Hand Salute , Lee Marvin

THE PILGRIM

Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2007
Messages
15,085
Reaction score
28,052
Location
ALBUQUERQUE, NM
I didn't know he is buried in Arlington.
Lee Marvin (February 19, 1924 – August 29, 1987)

Known for his gravelly voice, white hair and tall stature, Marvin initially appeared in supporting roles, mostly villains, soldiers and other hardboiled characters. From 1957 to 1960, he starred as Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger in the NBC hit crime series, M Squad. In August 1942 Marvin left school to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, serving with the 4th Marine Division in the Pacific Theater. He was wounded in action during the World War II Battle of Saipan, in the assault on Mount Tapochau, during which most of his unit ("I" Company, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division) were killed.Marvin's wound (shot in the buttocks) was from machine gun fire, which severed his sciatic nerve. Marvin was awarded the Purple Heart and was given a medical discharge with the rank of Private First Class in 1945. He moved to Hollywood in 1950, and began working in supporting roles in films. Later, he starred in Attack, (1956) and had a supporting role in the Western Seven Men from Now (1956). He also starred in The Missouri Traveler (1958) but it took over 100 episodes as Chicago cop Frank Ballinger in the successful 1957–1960 television series M Squad to actually give him name recognition. In the 1960s, Marvin was given prominent supporting roles in such films as The Comancheros (1961), John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), and Donovan's Reef (1963), all starring John Wayne. Marvin next performed in The Professionals (1966) and The Dirty Dozen (1967). In December 1986, Marvin underwent intestinal surgery after suffering abdominal pains. Doctors said then that there was an inflammation of the colon, but that no malignancy was found. After being hospitalized for more than two weeks, Lee Marvin died of a heart attack on August 29, 1987. He is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
 

Attachments

  • 6F60BE09-A7A4-4567-B802-2A076D37FBBB.jpg
    6F60BE09-A7A4-4567-B802-2A076D37FBBB.jpg
    140.2 KB · Views: 230
Register to hide this ad
'Kid Shleen' one of his classic roles. His singing could use a little work, though....

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0lRy8x79H8[/ame]
 
A very friendly guy on set, I've read. Known for engaging in poker games with the crew during lunch breaks. Only wish he hadn't 'cowboy-ed' that revolver cylinder at one point in "The Professionals." ;):eek: No matter how hard they try, and despite their acting skill, the present stars cannot approach people like Marvin, Holden, Mitchum, etc.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
He makes my Top 5 "tough guy" actor list. I never saw a film with him in it that I didn't like.

As for that film list, one that should really be seen is Hell In The Pacific, a WWII movie where he and Toshiro Mifune are the only actors in the entire film, made in 1968. Directed by John Boorman.
 
Lee was a"Gun guy" and you could always expect to see him come by your table at the Tucson gun shows in the early 80s. Very friendly. As said above, he told me his Purple Heart came from getting nicked in the *** crawling across the sands looking for cover. He passed away at the Tucson Medical Center. Ed
 
He is a favorite of mine for sure. He is one of three actors that carried themselves so distinctively well. They used abrupt and confident body motions to convey competence and seriousness. You knew they meant business and were capable of "taking care of it" without them ever saying a word. The other two were Burt Lancaster and Steve McQueen. What a treat "The Professionals" was !
 
Lee Marvin and his military service history is often lumped in with Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers in various fake email forwards about the Captain's heroics on Red Beach and Fred Rogers being a heavily tattooed Navy Seal.

Lee's story is the only part of those emails that's mostly true. And it's funny . . .
 
Last edited:
Really enjoy any Lee Marvin films until the other night when I watched Pocket Money with Paul Newman. Couldn't get past the first 20 minutes. Incredibly bad up to that point.
 
Back
Top