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Lee Marvin

Lee Marvin

49 movies on Netflix

Biography

Lee Marvin was an American actor known for hardboiled tough guys and later antiheroes, with a bass voice and prematurely white hair. Born in New York City in 1924, he began acting after World War II, studied at the American Theatre Wing, and appeared on stage in Billy Budd. His film debut came in You're in the Navy Now (1951), and he gained acclaim as a villain in The Big Heat (1953) and The Wild One (1953). He played Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger in the television series M Squad from 1957 to 1960. Notable films included The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), The Killers (1964), The Professionals (1966), The Dirty Dozen (1967), and Point Blank (1967). He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his dual role in Cat Ballou (1965), plus a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, and the Silver Bear. Later work included The Big Red One (1980) and Gorky Park (1983). He died in 1987.

63years old at death

  • Born New York City
  • Died Tucson
  • Star sign: PiscesFirst day of the sign, on the Aquarius cusp
  • Also credited as Lamont Waltman Marvin Jr., Lamont Waltman Marvin, Lamont Marvin and Lamont Marvin Jr.

Movie Career

Films
49
Career span
35 years1951 to 1986

Genres

First and latest

Photos

  • Lee Marvin, photo 1 of 3
  • Lee Marvin, photo 2 of 3
  • Lee Marvin, photo 3 of 3

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  1. Big break

    Marvin first starred as Frank Ballinger, a Chicago cop, in M Squad, which ran from 1957 to 1960 for 100 episodes. He landed the part after appearing as a serial killer in a Dragnet episode.

  2. A role that slipped away

    Marvin turned down the part of Quint in Jaws. He said he could not tell his fishing friends that he beat a fake shark.

  3. Early training

    After moving to Greenwich Village, Marvin studied at the American Theatre Wing, using the G.I. Bill to pay for it.

  4. A first

    Marvin got top billing for the first time in The Killers. The film started out as a TV-movie, but it was thought entertaining enough to be shown in theaters instead.

  5. Beyond film

    Despite limited singing ability, Marvin had a hit with the song "Wand'rin' Star" from Paint Your Wagon, where he was top-billed over Clint Eastwood.

Lee Marvin movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. The Dirty Dozen1967 Action, Adventure, Thrilleras Maj. Reisman

    IMDb rating 7.785K votes

  2. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962 Drama, Westernas Liberty Valance

    IMDb rating 8.190K votes

  3. Point Blank1967as Walker

    IMDb rating 7.227K votes

  4. The Big Red One1980as The Sergeant

    IMDb rating 7.123K votes

  5. The Delta Force1986as Col. Nick Alexander

    IMDb rating 5.725K votes

  6. Paint Your Wagon1969as Ben Rumson

    IMDb rating 6.616K votes

  7. The Professionals1966as Fardan

    IMDb rating 7.321K votes

  8. Cat Ballou1965as Kid Shelleen / Tim Strawn

    IMDb rating 6.718K votes

Most often with

Robert Aldrich directed three of these films, John Ford two and John Boorman two. Ernest Borgnine appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Ernest Borgnine, 6 films togetherSee the 6 films with Ernest BorgnineCharles Bronson, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Charles BronsonJack Palance, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Jack PalanceRobert Ryan, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Robert RyanStrother Martin, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Strother MartinJohn Wayne, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with John WayneRobert AldrichDirector, 3 filmsSee the 3 films by Robert AldrichJohn FordDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by John FordJohn BoormanDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by John Boorman

Films together

Box office

What Lee Marvin's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$205 million

17 of the 49 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 49 films: 17 worldwide figure; 5 us gross only; 1 never in cinemas; 26 figure not found.

  • 17Worldwide figure
  • 5US gross only
  • 1Never in cinemas
  • 26Figure not found

Top grosser

The Dirty Dozen1967as Maj. Reisman$45.3 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 83% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    The Dirty Dozen1967as Maj. Reisman
    $45M22.1% of the total
  2. 2
    Paint Your Wagon1969as Ben Rumson
    $32M15.4% of the total
  3. 3
    The Caine Mutiny1954as Meatball
    $22M10.6% of the total
  4. 4
    Cat Ballou1965as Kid Shelleen / Tim Strawn
    $21M10.1% of the total
  5. 5
    The Delta Force1986as Col. Nick Alexander
    $18M8.7% of the total
  6. 6
    Gorky Park1983as Jack Osborne
    $16M7.7% of the total
  7. 7
    Raintree County1957as Orville 'Flash' Perkins
    $9.1M4.4% of the total
  8. 8
    The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962as Liberty Valance
    $8.0M3.9% of the total
The Big Red One (1980), $7.2 millionDonovan's Reef (1963), $6.6 millionDeath Hunt (1981), $5.0 millionBad Day at Black Rock (1955), $3.8 millionThe Comancheros (1961), $3.5 millionHell in the Pacific (1968), $3.2 millionPoint Blank (1967), $3.2 millionPrime Cut (1972), $1.5 millionThe Duel at Silver Creek (1952), $1.2 million

$35.3 millionfrom the other 9 films with a worldwide figure, 17% of the total

Awards

Four awards and honors from 1965 to 1966, three of them major.

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Lee Marvin's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Academy Awards
1966Best ActorCat BallouWon
Golden Globes
1965Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyCat BallouWon
Berlin Film Festival
1965Silver BearCat BallouWon
Other honors
Purple HeartWon

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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