Biography
Early Life and World War II
Born in New York City, New York, Marvin attended St. Leo Preparatory College in Saint Leo, Florida (now known as Saint Leo University). He left school to join the U.S. 5th Marine Division, serving in combat, and was wounded during the WWII battle of Saipan, two months prior to the battle of Iwo Jima, and was sent home with a medical discharge and a rank of PFC.
He then established an amateur off-Broadway acting career in New York City and had been an understudy in Broadway productions before moving to Hollywood in 1950.
Popular actor
He quickly became a popular figure in supporting roles, initially always playing some kind of "heavy". His debut was in You're in the Navy Now (1951), but he also appeared in Don Siegel's Duel at Silver Creek (1952), being brutally unpleasant to Gloria Grahame in The Big Heat (1953), as well as archetypal baddies in Hangman's Knot (1952), Eight Iron Men (1952), The Wild One (1953) opposite Marlon Brando, Seminole (1953), Gun Fury (1953), Bad Day at Black Rock (1954) and Not as a Stranger among others.
Marvin and Gloria Grahame in The Big Heat
His roles improved (e.g. Attack! (1956), The Missouri Traveller (1958)) but it took over a hundred episodes as Chicago police lieutenant Frank Ballinger in the successful 1957-60 television series M Squad to give him enough clout to star. He had solid roles in The Comancheros (1961), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Donovan's Reef (1963). Aided by director Don Siegel he starred in the groundbreaking The Killers (1964) playing an organised, no-nonsense, efficient, businesslike professional assassin whose character was copied to a great degree by Samuel L. Jackson in the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction.
Lee Marvin won the 1965 Academy Award for Best Actor for his comedic performance in the offbeat western Cat Ballou. Following roles in The Professionals (1966) and The Dirty Dozen (1967) he reprised his role as a businesslike assassin in the influential John Boorman film Point Blank (1967). Another Boorman film, the commercial flop Hell in the Pacific came the following year, co-starring famed Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune. He had a hit song with "I Was Born Under a Wandering Star" from the western musical Paint Your Wagon (1969).
Lee Marvin's character in The Dirty Dozen (Major John Reisman) was based on U.S. Marine John Miara, of Malden, Massachusetts. The two became friends while serving in the Marine Corps.
Later life
He generally starred in 'easier' films in the 1970s and 1980s, down-playing the clarity and cruelty of his earlier roles. His 1970s films were Monte Walsh (1970), Prime Cut (1972), Pocket Money (1972), Emperor of the North Pole (1973), The Spikes Gang (1974), The Klansman (1974), Shout at the Devil (1976), The Great Scout and Cathouse Thursday (1976), Avalanche Express (1978). His last big role was given to him by Samuel Fuller for The Big Red One (1980). His remaining films were Death Hunt (1981), Gorky Park (1983), Dog Day (1984), The Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission (1985), with his final appearance being in The Delta Force (1986).
Lee Marvin on the cover of Esquire Magazine
Marvin was married twice and had four children:
Pamela Feeley (October 18, 1970 - August 29, 1987) (his death)
Betty Ebeling (February 1951 - January 5, 1967) (divorced)
In 1971, Marvin was sued by long-time girlfriend Michelle Marvin (formerly Triola). Though the couple never married, she sought financial compensation similar to that available to spouses under California's alimony and community property laws. The result was the landmark case, Marvin v. Marvin, 18 Cal. 3d 660 (1976)(see[[1]].
The Supreme Court of California held that Ms. Marvin could proceed with her suit, as it did state a cause of action and the trial court erred in granting judgment to Mr. Marvin on the pleadings.
The case was thus remanded for trial in the Superior Court in and for the County of Los Angeles. On April 18, 1979, Judge Arthur K. Marshall ordered Marvin to pay $104,000 to Ms. Triola for "rehabilitation purposes" but denied her community property claim for one-half of the $3.6 million which Marvin had earned during their six years of cohabitation.[2] Both sides claimed victory.
Marvin died in 1987 of a heart attack in Tucson, Arizona, at the age of 63, and is interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
Trivia
The myth about Lee Marvin fighting alongside Bob Keeshan (alias Captain Kangaroo) at the Battle of Iwo Jima is not true.
Another myth about a brother who was a major general in US Army Intelligence is not true. Some say there was a fellow involved with remote viewing who looks like Marvin, however.
A book regarding the films of Lee Marvin, Lee Marvin: His Films and Career was written by Robert J. Lentz in 1999. This book details all the films and also the television roles of Marvin. It does not delve into his personal life.
Jim Jarmusch is the founder of a secret society The Sons of Lee Marvin whose members reportedly include Tom Waits and John Lurie. Lee Marvin's real son objected to the organization when he encountered Waits (see[[3]]).
Allegedly descended from Thomas Jefferson and related to Robert E. Lee(see [[4]]).
When visiting co-star Vivien Leigh at her home in London, England with his partner at the time, Michelle Triola, he tore up a deck of antique playing cards that they were playing with. Much to Triola's surprise, Leigh was not at all disturbed by Marvin's boorish behavior but seemed enchanted by him..
Made "Top 10 stars of the year", 5 times. 1967-1971.
Marvin's height was 6'2".
