Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Martin Balsam(1919-1996)

  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Martin Balsam
After a plane is hijacked by terrorists, The Delta Force is sent in to resolve the crisis.
Play trailer1:47
The Delta Force (1986)
24 Videos
99+ Photos
Martin Henry Balsam was born on November 4, 1919 in the Bronx, New York City, to Lillian (Weinstein) and Albert Balsam, a manufacturer of women's sportswear. He was the first-born child. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant, and his mother was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents. Martin caught the acting bug in high school where he participated in the drama club. After high school, he continued his interest in acting by attending Manhattan's progressive New School. When World War II broke out, Martin was called to service in his early twenties. After the war, he was lucky to secure a position as an usher at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. By 1947, he was honing his craft at the Actors Studio, run at that time by Elia Kazan and Lee Strasberg. His time at the Actors Studio in New York City allowed him training in the famous Stanislavsky method. Despite his excellent training, he had to prove himself, just like any up and coming young actor. He began on Broadway in the late 1940s. But, it was not until 1951 that he experienced real success. That play was Tennessee Williams' "The Rose Tattoo". After his Broadway success, he had a few minor television roles before his big break arrived when he joined the cast of On the Waterfront (1954). In the 1950s, Martin had many television roles. He had recurring roles on some of the most popular television series of that time, including The United States Steel Hour (1953), The Philco Television Playhouse (1948), Goodyear Playhouse (1951) and Studio One (1948). In 1957, he was able to prove himself on the big-screen once again, with a prominent role in 12 Angry Men (1957), directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Henry Fonda. All of Martin's television work in the 1950s did not go to waste. While starring on an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955), Hitchcock was so impressed by his work, that he offered him a key supporting role of Detective Milton Arbogast in Psycho (1960). His work with Hitchcock opened him up to a world of other acting opportunities. Many strong movie roles came his way in the 1960s, including parts in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Cape Fear (1962) and The Carpetbaggers (1964). One of the proudest moments in his life was when he received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for A Thousand Clowns (1965). It was soon after that he began accepting roles in European movies. He soon developed a love for Italy, and lived there most of his remaining years. He acted in over a dozen Italian movies and spent his later life traveling between Hollywood and Europe for his many roles. After a career that spanned more than fifty years, Martin Balsam died of natural causes in his beloved Italy at age 76. He passed away of a stroke at a hotel in Rome called Residenza di Repetta. He was survived by his third wife Irene Miller and three children, Adam, Zoe and Talia.
BornNovember 4, 1919
DiedFebruary 13, 1996(76)
BornNovember 4, 1919
DiedFebruary 13, 1996(76)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 1 Oscar
    • 3 wins & 4 nominations total

Photos104

Martin Balsam in The Anderson Tapes (1971)
Martin Balsam in The Anderson Tapes (1971)
Martin Balsam in The Anderson Tapes (1971)
Sean Connery, Christopher Walken, Martin Balsam, Paul Benjamin, and Dick Anthony Williams in The Anderson Tapes (1971)
Martin Balsam in The Anderson Tapes (1971)
Martin Balsam and Janet Ward in The Anderson Tapes (1971)
Martin Balsam in Seven Days in May (1964)
Martin Balsam in Seven Days in May (1964)
Kirk Douglas, Martin Balsam, Fredric March, and Edmond O'Brien in Seven Days in May (1964)
Kirk Douglas, Martin Balsam, Bart Burns, George Macready, Fredric March, and Edmond O'Brien in Seven Days in May (1964)
Kirk Douglas, Martin Balsam, and Fredric March in Seven Days in May (1964)
Kirk Douglas, Martin Balsam, and Fredric March in Seven Days in May (1964)

Known for

Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford in All the President's Men (1976)
All the President's Men
7.9
  • Howard Simons
  • 1976
Henry Fonda, Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, Edward Binns, John Fiedler, E.G. Marshall, Joseph Sweeney, George Voskovec, Jack Warden, and Robert Webber in 12 Angry Men (1957)
12 Angry Men
9.0
  • Juror 1
  • 1957
Anthony Perkins, John Gavin, Janet Leigh, and Heather Dawn May in Psycho (1960)
Psycho
8.5
  • Det. Milton Arbogast
  • 1960
A Thousand Clowns (1965)
A Thousand Clowns
7.3
  • Arnold
  • 1965

