Martin Henry Balsam is an American theater, film and television actor of the last century. In 1966 he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in A Thousand Clowns.
The actor has several awards and nominations, including Golden Globe, BAFTA, Primetime Emmy Awards, Tony Awards, National Board of Review.
Bolsam's creative biography began in August 1941 with a performance on the theater stage. He played in the comedy production "Ghost for Sale", created by the famous American humorist of the last century P. G. Woodhouse, based on the popular play by the Hungarian playwright F. Molnar.
After the end of World War II, Martin appeared on the television screen. His film career spanned 47 years. The last work was the role in the drama "The Legend of the Spirit of the Dog". The film was released in 1997 - 7 months after the death of the actor.
Bolsam has played over 180 roles in television and film projects. He has appeared in Oscars and Tony awards, and has also appeared in popular entertainment programs and TV series on numerous occasions.
Biography facts
Martin was born in the United States in the fall of 1919. His father, Albert Bolsam, worked in the production of sportswear for women. Mom - Lillian Weinstein, was engaged in housekeeping and raising three children, the eldest of whom was Martin. Albert emigrated to America from Russia, and Lillian was born in New York to Jewish parents who also came from Russia.
The boy received his primary education at DeWitt Clinton High School. There he was fascinated by creativity and art. Martin attended the drama club and performed on stage in educational productions.
After graduation, the young man's interest in theater did not fade away; he continued his studies in acting and drama at Manhattan's progressive New School. One of the teachers at the educational institution was the famous director and producer from Germany Erwin Friedrich Maximilian Piscator.
Creative way
At the very beginning of World War II, Martin made his first appearance on the Broadway stage. But the young man's creative career was interrupted by leaving for the army. He served in the US Air Force and only a few years after the end of the war was able to return to acting.
After returning from military service, the young man got a job as a ticket clerk and waiter at Radio City Music Hall in New York. In his free time, he continued to study acting and attended courses in the studio, which in those years was led by E. Kazan and L. Strasberg. There he got acquainted with the famous Stanislavsky method and gained vast experience of working on stage.
Although Bolsam's acting training was quite high, he needed to prove himself in order to get serious roles. In the late 1940s, the young man began working on Broadway, but only after a few years did he come to real success. Martin played in the play "The Rose Tattoo" by T. Williams and received high marks from audiences and theater critics.
Bolsam has long performed on the stage of many famous theaters and played dozens of roles in classical and modern plays. In 1968, the artist was awarded the Tony Award for Best Dramatic Actor for his role in the play You Know I Can't Hear You When Water Pours.
In the late 1940s, the young actor appeared on television. He became a member of the acting studio, headed by director E. Kazan, and starred in several series: Kraft's Television Theater, Actors' Studio, Filko's Television Theater, First Studio, Suspense, and The Bible Revived.
The artist came to the big cinema in 1954. He got his first cameo role in the crime drama At the Port. The director of the film was the famous E. Kazan, and the main role was played by Marlon Brando.
According to the plot of the picture, the docker Terry Mallow, after he finds out that he is working for a gangster, decides to restore justice and start a fight with the boss Johnny Friendly.
The film won 8 Oscars and 4 nominations for this award. He also won the main prize and the Italian Critics' Prize, the International Catholic Organization Film Award at the Venice Film Festival. In 1955, the picture received 4 Golden Globe awards, and M. Brando won an award from the British Academy.
In 1956, the actor appeared on the screen in S. Lumet's drama "12 Angry Men", where he played one of the jury. A year later, the picture was awarded the main prize of the Berlin Film Festival "Golden Bear". In 1958, the film received 3 Oscar nominations and 4 Golden Globe nominations.
One of the most memorable roles of detective Milton Arbogasto Martin played in A. Hitchcock's thriller Psycho in 1960. The film received 4 Oscar nominations and actress Janet Lee won a Golden Globe Award.
Later, the actor played dozens of roles in famous films and TV series: "The Twilight Zone", "Highway 66", "The Defenders", "Breakfast at Tiffany's", "Cape Fear", "The Fugitive", "Seven Days in May", "Agents ANKL "," Harlow "," A Thousand Clowns "," Ombre: The Brave Shooter "," I, Natalie "," Trick "," Torah! Torah! Torah!”,“Confession of the Police Commissioner to the Prosecutor of the Republic”,“Murder on the Orient Express”,“All the President's Men”,“Sentinel”,“Silver Bears”,“Cuba”,“Salamander”,“Murder She Wrote,”“Lights St. Elmo "," Octopus 2 "," Detachment "Delta", "Ocean", "Octopus 5", "Cape of Fear", "Sands of Time", "Silence of Ham".
The famous actor died suddenly in 1996 from a heart attack. The tragedy occurred on February 13 in a hotel room during his vacation in Rome.
Bolsam was buried in New Jersey at Cedar Park Cemetery.
Personal life
Martin was married three times. Actress Pearl Somner became his first choice in 1952. The marriage lasted several years and ended in divorce in 1954.
The second wife was actress Joyce Van Patten. The wedding took place on August 18, 1957. The couple had a daughter, Thalia, but this union was short-lived. The husband and wife divorced in 1962.
Irene Miller became the third wife in 1963. In this marriage, two children were born: Adam and Zoe. Martin and Irene lived together for almost 25 years, but broke up in 1987.
