--- name: "Lee Marvin" canonical: "https://film.one/person/lee-marvin" roles: ["Technical supervisor"] born: "19 February 1924" died: "29 August 1987" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_over: 0 updated: "2026-09-20T04:28:02.631114+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Lee Marvin Technical supervisor. Born 19 February 1924 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 29 August 1987. ## Details - **Work:** Technical supervisor - **Born:** 19 February 1924, New York City, New York, USA - **Died:** 29 August 1987 - **Active:** 1954–1965 - **Also known as:** Лі Марвін, لی ماروین - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won) - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 76 (1), 1960s 62 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Marvin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76895, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001511/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18391 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Caine Mutiny*](https://film.one/film/the-caine-mutiny.md) (76) - **The Roku Channel:** [*Ship of Fools*](https://film.one/film/ship-of-fools.md) (62) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Lee Marvin > Lee Marvin spent a decade as the man you hoped the hero would shoot, then a decade as the hero. The gravel voice and the white hair did the menace; what stays with us is the sadness he let show around it. A Lee Marvin character tends to tell you what he is before he does anything. Tenny in *Ship of Fools* (1965) is a ballplayer who could never hit a curve and says so to anyone at the rail who will stand still; the gangsters of his early years announce themselves by the way they fill a doorway. The voice is gravel, the hair went white early, and the body is always a size too large for the furniture around it. He was typecast as a heavy for years, and he seems to have decided that if that was the job, he would do it properly. The villains came first. Vince Stone in *The Big Heat* (1953) fixed the persona, *The Wild One* the same year confirmed it, and Liberty Valance in John Ford's *The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance* (1962), opposite John Wayne and James Stewart, gave him the part most people still picture when they hear the name. Television paid the bills in between, with a lead in *M Squad* (1957–1960). Then *Cat Ballou* (1965) let him play two parts in one western spoof, and the joke landed well enough to make him a leading man. From there it was Major Reisman in *The Dirty Dozen* (1967) for Robert Aldrich, Walker in *Point Blank* (1967), and a long run of action films and westerns that kept him working until *The Delta Force* (1986). *Ship of Fools* is the one we have looked at most closely, and it is instructive because he is not the point of it. Stanley Kramer has Vivien Leigh, Simone Signoret and Oskar Werner on board, and Marvin has the least glamorous part. We felt sorrier for Tenny than Mann's script asked us to, because Marvin plays the boasting as a man who has noticed nobody is listening and cannot stop anyway. We called the performance coarse and sad and better than the film deserved, and we stand by all three. That sadness under the bluster is worth watching for in the tougher parts too; it is the thing that separates him from the men who copied the walk. Not everything he tried suited him. He sang in *Paint Your Wagon* (1969), and opinion of the singing has not softened with time. The 1970s brought a run of lesser films after the peak, which is the usual shape of a star's second decade and no disgrace. Samuel Fuller gave him a late lead as the Sergeant in *The Big Red One* (1980), a war film Fuller built from his own service, and it is the last of the big ones. He once said, "Only reason I ever had to be an actor was that I wasn't tough enough to be a criminal." On the evidence of *The Big Heat*, he was underselling himself. If you want to see what he did with a small part in a crowded room, start with *Ship of Fools*, and watch him while the others are talking. ## Biography Lee Marvin was an American actor. He served in the United States Marine Corps during the Second World War before studying at the American Theatre Wing and beginning his career in stage and television productions. Marvin appeared in supporting roles in films including *The Big Heat* (1953), *The Caine Mutiny* (1954) as Meatball, and *Bad Day at Black Rock* (1955). He gained prominence with the television series *M Squad* (1957–1960) and lead roles in *The Killers* (1964), *The Professionals* (1966), *The Dirty Dozen* (1967) and *Point Blank* (1967). He won the Academy Award for Best Actor, a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award for his dual performance in *Cat Ballou* (1965). Later credits include *The Big Red One* (1980) and *The Delta Force* (1986). Marvin died in 1987. *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.