Eli Wallach
Biography
Eli Wallach was an American actor whose stage and screen work lasted more than sixty years. Born in Red Hook, Brooklyn, he trained in method acting under Sanford Meisner and was one of the original members of the Actors Studio. He made his Broadway debut in 1945 and won a Tony Award for The Rose Tattoo (1951). His first film was Baby Doll (1956), which earned him a BAFTA Award as most promising newcomer. He became known for character roles, including Calvera in The Magnificent Seven (1960) and Guido in The Misfits (1961). His performance as Tuco in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) was one of his most famous. He later played Don Altobello in The Godfather Part III (1990) and appeared in The Ghost Writer (2010). He received an Academy Honorary Award in 2010.
98years old at death
- Born Red Hook
- Died Manhattan
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
- Also credited as Eli Herschel Wallach
Movie Career
- Films
- 53
- Career span
- 54 years1956 to 2010
Genres
First and latest
Photos
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A role that slipped away
Wallach turned down the role of Maggio in From Here to Eternity, a part that went to Frank Sinatra and revived Sinatra's career, because he had been offered Camino Real, a Tennessee Williams play directed by Elia Kazan.
First role
Wallach made his screen debut in Elia Kazan's Baby Doll (1956) and won a BAFTA Award as Most Promising Newcomer for it.
Early training
Wallach got his first taste of method acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City, studying under Sanford Meisner. There, he said, actors had to "unlearn" their physical and vocal mannerisms.
Behind the award
On November 13, 2010, at age 94, Wallach was given an Academy Honorary Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for what he had done for the film industry.
A change of course
During his service in France, a senior officer learned of Wallach's acting work and requested a show for the patients. Wallach and his unit wrote the comedy Is This the Army?, in which he played Adolf Hitler and the actors mocked Axis dictators.
A first
Wallach said he received more fan mail for playing Mr. Freeze in the 1960s Batman television series than for all his other roles combined.
Eli Wallach movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Henry Hathaway directed two of these films, Martin Ritt two. Three 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
Austin Pendleton's page
Karl Malden's page
Philip Bosco's page
Christopher Lee's page
Robert De Niro's page
Keith David's page
Henry HathawayDirector, 2 films, 1960 to 1962
All films by Henry Hathaway
All films by Martin Ritt
Also two films together38 more actors
- Christopher WalkenMistress (1992) and The Sentinel (1977)
- Forest WhitakerClint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows (2000) and Article 99 (1992)
- Gene HackmanClint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows (2000) and The Domino Principle (1977)
- James MasonGenghis Khan (1965) and Lord Jim (1965)
- Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows (2000) and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
- Kirk DouglasTough Guys (1986) and A Lovely Way to Die (1968)
- Rip TornClint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows (2000) and Baby Doll (1956)
- Jeff DanielsMama's Boy (2007) and Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story (1992)
- Gregory PeckMackenna's Gold (1969) and How the West Was Won (1962)
- Diane KeatonMama's Boy (2007) and The Godfather: Part III (1990)
- Richard WidmarkThe Domino Principle (1977) and How the West Was Won (1962)
- Edward G. RobinsonMackenna's Gold (1969) and Seven Thieves (1960)
- Tracey WalterThe Two Jakes (1990) and The Hunter (1980)
- Burgess MeredithThe Sentinel (1977) and Mackenna's Gold (1969)
- Rosanna ArquetteThe Executioner's Song (1982) and The Wall (1982)
- Martin BalsamThe Salamander (1981) and The Sentinel (1977)
- Peter O'TooleHow to Steal a Million (1966) and Lord Jim (1965)
- Lee J. CobbMackenna's Gold (1969) and How the West Was Won (1962)
- Arthur KennedyThe Sentinel (1977) and Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man (1962)
- Kevin McCarthyAce High (1968) and The Misfits (1961)
- John HustonWinter Kills (1979) and The Misfits (1961)
- Leon AltonHow to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life (1968) and Kisses for My President (1964)
- Omar SharifMackenna's Gold (1969) and Genghis Khan (1965)
- Danny AielloTwo Much (1995) and Mistress (1992)
- George HamiltonThe Godfather: Part III (1990) and The Victors (1963)
- Telly SavalasMackenna's Gold (1969) and Genghis Khan (1965)
- Steve McQueenThe Hunter (1980) and The Magnificent Seven (1960)
- Zeljko IvanekThe Hoax (2006) and The Associate (1996)
- Raymond MasseyMackenna's Gold (1969) and How the West Was Won (1962)
- Brad DexterWinter Kills (1979) and The Magnificent Seven (1960)
- Carroll BakerHow the West Was Won (1962) and Baby Doll (1956)
- George PeppardThe Victors (1963) and How the West Was Won (1962)
- Leo BurmesterMonday Night Mayhem (2002) and Article 99 (1992)
- Richard VentureThe Executioner's Song (1982) and The Hunter (1980)
- Shelley MorrisonMackenna's Gold (1969) and How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life (1968)
- Livio LorenzonAce High (1968) and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
- Jean De BaerThe Associate (1996) and Girlfriends (1978)
- Earl MaynardCircle of Iron (1978) and The Deep (1977)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Eli Wallach's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$843 million
21 of the 53 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 53 films: 21 worldwide figure; 7 us gross only; 8 never in cinemas; 17 figure not found.
- 21Worldwide figure
- 7US gross only
- 8Never in cinemas
- 17Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 90% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$205M24.4% of the total
- 2$137M16.2% of the total
- 3$135M16.0% of the total
- 4$100M11.9% of the total
- 5$60M7.2% of the total
- 6$60M7.1% of the total
- 7$39M4.6% of the total
- 8$21M2.5% of the total
$85.2 millionfrom the other 13 films with a worldwide figure, 10% of the total
Awards
Twelve awards and honors from 1951 to 2010, four of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 2010 | Honorary Award | Honorary | |
| BAFTA | |||
| 1957 | Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles | Baby Doll | Won |
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 1967 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | The Poppy Is Also a Flower | Won |
| Tony Awards | |||
| 1951 | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Won | |
| Other honors | |||
| 1951 | Theatre World Award | Won | |
| American Campaign Medal | Won | ||
| Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal | Won | ||
| Donaldson Awards | Won | ||
| Ellis Island Medal of Honor | Won | ||
| European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | Won | ||
| Good Conduct Medal | Won | ||
| World War II Victory Medal | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.