
Person
Lee Marvin
Acting · 1924–1987 · New York City, New York, USA
Biography
Lee Marvin (February 19, 1924 – August 29, 1987) was an American actor. Known for his distinctive voice and premature white hair, Marvin initially appeared in supporting roles, mostly villains, soldiers, and other hardboiled characters. A prominent television role was that of Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger in the crime series M Squad (1957–1960). Marvin is best remembered for his lead roles as "tough guy" characters such as Charlie Strom in The Killers (1964), Rico Fardan in The Professionals (1966), Major John Reisman in The Dirty Dozen, Walker in Point Blank (both 1967), and the Sergeant in The Big Red One (1980). One of Marvin's more notable movie projects was Cat Ballou (1965), a comedy Western in which he played dual roles. For portraying both gunfighter Kid Shelleen and criminal Tim Strawn, he won 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.
Known for

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self

The Mike Douglas Show
Self

Top of the Pops
Self

Bonanza
Peter Kane

Wagon Train
Jud Benedict

Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee

Dragnet
Henry Ross

Wogan
Self

Champs-Elysées
Self

The Twilight Zone
Steel Kelly
Filmography
- 2024Point Blank the DocumentarySelf
- 2022Clint Eastwood: The Last LegendSelf (archive footage)
- 2014Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon FilmsCol. Nick Alexander (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2009The Size of Legends, The Soul of MythSelf (archive footage)
- 2006Armed and Deadly: The Making of 'The Dirty Dozen'Self (archive footage)
- 2006Operation Dirty DozenSelf
- 2005The Big Red One: The ReconstructionThe Sergeant
- 2002The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel FullerThe Sergeant (archive footage)
- 1986Combat Leadership: The Ultimate ChallengeHimself
- 1986The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine HepburnSelf
- 1986The Delta ForceColonel Nick Alexander
- 1985The Dirty Dozen: Next MissionMaj. John Reisman
- 1984Sam Fuller & the Big Red OneSelf
- 1984Dog DayJimmy Cobb
- 1983Gorky ParkJack Osborne
- 1983Canicule
- 1982WoganSelf
- 1982Champs-ElyséesSelf
- 1981Death HuntRCMP Sgt. Edgar Millen
- 1980The Big Red OneThe Sergeant
- 1979Avalanche ExpressHarry Wargrave
- 1978The Meanest Men in the WestKalig Talbot
- 1977SuperstuntSelf - Host
- 1976Bob Hope's World of ComedySelf (archive footage)
- 1976The Great Scout & Cathouse ThursdaySam Longwood
- 1976Shout at the DevilColonel Flynn O'Flynn
- 1975People's Choice AwardsSelf - Presenter
- 1974The KlansmanSheriff Track Bascomb
- 1974The Spikes GangHarry Spikes
- 1973The Iceman ComethTheodore 'Hickey' Hickman
- 1973Emperor of the NorthA No. 1
- 1973The American Film Institute Salute to ...Self
- 1972Prime CutNick Devlin
- 1972Pocket MoneyLeonard
- 1971Film '72Self
- 1970Monte WalshMonte Walsh
- 1970It Couldn't Be DoneNarrator
- 1969Paint Your WagonBen Rumson
- 1969No Name CitySelf
- 1968Hell in the PacificAmerican Pilot
- 1968The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest
- 1968Sergeant RykerSgt. Paul Ryker
- 1968Autumn and CardboardNarrator
- 1967Tonite Let's All Make Love in LondonSelf
- 1967Point BlankWalker
- 1967The Dirty DozenMaj. John Reisman
- 1967Our Time In HellNarrator
- 1967The RockSelf (uncredited)
- 1967Lionpower from MGMSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1966The ProfessionalsFardan
- 1965Ship of FoolsTenny
- 1965Cat BallouKid Shelleen / Tim Strawn
- 1964The KillersCharlie Strom
- 1964Top of the PopsSelf
- 1963Kraft Suspense TheatreSgt. Paul Ryker
- 1963Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler TheatreNick Karajanian
- 1963The Great AdventureMisok Bedrozian
- 1963The LawbreakersSelf - Host
- 1963Donovan's ReefThomas "Boats" Gilhooley
- 1963The LosersDave Blassingame
- 1962Combat!Sgt. Turk
- 1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelf
- 1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
- 1962The VirginianMartin Kalig
- 1962The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceLiberty Valance
- 1961The ComancherosCrow
- 1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf
- 1961The InvestigatorsNostradamus
- 1961Ben Casey
- 1961Dr. KildareDr. Paul Probeck
- 1961The Dick Powell ShowFinn
- 1961The DuPont Show of the WeekJuan de Nuñez
- 1960Route 66Woody Biggs
- 1960The Barbara Stanwyck ShowJud Hollister
- 1960CheckmateLee Tabor
- 1959The UntouchablesMike Brannon
- 1959The Twilight ZoneSteel Kelly
- 1959BonanzaPeter Kane
- 1958Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
- 1958The Missouri TravelerTobias Brown
- 1957Raintree CountyOrville 'Flash' Perkins
- 1957M SquadDetective Lt. Frank Ballinger
- 1957Wagon TrainJud Benedict
- 1956The RackCapt. John R. Miller
- 1956The Tennessee Ernie Ford ShowSelf
- 1956AttackClyde Bartlett
- 1956Pillars of the SkySgt. Lloyd Carracart
- 19567 Men from NowBill Masters
- 1956The Steve Allen ShowSelf - M-Squad
- 1955Shack Out on 101Slob / Mr. Gregory
- 1955I Died a Thousand TimesBabe Kossuck
- 1955Pete Kelly's BluesAl Gannaway
- 1955Not as a StrangerBrundage
- 1955A Life in the BalanceThe Killer
- 1955Violent SaturdayDill, Bank Robber
- 1955Bad Day at Black RockHector David
- 1954Climax!Capt. Cavallero
- 1954Studio 57
- 1954The RaidLt. Keating
- 1954The Caine MutinyMeatball
- 1954Gorilla at LargeShaughnessy--Policeman
- 1953The Wild OneChino
- 1953The Motorola Television Hour
- 1953The Big HeatVince Stone
- 1953Gun FuryBlinky
- 1953The Pepsi-Cola PlayhouseJohn Temple
- 1953The Stranger Wore a GunDan Kurth
- 1953Revlon Mirror TheatreRed Johnson
- 1953The Glory BrigadeCpl. Bowman
- 1953SeminoleSgt. Magruder
- 1953The OscarsSelf
- 1953Down Among the Sheltering PalmsPvt. Snively (uncredited)
- 1953General Electric Theater
- 1952Eight Iron MenSgt. Joe Mooney
- 1952Hangman's KnotRolph Bainter
- 1952Biff Baker U.S.A.Michler / Captain Hollis
- 1952The Duel at Silver CreekTinhorn Burgess
- 1952We're Not Married!Pinky (uncredited)
- 1952Diplomatic CourierMilitary Policeman at Trieste (uncredited)
- 1951DragnetHenry Ross
- 1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsJim Patterson
- 1951TeresaG.I. (uncredited)
- 1951You're in the Navy NowRadio Man
- 1950Treasury Men in Action
- 1950Cameo Theatre
- 1950The Bob Hope ShowSelf
- 1949The Big Story
- 1949SuspenseBarrow
- 1948Studio OneTeale
- 1947Kraft Television TheatreMilo Bogardus
- 1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee
Follow their work on Vescene
Rate films and shows on two axes — quality and fun — and share taste with friends.