* ## On Fi1m (2) - *Ship of Fools* (1965), Fi1m 62, as Tenny — [page](https://film.one/film/ship-of-fools.md) - *The Caine Mutiny* (1954), Fi1m 76, as Meatball — [page](https://film.one/film/the-caine-mutiny.md) ## Complete filmography (99) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films* (2014), as Col. Nick Alexander (archive footage) (uncredited) - *The Big Red One: The Reconstruction* (2005), as The Sergeant - *The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller* (2002), as The Sergeant (archive footage) - *The Delta Force* (1986), as Colonel Nick Alexander - *The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission* (1985), as Maj. John Reisman - *Dog Day* (1984), as Jimmy Cobb - *Gorky Park* (1983), as Jack Osborne - *Canicule* (1983), Actor - *Death Hunt* (1981), as RCMP Sgt. Edgar Millen - *The Big Red One* (1980), as The Sergeant - *Avalanche Express* (1979), as Harry Wargrave - *The Meanest Men in the West* (1978), as Kalig Talbot - *The Great Scout & Cathouse Thursday* (1976), as Sam Longwood - *Shout at the Devil* (1976), as Colonel Flynn O'Flynn - *The Klansman* (1974), as Sheriff Track Bascomb - *The Spikes Gang* (1974), as Harry Spikes - *The Iceman Cometh* (1973), as Theodore 'Hickey' Hickman - *Emperor of the North* (1973), as A No. 1 - *Prime Cut* (1972), as Nick Devlin - *Pocket Money* (1972), as Leonard - *Monte Walsh* (1970), as Monte Walsh - *It Couldn't Be Done* (1970), series, as Narrator - *Paint Your Wagon* (1969), as Ben Rumson - *Hell in the Pacific* (1968), as American Pilot - *Sergeant Ryker* (1968), as Sgt. Paul Ryker - *Autumn and Cardboard* (1968), as Narrator - *Point Blank* (1967), as Walker - *The Dirty Dozen* (1967), as Maj. John Reisman - *Our Time In Hell* (1967), as Narrator - *The Professionals* (1966), as Fardan - *Ship of Fools* (1965), as Tenny — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/ship-of-fools.md) - *Cat Ballou* (1965), as Kid Shelleen / Tim Strawn - *The Killers* (1964), as Charlie Strom - *Kraft Suspense Theatre* (1963), series, as Sgt. Paul Ryker - *The Great Adventure* (1963), series, as Misok Bedrozian - *Donovan's Reef* (1963), as Thomas "Boats" Gilhooley - *The Losers* (1963), as Dave Blassingame - *Combat!* (1962), series, as Sgt. Turk - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Martin Kalig - *The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance* (1962), as Liberty Valance - *The Comancheros* (1961), as Crow - *The Investigators* (1961), series, as Nostradamus - *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor - *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Dr. Paul Probeck, Buddy Bishop - *The DuPont Show of the Week* (1961), series, as Juan de Nuñez - *Route 66* (1960), series, as Woody Biggs, John Ryan - *The Barbara Stanwyck Show* (1960), series, as Jud Hollister - *Checkmate* (1960), series, as Lee Tabor - *The Untouchables* (1959), series, as Mike Brannon, Victor Rait / Howard Carson, Nick Acropolis - *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as Steel Kelly, Conny Miller — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md) - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Peter Kane - *Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse* (1958), series, Actor - *The Missouri Traveler* (1958), as Tobias Brown - *Raintree County* (1957), as Orville 'Flash' Perkins - *M Squad* (1957), series, as Detective Lt. Frank Ballinger - *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Jud Benedict, Jose Morales - *The Rack* (1956), as Capt. John R. Miller - *Attack* (1956), as Clyde Bartlett - *Pillars of the Sky* (1956), as Sgt. Lloyd Carracart - *7 Men from Now* (1956), as Bill Masters - *Shack Out on 101* (1955), as Slob / Mr. Gregory - *I Died a Thousand Times* (1955), as Babe Kossuck - *Pete Kelly's Blues* (1955), as Al Gannaway - *Not as a Stranger* (1955), as Brundage - *A Life in the Balance* (1955), as The Killer - *Violent Saturday* (1955), as Dill, Bank Robber - *Bad Day at Black Rock* (1955), as Hector David - *Climax!