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IMDbPro

Martin Balsam(1919-1996)

  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
Martin Balsam
Trailer for The Delta Force
Play trailer1:58
The Delta Force (1986)
23 Videos
97 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)
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
  • Won 1 Oscar

Photos97

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)
Martin Balsam and Fredric March in Seven Days in May (1964)
Kirk Douglas and Martin Balsam in Seven Days in May (1964)
Kirk Douglas, Martin Balsam, Whit Bissell, and Charles Watts in Seven Days in May (1964)
Martin Balsam, Malcolm Atterbury, and Fredric March in Seven Days in May (1964)
Martin Balsam and Dean Martin in Ada (1961)
Martin Balsam and Susan Hayward in Ada (1961)

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

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • O. Henry's Christmas (1996)
    O. Henry's Christmas
  • Soldato ignoto (1995)
    Soldato ignoto
  • Legend of the Spirit Dog (1994)
    Legend of the Spirit Dog
  • The Silence of the Hams (1994)
    The Silence of the Hams
  • The Black Cat
  • The Sands of Time (1992)
    The Sands of Time
  • Robert De Niro, Juliette Lewis, Nick Nolte, and Jessica Lange in Cape Fear (1991)
    Cape Fear
  • The Last Match (1991)
    The Last Match
  • Raoul Bova, Giuliana de Sio, Remo Girone, Vittorio Mezzogiorno, and Michele Placido in La piovra (1984)
    La piovra
  • Gary Cole and Wendy Kilbourne in Midnight Caller (1988)
    Midnight Caller
  • Two Evil Eyes (1990)
    Two Evil Eyes
  • Ronald Maccone and Irene Papas in Ocean (1989)
    Ocean
  • The Brother from Space (1988)
    The Brother from Space
  • The Child Saver (1988)
    The Child Saver
  • Once Again (1987)
    Once Again

Videos23

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
The Delta Force
Trailer 1:58
The Delta Force

Personal details

Edit
    • November 4, 1919
    • The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
    • February 13, 1996
    • Rome, Lazio, Italy(stroke)
    • 1963 - February 13, 1996 (his death, 2 children)
    • Talia Balsam
  • Other works
    Stage: Appeared in "Cold Storage" on Broadway.
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Portrayals

Did you know

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  • 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.
    • Psycho
      (1960)
      $6,000

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