About Lee Marvin
Lamont Warren Marvin Jr. (February 19, 1924 – August 29, 1987), known as Lee Marvin, was an American film and television actor. Known for his bass voice and prematurely white hair, he is best remembered for playing hardboiled "tough guy" characters. He received various accolades including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two BAFTA Awards. He was also a decorated United States Marine during the Second World War. He was also a descendant of the Lee family of Virginia. Although initially typecast as the "heavy" (i.e. villainous character), he later gained prominence for portraying anti-heroes, such as Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger on the television series M Squad (1957–1960). Marvin's notable roles in film included Vince Stone in The Big Heat (1953), Liberty Valance in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Charlie Strom in The Killers (1964), Rico Fardan in The Professionals (1966), Major John Reisman in The Dirty Dozen (1967), Walker in Point Blank (1967), Ben Rumson in Paint Your Wagon (1969), the Sergeant in The Big Red One (1980), and Jack Osborne in Gorky Park (1983). Marvin achieved numerous accolades when he portrayed a dual role as gunfighter Kid Shelleen and criminal Tim Strawn for the comedy Western film Cat Ballou (1965), alongside Jane Fonda, a surprise hit which won him the Oscar for Best Actor, along with a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, an NBR Award, and the Silver Bear for Best Actor. After over a year of medical treatment in naval hospitals, Marvin was given a medical discharge with the rank of private first class.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.