* (1954), series, as Capt. Cavallero, 'Little Man' Brush, Mannon Tate - *Studio 57* (1954), series, Actor - *The Raid* (1954), as Lt. Keating - *The Caine Mutiny* (1954), as Meatball · Technical Supervisor — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/the-caine-mutiny.md) - *Gorilla at Large* (1954), as Shaughnessy--Policeman - *The Wild One* (1953), as Chino - *The Motorola Television Hour* (1953), series, Actor - *The Big Heat* (1953), as Vince Stone - *Gun Fury* (1953), as Blinky - *The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse* (1953), series, as John Temple - *The Stranger Wore a Gun* (1953), as Dan Kurth - *Revlon Mirror Theatre* (1953), series, as Red Johnson - *The Glory Brigade* (1953), as Cpl. Bowman - *Seminole* (1953), as Sgt. Magruder - *Down Among the Sheltering Palms* (1953), as Pvt. Snively (uncredited) - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Captain Morrissey, Art Temple, Dick Giles, Joe Kittridge, Clerk, Sid Benton - *Eight Iron Men* (1952), as Sgt. Joe Mooney - *Hangman's Knot* (1952), as Rolph Bainter - *Biff Baker U.S.A.* (1952), series, as Michler / Captain Hollis, Captain Hollis Michler - *The Duel at Silver Creek* (1952), as Tinhorn Burgess - *We're Not Married!* (1952), as Pinky (uncredited) - *Diplomatic Courier* (1952), as Military Policeman at Trieste (uncredited) - *Dragnet* (1951), series, as Henry Ross, James Mitchell - *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Jim Patterson, Russ Anderson - *Teresa* (1951), as G.I. (uncredited) - *You're in the Navy Now* (1951), as Radio Man - *Treasury Men in Action* (1950), series, Actor - *Cameo Theatre* (1950), series, Actor - *The Big Story* (1949), series, Actor - *Suspense* (1949), series, as Barrow - *Studio One* (1948), series, as Teale - *Kraft Television Theatre* (1947), series, as Milo Bogardus ## Gallery - ![Lee Marvin](https://film.one/media/person/1237803/gallery-baa860540bd5.jpg) Lee Marvin — NBC Television Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Lee_marvin_1971.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Photo of Lee Marvin from the television program The Twilight Zone. The episode is "The Grave". (1961)](https://film.one/media/person/1237803/gallery-654d4693d52b.jpg) Photo of Lee Marvin from the television program The Twilight Zone. The episode is "The Grave". (1961) — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Lee_Marvin_Twilight_Zone_1961.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Lee Marvin in Amsterdam (1980)](https://film.one/media/person/1237803/gallery-70936c7ea3e7.jpg) Lee Marvin in Amsterdam (1980) — Hans van Dijk for Anefo, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Lee_Marvin_1980b.jpg/1280px-Lee_Marvin_1980b.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Lee Marvin and Sharon Acker in the American film Point Blank (1967) - publicity still (cropped and without marks).](https://film.one/media/person/1237803/gallery-0a4214eefa80.jpg) Lee Marvin and Sharon Acker in the American film Point Blank (1967) - publicity still (cropped and without marks). — unknown (MGM), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Lee_Marvin-Sharon_Acker_in_Point_Blank.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Lee Marvin](https://film.one/media/person/1237803/gallery-66f5fcdabff9.jpg) Lee Marvin — Image via TMDB - ![Lee Marvin](https://film.one/media/person/1237803/gallery-d073e82bdfca.jpg) Lee Marvin — Image via TMDB - ![Lee Marvin](https://film.one/media/person/1237803/gallery-e207dd316607.jpg) Lee Marvin — Image via TMDB - ![Photo of Lee Marvin as Frank Ballinger from the television series M Squad.](https://film.one/media/person/1237803/gallery-85c40b5148b4.jpg) Photo of Lee Marvin as Frank Ballinger from the television series M Squad. — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Lee_Marvin_M_Squad.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Lee Marvin (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/1237803/gallery-7c5bb4fb6428.jpg) Lee Marvin (2013) — Yoni S.Hamenahem, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/%D7%9C%D7%99_%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%99%D7%9F.jpg/1280px-%D7%9C%D7%99_%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%99%D7%9F.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Lee Marvin](https://film.one/media/person/1237803/gallery-afba4f04272c.jpg) Lee Marvin — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 1 won - 1966: Best Actor (won), for *Cat Ballou* ### Golden Globes — 1 won - 1965: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (won), for *Cat Ballou* ### Berlin International Film Festival — 1 won - 1965: Silver Bear (won), for *Cat Ballou* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/lee-marvin