Martin Balsam: Difference between revisions
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Balsam was born in [[the Bronx]] in [[New York City]] to Albert Balsam and Lillian Weinstein. He studied dramatics at [[The New School]] in [[New York City]] and then served in the [[United States Army Air Corps|Army Air Corps]] during [[World War II]]. In 1947 he was selected by [[Elia Kazan]] and [[Lee Strasberg]] to be a player in the ''[[Actors Studio]]'' [[television]] program and went on to appear in a number of television plays in the 1950s and returned frequently to television as a guest star on numerous dramas. |
Balsam was born in [[the Bronx]] in [[New York City]] to Albert Balsam and Lillian Weinstein. He studied dramatics at [[The New School]] in [[New York City]] and then served in the [[United States Army Air Corps|Army Air Corps]] during [[World War II]]. In 1947 he was selected by [[Elia Kazan]] and [[Lee Strasberg]] to be a player in the ''[[Actors Studio]]'' [[television]] program and went on to appear in a number of television plays in the 1950s and returned frequently to television as a guest star on numerous dramas. |
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Balsam appeared in such films as ''[[On the Waterfront]]'', ''[[12 Angry Men]]'' (as Juror #1), ''[[Time Limit (film)|Time Limit]]'', ''[[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]]'', ''[[Cape Fear (1962 film)|Cape Fear]]'' (1962) as the police chief, ''[[Breakfast at Tiffany's]]'', ''[[Seven Days in May]]'', ''[[Catch-22 (film)|Catch-22]]'', ''[[Tora! Tora! Tora!]]'', ''[[The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (film)|The Taking of Pelham One Two Three]]'', ''[[The Delta Force (film)|The Delta Force]]'', ''[[Death Wish 3]]'', ''[[The Goodbye People]]'', and the 1991 [[Martin Scorsese]] remake of ''[[Cape Fear (1991 film)|Cape Fear]]'' (Balsam, [[Gregory Peck]], and [[Robert Mitchum]] all appeared in both the 1962 and 1991 versions of the film). |
Balsam appeared in such films as ''[[On the Waterfront]]'', ''[[12 Angry Men]]'' (as Juror #1), ''[[Time Limit (film)|Time Limit]]'', ''[[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]]'', ''[[Cape Fear (1962 film)|Cape Fear]]'' (1962) as the police chief, ''[[Breakfast at Tiffany's]]'', ''[[Seven Days in May]]'', ''[[Catch-22 (film)|Catch-22]]'', ''[[Tora! Tora! Tora!]]'', ''[[The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (film)|The Taking of Pelham One Two Three]]'', ''[[Two-Minute Warning]]'', ''[[The Delta Force (film)|The Delta Force]]'', ''[[Death Wish 3]]'', ''[[The Goodbye People]]'', and the 1991 [[Martin Scorsese]] remake of ''[[Cape Fear (1991 film)|Cape Fear]]'' (Balsam, [[Gregory Peck]], and [[Robert Mitchum]] all appeared in both the 1962 and 1991 versions of the film). |
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Balsam also appeared in a film that eventually became a highly popular ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' episode, the 1975 [[Joe Don Baker]] police drama ''[[Mitchell (film)|Mitchell]]''. In 1973, he played Dr. Rudy Wells when the [[Martin Caidin]] novel, ''[[Cyborg (novel)|Cyborg]]'' was adapted as the TV-movie, ''[[The Six Million Dollar Man]]'', though he did not reprise the role for the subsequent weekly series. |
Balsam also appeared in a film that eventually became a highly popular ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' episode, the 1975 [[Joe Don Baker]] police drama ''[[Mitchell (film)|Mitchell]]''. In 1973, he played Dr. Rudy Wells when the [[Martin Caidin]] novel, ''[[Cyborg (novel)|Cyborg]]'' was adapted as the TV-movie, ''[[The Six Million Dollar Man]]'', though he did not reprise the role for the subsequent weekly series. |
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Revision as of 19:05, 29 June 2007
Martin Henry Balsam (November 4, 1919 – February 13, 1996) was an American actor.
Balsam was born in the Bronx in New York City to Albert Balsam and Lillian Weinstein. He studied dramatics at The New School in New York City and then served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. In 1947 he was selected by Elia Kazan and Lee Strasberg to be a player in the Actors Studio television program and went on to appear in a number of television plays in the 1950s and returned frequently to television as a guest star on numerous dramas.
Balsam appeared in such films as On the Waterfront, 12 Angry Men (as Juror #1), Time Limit, Psycho, Cape Fear (1962) as the police chief, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Seven Days in May, Catch-22, Tora! Tora! Tora!, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Two-Minute Warning, The Delta Force, Death Wish 3, The Goodbye People, and the 1991 Martin Scorsese remake of Cape Fear (Balsam, Gregory Peck, and Robert Mitchum all appeared in both the 1962 and 1991 versions of the film).
Balsam also appeared in a film that eventually became a highly popular Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode, the 1975 Joe Don Baker police drama Mitchell. In 1973, he played Dr. Rudy Wells when the Martin Caidin novel, Cyborg was adapted as the TV-movie, The Six Million Dollar Man, though he did not reprise the role for the subsequent weekly series.
In 1965, he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Arnold Burns in A Thousand Clowns.
He appeared as a spokesman/hostage in the 1976 TV movie Raid on Entebbe.
He starred as Murray Klein on the All in the Family spin-off Archie Bunker's Place for four seasons (1979-1983).
In 1967 he won a Tony Award for his appearance in the 1967 Broadway production of You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running.
During 1952 he married his first wife, an actress Pearl Somner. They divorced two years later.
His second wife was the actress Joyce Van Patten - the marriage lasted three years from 1959 until 1962; their only child is a daughter, Talia Balsam. He married his third wife Irene Miller, in 1963.
Balsam died in Rome, Italy of a heart attack at the age of 76. He is interred at Cedar Park Cemetery, in Emerson, New Jersey.
He was survived by Irene Miller and their two children.