Joe (Joseph) Mantell is a famous American theater, film and television actor of the last century. He starred in such famous projects as "The Twilight Zone", "Birds", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Chinatown", "Marty".
In 1956, Mantell was nominated for an Oscar in the category "Best Supporting Actor", playing in the melodrama directed by Delbert Mann - "Marty."
The artist's creative biography includes more than 70 roles in television and film projects. Joe began his career on the theater stage and only in the late 1940s came to the cinema.
Biography facts
Joseph was born in the winter of 1915 in the United States. He spent all his childhood in the Brooklyn quarter of New York. His parents were Polish Jews. They emigrated to America from Eastern Europe.
Joe received his primary education in a regular American school. He began to dream of an actor's career back in his school years, playing in productions that were staged on the stage of the school's educational theater.
After completing his secondary education, Joe went to acting classes and was soon accepted into one of the theater companies in New York.
During World War II, the young man went to serve in the American army. After returning home, he again began performing on stage, and in the late 1940s he first appeared on the screen.
Film career
Joe made his film debut in 1949. At first, he played minor roles in several films and was not even credited. He appeared on the screen in the films: "Suspense", "Detective", "Port of New York", "The Man Undercover", "Barbary Pirate".
For several years, Mantell played in television productions, including: "Hang Out", "Kraft's Television Theater", "Philco's Television Theater", "First Studio", "Armstrong Theater", "Goodyear Television Theater", "Mr. Peepers", "Collection”,“Climax”,“Millionaire”,“Alfred Hitchcock Presents”.
In 1955, the drama "Marty" by D. Mann was released, where Joe played the role of Angie. The main character named Marty is a good-natured and very lonely person. He lives with his mother, and in the evenings he spends time with Angie's only friend. They dream that something interesting will appear in their lives.
The film was first shown at the Cannes Film Festival, received high marks from viewers and film critics, and also won 2 prizes: the Palme d'Or and the OCIC Prize. A year later, the picture won four Oscars and a British Academy Award. Mantell also received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
The next work took place in Joe's noir drama by D. Taradash "Center of the Storm". The main roles in the film were played by Beth Davis, Brian Keith, Kim Hunter. Mantell played the film by George Slater. The scriptwriters of the film focused on topics that were very relevant and controversial at that time - this is communism and the ban on certain books. It was the first film made in Hollywood to openly oppose McCarthyism.
Broadway producer Bernie Williams starred in 1957 in the biographical drama "Handsome James" directed by Melville Shawelson. The film was based on the popular novel of the same name by J. Fowler. The main character - the mayor of New York, James John Walker, was played by the famous actor Bob Hope.
In the comedy "The Hooper" directed by George Marshall, Joe played the role of Private Stanislav Venaslavsky. The script was based on the adventures of the famous Harvey comic book character - writer J. Baker. The main roles in the film were played by Jerry Lewis and Peter Lorre.
Joe got the small role of Luis Capelli in the adventure drama "Filled Sky" by Joseph Piveney.
In 1963, the actor played in the famous horror film "Birds" by A. Hitchcock, which tells about the horrific attack of birds on an American village. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Special Effects and a Golden Globe Award.
In 1974, along with famous performers Jack Nichols, Faye Dunaway and John Houston, Mantell appeared in the detective film Chinatown. The project received an Oscar in the Best Original Screenplay category and 10 more nominations for this award.
In 1991, the Library of Congress selected Chinatown for preservation on the US National Film Register as one of the greatest paintings of all time, with historical, cultural, and aesthetic value.
In the 1980s, the famous artist appeared on the screen in several films. In the musical comedy "Blame This Night" directed by Gene Taft, he played a lawyer. Then he starred in William Asher's comedy film "Pushers and Scammers" as Larry.
Mantell starred in many television series, including: "Theater Alcoa", "Wanted Dead or Alive", "Westinghouse - Theater Desile", "The Twilight Zone", "The Untouchables", "Pete and Gladys", "My Three Sons", The Defenders, Dr. Kildare, Sam Benedict, The Virginian, The Nurses, In Action, Arrest and Trial, The Journey of Jamie McFeathers, Mr. Novak, Agents A. N. K. L. "," Theater of the creators of suspense "," FBI "," Lonely "," Mission Impossible "," Judd Defender "," Iron Side "," All in the Family "," Mod "," Petrocelli ", Barney Miller, Fantasy Island, Lou Grant, The Hart Spouses.
The last time on the screen, Mantell appeared in 1990 in the crime drama "Two Jakes" by Robert Towne.
Personal life
Joe married actress Mary Frank in 1955. The husband and wife lived together until the death of the actor. The couple had three children: Robert, Jeanne and Katie.
In 1990, Mantell ended his creative career and practically ceased to appear in public.
He passed away in the fall of 2010 from complications caused by pneumonia, several months before his 95th birthday.
