Martin Balsam | |
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![]() Balsam in the 1960s | |
Born | Martin Henry Balsam November 4, 1919 New York City, U.S. |
Died | February 13, 1996 Rome, Italy | (aged 76)
Resting place | Cedar Park Cemetery, New Jersey, U.S. |
Alma mater | The New School |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1947–1995 |
Notable work | See list |
Spouses |
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Children | 3, including Talia |
Awards | See list |
Martin Henry Balsam (November 4, 1919 – February 13, 1996)[1] was an American actor. He had a prolific career in character roles in film, in theatre, and on television.[2][3] An early member of the Actors Studio, he began his career on the New York stage, winning a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for Robert Anderson's You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running (1968). He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in A Thousand Clowns (1965).
His other notable film roles include Juror #1 in 12 Angry Men (1957), private detective Milton Arbogast in Psycho (1960), Hollywood agent O.J. Berman in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Bernard B. Norman in The Carpetbaggers (1964), Lieutenant Commander Chester Potter, the ship doctor, in The Bedford Incident, Colonel Cathcart in Catch-22 (1970), Admiral Husband E. Kimmel in Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), Mr. Green in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), Signor Bianchi in Murder on the Orient Express (1974), and Howard Simons in All the President's Men (1976). He had a recurring role as Dr. Milton Orloff on the television drama Dr. Kildare (1963–66), and Murray Klein on the sitcom Archie Bunker's Place (1979–83).
In addition to his Oscar and Tony Awards, Balsam was also a BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Emmy Award nominee. With Joyce Van Patten, he was the father of actress Talia Balsam.