Edmond O'Brien
Biography
Edmond O'Brien was an American actor and director who worked on stage, in film and on television. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse on a scholarship and made his Broadway debut at 21 in Daughters of Atreus. He moved into film at RKO with The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), then signed with Warner Bros., where he played the undercover officer in White Heat (1949). He worked often in film noir, including The Killers (1946), D.O.A. (1949) and The Hitch-Hiker (1953), and appeared as Casca in Julius Caesar (1953). His role as press agent Oscar Muldoon in The Barefoot Contessa (1954) won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and Seven Days in May (1964) brought a second nomination. Later films included The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Fantastic Voyage (1966), The Wild Bunch (1969) and The Other Side of the Wind (2018). He also directed the feature Man-Trap (1961).
69years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died Inglewood
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 36
- Career span
- 79 years1939 to 2018
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Early training
O'Brien spent six months at Fordham University, then earned a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. He studied there for two years with teachers including Sanford Meisner, and Betty Garrett was a classmate.
Big break
Pandro Berman at RKO noticed O'Brien because of his theater work, and Berman then offered him a romantic lead in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939).
Beyond film
O'Brien signed with CBS Radio for the drama Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, playing a two-fisted insurance investigator in the title role. He stayed with the part for exactly 31 months, appearing in 103 half-hour episodes.
Edmond O'Brien movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Gordon Douglas directed three of these films, Raoul Walsh two and John Frankenheimer two. Five actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Burt Lancaster's page
Whit Bissell's page
Lee Marvin's page
Ava Gardner's page
Neville Brand's page
Fred Aldrich's page
All films by Gordon Douglas
All films by Raoul Walsh
All films by John Frankenheimer
Also two films together37 more actors
- William HoldenThe Wild Bunch (1969) and The Turning Point (1952)
- Charles LaneBackfire (1950) and Obliging Young Lady (1942)
- Karl MaldenBirdman of Alcatraz (1962) and The Great Impostor (1960)
- Strother MartinThe Wild Bunch (1969) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
- Willis BoucheyThe Love God? (1969) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
- Woody StrodeThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and The Last Voyage (1960)
- Arthur O'ConnellFantastic Voyage (1966) and The Great Impostor (1960)
- Warren OatesThe Wild Bunch (1969) and Up Periscope (1959)
- Andy DevineThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)
- George MacreadySeven Days in May (1964) and Julius Caesar (1953)
- Albert DekkerThe Wild Bunch (1969) and The Killers (1946)
- Ted de CorsiaMan in the Dark (1953) and The Turning Point (1952)
- James WesterfieldThe Love God? (1969) and Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
- Ralph BrooksThe 3rd Voice (1960) and The Bigamist (1953)
- Vito ScottiRio Conchos (1964) and Shield for Murder (1954)
- Ed BegleyThe Turning Point (1952) and Backfire (1950)
- Barry KelleyRio Conchos (1964) and 711 Ocean Drive (1950)
- Carleton YoungThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Man in the Dark (1953)
- Virginia MayoBackfire (1950) and White Heat (1949)
- Robert StackThe Last Voyage (1960) and Fighter Squadron (1948)
- Walter BaconSeven Days in May (1964) and The Bigamist (1953)
- Hugh MarloweSeven Days in May (1964) and Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
- Robert F. SimonThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and The Rack (1956)
- Jeanette NolanThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and The Great Impostor (1960)
- Robert Osterloh711 Ocean Drive (1950) and White Heat (1949)
- Anne FrancisThe Love God? (1969) and The Rack (1956)
- Fritz LeiberThe Web (1947) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
- Larry GatesLucky Luciano (1973) and The Great Impostor (1960)
- Tito VuoloBetween Midnight and Dawn (1950) and The Web (1947)
- Bill BaldwinSeven Days in May (1964) and D.O.A. (1949)
- Don PorterThe Turning Point (1952) and 711 Ocean Drive (1950)
- Jean Del ValFantastic Voyage (1966) and The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
- Bob HastingsThe Love God? (1969) and Moon Pilot (1962)
- Jayne MansfieldThe Girl Can't Help It (1956) and Pete Kelly's Blues (1955)
- Stafford ReppThe Other Side of the Wind (2018) and Shield for Murder (1954)
- Julie LondonThe 3rd Voice (1960) and The Girl Can't Help It (1956)
- Tonio SelwartThe Other Side of the Wind (2018) and The Barefoot Contessa (1954)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Edmond O'Brien's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$52.9 million
10 of the 36 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 36 films: 10 worldwide figure; 1 never in cinemas; 1 streaming, short cinema run; 24 figure not found.
- 10Worldwide figure
- 1Never in cinemas
- 1Streaming, short cinema run
- 24Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 95% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$12M22.7% of the total
- 2$8.0M15.1% of the total
- 3$6.9M13.0% of the total
- 4$6.6M12.5% of the total
- 5$6.2M11.7% of the total
- 6$3.9M7.4% of the total
- 7$3.5M6.6% of the total
- 8$3.1M5.9% of the total
$2.7 millionfrom the other 2 films with a worldwide figure, 5% of the total
Awards
Three awards and honors, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 1955 | Best Supporting Actor | The Barefoot Contessa | Won |
| Golden Globes | |||
| Awards | Won | ||
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.