisor
- Gorilla at Large (1954) as Shaughnessy--Policeman
- The Raid (1954) as Lt. Keating
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1953) as John Temple
- The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1953)
- The Wild One (1953) as Chino
- General Electric Theater (1953)
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Captain Morrissey
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Art Temple
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Dick Giles
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Joe Kittridge
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Clerk
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Sid Benton
- The Big Heat (1953) as Vince Stone
- The Motorola Television Hour (1953)
- Revlon Mirror Theatre (1953) as Red Johnson
- The Stranger Wore a Gun (1953) as Dan Kurth
- Gun Fury (1953) as Blinky
- Seminole (1953) as Sgt. Magruder
- The Glory Brigade (1953) as Cpl. Bowman
- Down Among the Sheltering Palms (1953) as Pvt. Snively (uncredited)
- Biff Baker U.S.A. (1952) as Michler / Captain Hollis
- Biff Baker U.S.A. (1952) as Captain Hollis Michler
- The Duel at Silver Creek (1952) as Tinhorn Burgess
- Hangman's Knot (1952) as Rolph Bainter
- We're Not Married! (1952) as Pinky (uncredited)
- Eight Iron Men (1952) as Sgt. Joe Mooney
- Diplomatic Courier (1952) as Military Policeman at Trieste (uncredited)
- Dragnet (1951) as Henry Ross
- Dragnet (1951) as James Mitchell
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Jim Patterson
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Russ Anderson
- You're in the Navy Now (1951) as Radio Man
- Teresa (1951) as G.I. (uncredited)
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
- Treasury Men in Action (1950)
- Cameo Theatre (1950)
- Suspense (1949) as Barrow
- Suspense (1949)
- The Big Story (1949)
- Studio One (1948) as Teale
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947) as Milo Bogardus
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Lee Marvin best known for?
Lee Marvin is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Delta Force (1986), Gorky Park (1983), Wogan (1982), Champs-Elysées (1982).
When and where was Lee Marvin born?
Lee Marvin was born on February 19, 1924 in New York City, New York, USA. They passed away on August 29, 1987.
How many credits does Lee Marvin have?
Lee Marvin has accumulated over 155 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2024.
What is Lee Marvin's background in cinema and television?
Lee Marvin was an American actor born on February 19, 1924, in New York City, New York, USA. He initially appeared in supporting roles, often playing villains, soldiers, and hard-boiled characters. Marvin is known for his distinctive voice and premature white hair. A prominent television role was that of Detective Lieu...