Martinn Henry Balsam American actor Date of Birth: 04.11.1919 Country: Italy

1. Biography of Martin Henry Balsam
2. Early Career and Television
3. Film Career
4. Awards and Later Career
5. Personal Life and Death

Biography of Martin Henry Balsam

Martin Henry Balsam, an American actor, is best known for his Academy Award-winning role as Arnold Burns in Fred Coe's dramedy "A Thousand Clowns" and his role as Detective Milton Arbogast in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller "Psycho". Martin Balsam was born on November 4, 1919, in the Bronx, into a Jewish family. He was the son of Lillian Weinstein and Albert Balsam, who was a manufacturer of women's sportswear. Balsam attended DeWitt Clinton High School, where he was part of the drama club. He also studied at the New School in New York, under the guidance of renowned German director Erwin Piscator.

Early Career and Television

During World War II, Balsam served in the United States Army Air Forces. He made his professional debut in August 1941 in the play "The Play's the Thing" in Locust Valley. In 1947, directors Elia Kazan and Lee Strasberg selected Balsam to participate in the television program "Actors Studio". He appeared in several multi-episode projects, including "The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine" episode of "The Twilight Zone" and the series "The New Exhibit". Balsam also appeared in the pilot episode of the NBC series "Five Fingers" as a psychologist. He also had roles in dramatic series such as "Target: The Corruptors!", "The Eleventh Hour", "Breaking Point", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", and "Mr. Broadway".

Film Career

Balsam's filmography includes the melodrama "On the Waterfront" with Marlon Brando, the detective drama "12 Angry Men", and the war drama "Time Limit" with Richard Widmark. He portrayed O. J. Berman in the Hollywood classic "Breakfast at Tiffany's" alongside Audrey Hepburn, and his famous little black dress from the film was sold at an auction for $807,000. Balsam also appeared in the thriller "Seven Days in May", the crime drama "The Anderson Tapes", the western "Hombre", the war comedy "Catch-22", and the Japanese-American action film "Tora! Tora! Tora!". He co-starred with Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum in J. Lee Thompson's crime drama "Cape Fear" in 1962, and later appeared in Martin Scorsese's 1991 remake of the film.

Awards and Later Career

In 1965, Balsam won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Arnold Burns in "A Thousand Clowns". In 1967, he received the prestigious Tony Award for his performance in Robert Anderson's Broadway production "You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running". Balsam portrayed the editor of the Washington Post, Howard Simons, in the blockbuster film "All the President's Men" in 1976. He also appeared in the cult American television series "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and played James Arthur Cummings in Andrew V. McLaglen's action film "Mitchell".

Personal Life and Death

In 1952, Balsam married actress Pearl Somner, but their marriage ended in divorce two years later. His second wife was also an actress, Joyce Van Patten. They had a daughter, Talia Balsam, in 1959. Their marriage lasted for three years. Finally, in 1963, Martin married screenwriter Irene Miller. They had a son and a daughter together. Martin Balsam passed away on February 13, 1996, in Rome, Italy, at the age of 76, from a heart attack. He was buried at Cedar Park Cemetery in Emerson, New Jersey.