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Frontiers of Faith
    • Released
    • TV Series
    • 1951–1970
  • O. Henry's Christmas (1996)
    O. Henry's Christmas
    • Wash (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
    • TV Movie
    • 1996
  • Soldato ignoto (1995)
    Soldato ignoto
    • Priest
    • 1995
  • Legend of the Spirit Dog (1994)
    Legend of the Spirit Dog
    • Gramps
    • 1994
  • The Silence of the Hams (1994)
    The Silence of the Hams
    • Det. Martin Balsam
    • 1994
  • The Black Cat (1993)
    The Black Cat
    • Short
    • 1993
  • The Sands of Time (1992)
    The Sands of Time
    • TV Movie
    • 1992
  • Robert De Niro, Juliette Lewis, Nick Nolte, and Jessica Lange in Cape Fear (1991)
    Cape Fear
    • Judge
    • 1991
  • The Last Match (1991)
    The Last Match
    • Lawyer
    • 1991
  • Raoul Bova, Giuliana de Sio, Remo Girone, Vittorio Mezzogiorno, and Michele Placido in La piovra (1984)
    La piovra
    • Don Calogero Barretta
    • Frank Carrisi
    • TV Series
    • 1986–1990
  • Gary Cole and Wendy Kilbourne in Midnight Caller (1988)
    Midnight Caller
    • Gil Solarski
    • TV Series
    • 1990
  • Two Evil Eyes (1990)
    Two Evil Eyes
    • Mr. Pym (segment "The Black Cat")
    • 1990
  • Ronald Maccone and Irene Papas in Ocean (1989)
    Ocean
    • Don Matias Quintero
    • TV Mini Series
    • 1989
  • The Brother from Space (1988)
    The Brother from Space
    • Father Howard
    • 1988
  • The Child Saver (1988)
    The Child Saver
    • Sidney Rosenberg
    • TV Movie
    • 1988
  • Once Again (1987)
    Once Again
    • Gerald
    • TV Movie
    • 1987

Videos24

Official Trailer
Trailer 1:47
Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 4:12
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:20
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:14
Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:50
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:00
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:27
Official Trailer
Breakfast at Tiffany's: Trailer
Trailer 2:37
Breakfast at Tiffany's: Trailer
The Sentinel
Trailer 2:36
The Sentinel
The Bedford Incident
Trailer 3:14
The Bedford Incident
The Anderson Tapes
Trailer 2:59
The Anderson Tapes
Death Wish 3
Trailer 1:38
Death Wish 3

Personal details

Edit
  • Height
    • 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
  • Born
    • November 4, 1919
    • The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • February 13, 1996
    • Rome, Lazio, Italy(stroke)
  • Spouses
      Irene Miller1963 - February 13, 1996 (his death, 2 children)
  • Children
    • Talia Balsam
  • Other works
    Stage: Appeared in "Cold Storage" on Broadway.
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Portrayals

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    He would express frustration when fans asking for autographs would only seem to remember him falling backwards down the stairway in Psycho (1960). He felt there were so many other challenging roles he would rather be remembered for. Always charming, he simply smiled and provided the signature, just the same.
  • Quotes
    I'll tell you, I still don't feel whatever change you're supposed to feel when your name goes up above the title. I think that's because this star thing has never been the first consideration with me. Never. The work has always come first.
  • Nickname
    • The Bronx Barrymore
  • Salary
    • Psycho
      (1960)
      $6,000

Related news

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Production art
List
The Best Things to Watch in June
See the list
Production art
Photos
See These Trending Actors in Early Roles
Can you place the face?

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Demo reel thumbnail
Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel
Demo reel thumbnail

How much have you seen?

Keep track of how much of Martin Balsam’s work you have seen. Go to your list.
Still frame
List
The 50 Most Popular Indian Web Series of All Time
See the list

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
Get the IMDb App
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
  • Get the IMDb App
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • IMDb Developer
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.