Lee Marvin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lee Marvin
Marvin in 1971
Born	Lamont Waltman Marvin Jr. (1924-02-19)February 19, 1924 New York City, U.S.
Died	August 29, 1987(1987-08-29) (aged 63) Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Education	Manumit School St. Leo College Preparatory School
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1948–1986
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Betty Ebeling ​ ​ (m. 1952; div. 1967)​ Pamela Feeley ​ (m. 1970)​
Children	4
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1942–1944
Rank	Private first class
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Saipan

Lee Marvin (February 19, 1924 – August 29, 1987) was a famous American actor. He was known for his deep voice and early white hair. People often remember him for playing tough, strong characters. At first, he played villains, but later he became known for playing "anti-heroes," like Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger in the TV show M Squad (1957–1960).

Some of Lee Marvin's most famous movie roles include Charlie Strom in The Killers (1964), Major John Reisman in The Dirty Dozen (1967), and the Sergeant in The Big Red One (1980). He won many awards for his dual role as gunfighter Kid Shelleen and criminal Tim Strawn in the comedy Western film Cat Ballou (1965). This movie was a big surprise hit and earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

Growing Up

Lee Marvin was born in New York City. His father, Lamont Waltman Marvin, was a World War I veteran and an advertising executive. His mother, Courtenay Washington, was a fashion writer. Lee and his older brother, Robert, were named after American Civil War General Robert E. Lee.

When he was young, Lee Marvin played the violin. He also had dyslexia and ADHD. As a teenager, he loved to hunt deer, puma, and wild turkeys in the Everglades. He went to several schools, including Manumit School and Peekskill Military Academy. He was even expelled from some schools for misbehaving, like smoking and getting into fights, before attending St. Leo College Preparatory School.

Military Service

Serving in World War II

Picture of Private Lee Marvin, USMC, as listed in the "Red Book", 24th Regiment, 4th Marine Division, published in 1943

Lee Marvin joined the United States Marine Corps on August 12, 1942. He served in the 4th Marine Division as a scout sniper during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He fought in battles on islands like Eniwetok and Saipan-Tinian.

On June 18, 1944, during the Battle of Saipan, Lee was wounded by machine gun fire and then by a sniper. Most of his company were injured or killed in this battle. After more than a year of medical care in hospitals, Marvin was honorably discharged from the Marines as a Private First Class. He had been a corporal before but was demoted for causing trouble.

Lee Marvin received several medals for his service, including the Purple Heart Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Medals and Awards

Purple Heart

Navy Commendation Medal with V Device

Combat Action Ribbon

Presidential Unit Citation

American Campaign Medal

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

World War II Victory Medal

Acting Career

Lee Marvin in "The Grave", a 1961 episode of The Twilight Zone

Starting Out

After the war, Lee Marvin was working as a plumber's helper at a local theater. One day, an actor got sick, and Lee was asked to fill in. He loved acting so much that he decided to pursue it as a career. He moved to Greenwich Village in New York City and used his G.I. Bill benefits to study acting.

He started appearing in TV shows like Escape and The Big Story. In 1951, he made his debut on Broadway in a play called Billy Budd.

Moving to Hollywood

Marvin's first movie was You're in the Navy Now (1951). This film also featured other future stars like Charles Bronson. Since some filming was in Hollywood, Marvin decided to stay in California.

Because he was a decorated war veteran, Lee Marvin was naturally good at acting in war movies. He often helped directors and other actors make scenes look more realistic, especially with military movements and firearms. He appeared in many films, often playing tough guys or villains.

Some of his early movies include Diplomatic Courier (1952), The Duel at Silver Creek (1952), and Eight Iron Men (1952). He also guest-starred in many TV shows like Dragnet.

Famous Villain Roles

Marvin gained a lot of attention for playing villains in two important films: The Big Heat (1953), where he played a cruel boyfriend, and The Wild One (1953), where he starred opposite Marlon Brando. His gang in The Wild One was called "The Beetles."

He continued to appear in many films, including The Caine Mutiny (1954) and Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) with Spencer Tracy. In 1955, he played a complex bank robber in Violent Saturday. Critics praised his performance, saying he showed great promise for his future career.

Marvin in Attack (1956)

He also had roles in Attack (1956) and Raintree County (1957) with Elizabeth Taylor.

M Squad and Leading Roles

Marvin in 1959 from the set of M Squad

Lee Marvin became a leading man in the TV series M Squad (1957–1960). He played Frank Ballinger, a tough Chicago police detective, in 100 episodes. The show was known for its action and Marvin's strong performance.

After M Squad, Marvin appeared in many other TV shows, including Wagon Train, Bonanza, and The Twilight Zone.

Big Movie Roles

Marvin returned to movies with a major role in The Comancheros (1961) with John Wayne. He worked with John Wayne again in two films directed by John Ford: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Donovan's Reef (1963). In The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Marvin played the title character, Liberty Valance, and held his own against big stars like Wayne and James Stewart.

In 1964, Marvin starred in The Killers, where he played a professional assassin. This was the first film where he received top billing, meaning his name was listed first.

Becoming a Star

Marvin became a huge star with his funny role in the Western Cat Ballou (1965), co-starring Jane Fonda. This movie was a surprise hit, and Marvin won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance. He also won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival.

He then starred in the Western The Professionals (1966), playing the leader of a group of skilled mercenaries. After that, he was in the very successful World War II movie The Dirty Dozen (1967). In this film, he played a brave commander leading a group of soldiers on a dangerous mission. Marvin said his time in the Marine Corps helped him play the role of an officer realistically.

Following these successes, Marvin had a lot of control over his next film, Point Blank. In this influential movie, he played a criminal seeking revenge. He even helped choose the director, John Boorman, and was very involved in the film's story and production.

In 1969, Marvin starred in the musical Western Paint Your Wagon with Clint Eastwood. Even though he wasn't a professional singer, his song "Wand'rin' Star" became a hit!

Later Career

In the 1970s, Lee Marvin took on a wider variety of roles, playing fewer villains. His movies from this time include Monte Walsh (1970), Prime Cut (1972), and Emperor of the North (1973). He was even offered the role of Quint in the famous movie Jaws (1975), but he turned it down.

Marvin's last major role was in Samuel Fuller's war film The Big Red One (1980), which was based on Fuller's own war experiences. His final film appearance was in The Delta Force (1986) with Chuck Norris.

Personal Life

Lee Marvin was a member of the Democratic Party. He supported John F. Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election. Because of his experiences and injuries from the war, Lee became against war and spoke out against the Vietnam War.

Family

Lee Marvin married Betty Ebeling in 1952. They had four children: Christopher, Courtenay, Cynthia, and Claudia. They divorced in 1967. In 1970, he married Pamela Feeley. Pamela had four children from previous marriages, and they remained married until Lee's death.

Death

Grave of Lee Marvin at Arlington National Cemetery

Lee Marvin had health problems later in his life. He passed away from a heart attack on August 29, 1987, at the age of 63. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, a special place where many American heroes are laid to rest.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Lee Marvin para niños

• The Sons of Lee Marvin, a fun, unofficial club dedicated to Lee Marvin
• Welcome to Night Vale, a podcast that includes Lee Marvin in its stories.