American actor Martin Landau has devoted almost 70 years of his life to a career in film and television. He was awarded an Oscar for his role in the biopic Ed Wood, as well as three other Golden Globes for his participation in various motion pictures.
Early years and adolescence of Martin Landau
Film veteran Martin Landau was born June 20, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York. He is the son of Morris Landau, a machinist, and Selma Buchman.
As a child, the boy dreamed of becoming an artist. After graduating from James Madison School in Brooklyn, Landau entered the Pratt Institute and later joined the student art league.
At the age of 17, Landau got a job at The New York Daily News as a cartoonist and illustrator. However, after a few years, Martin realized that he wanted to devote himself to acting: “I was preparing myself to become a new theatrical cartoonist. But when I looked around me in the office, I saw people in their 30s and 40s who were doing the same job as me. At that moment I realized that this job was not for me."
North by Northwest, Cleopatra, Greatest Story Ever Told
In the mid-1950s, Landau got the chance to study at an acting studio in New York. He became one of the two lucky ones who were successfully accepted at that time in the film studio. The second student was the future film actor and American racer Steve McQueen.
Martin Landau honed his acting talent under the direction of directors Lee Strasberg and Elia Kazan. After a while, Landau himself became an acting teacher. Later Martin was hired as creative director. Landau held this position for several years.
In 1957, on the recommendation of screenwriter Paddy Chaefsky, the young actor got a role in the theatrical production of "Middle of the Night". After that, Landau was engaged in work on television, and in 1958 he first appeared in the TV series "Maverick", playing the role of Mike Manning.
The following year, Landau played Lieutenant Marshall in the feature film Pork Chop Height, where he was cast by Gregory Peck.
Landau appeared as an assassin in the 1959 thriller North by Northwest by Alfred Hitchcock, where he played with such celebrities as Cary Grant, James Mason.
In 1963, Martin Landau played the role of Mark Anthony Rufion's associate in the famous historical film Cleopatra. He has starred with Hollywood stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Two years after the release of the successful motion picture, Martin Landau embodied the villainous image of Caiaphas in the biblical drama The Greatest Story Ever Told.
Serial work and the first Golden Globe
In 1966, Landau had a breakthrough in his career after a role in the spy series Mission Impossible. In it, for three seasons, Martin Landau played a master of disguise named Rollin Hand. Martin Landau was voted Best Actor in Television and was awarded a Golden Globe for his participation in this series.
Over time, the actor found his role limited, and soon embodied a new character in the science fiction series "Cosmos: 1999". In it, he played with his wife Barbara Bane.
Martin Landau took part in episodic roles in the series Murder, She Wrote, The Twilight Zone, Beyond the Possible, Agents of ANKL, I Am a Spy, The Wild Wild West, "Matt Houston". Martin Landau was also invited to voice one of the characters in the animated series "Spider-Man".
In 2000, Landau starred in the mini-series Creation of the World, the plot of which is dedicated to the history of the Old Testament.
Landau also starred in the classic American detective story Columbo: Double Impact, in which he portrayed two twin brothers, Dexter and Norman Paris, one of whom was involved in a murder.
The first "Oscar" in the career of an actor
In 1980, Landau starred in the fantasy horror film Without Warning. This was followed by films: the adventures of "Treasure Island", Woody Allen's comedy "Crimes and Misdemeanors", the comedy with Robert De Niro "The Mistress", the thriller "Nowhere to Hide". During this period, Martin Landau was repeatedly nominated for Academy Awards, and won the second Golden Globe for the biopic Tucker: The Man and His Dream.
Finally, in 1993, Martin Landau was awarded his first prestigious Oscar and his third Golden Globe for his supporting role in the comedy drama Ed Wood by Tim Burton. It is dedicated to the biography of a Hollywood director named Ed Wood, recognized as the worst in the history of cinema. Martin Landau embodied on the screen the image of the old Hollywood actor Bela Lugosi, who was remembered in the history of cinema for the role of "Dracula".
Jenny Depp went to the male lead in Ed Wood, while Sarah Jessica Parker played the lead female role.
Martin Landau actively acted in films until 2017. He has more than 160 television and film works.
The last film with the participation of the American actor was the fantastic melodrama "Without Guardianship".
Personal life of Martin Landau
The actor met with Marilyn Monroe for some time before getting married. In 1957, Landau married actress Barbara Bane.
The actors starred in several films together. The couple had two daughters, Susie and Juliet.
In 1993, the star marriage broke up.
The American actor passed away shortly after being admitted to a Los Angeles hospital on July 15, 2017, at the age of 89.
Martin Landau honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
