A THOUSAND CLOWNS (Comedy)

Martin Balsam won his Supporting Oscar for playing Jason Robard's brother in A THOUSAND CLOWNS.

About Martin Balsam (1919 - 1996)

Martin Balsam was born in the Bronx of New York in 1914. During his youth he had a brief marriage with actress Joyce Van Patten. Their daughter, Talia Balsam, would later go on to be a rather successful actress for film and TV.

After serving in World War II, he was selected to attend the prestigious New York’s Actors Studio in 1947. His involvement with the Studio helped him make his film debut in 1954’s On The Waterfront, as Father Beery, starring opposite Marlon Brando. Balsam stormed the scene, appearing in at least one play or film a year thereafter. His notable appearance as Juror #1 in “Twelve Angry Men” and Detective Arbogast in Hitchcock’s 1960’s “Psycho” continued to proliferate Balsam’s notoriety.

Having appeared in many Broadway shows, Balsam won a Tony for his role in the 1967 production of "You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running".

In 1965 Balsam starred in his Oscar-winning role of Jason Robard's sympathetic brother in “A Thousand Clowns”. Balsam also starred as Admiral Husband E. Kimmel in the World War II drama “Tora! Tora! Tora!” (1970).

Martin Balsam was married three times and the father of three children. His daughter from the first marriage, Talia Balsam, was married to actor George Clooney in the early nineties. Balsam died in Rome, Italy of a heart attack in 1996.

Martin Balsam's other films include:

LEGEND OF SPIRIT DOG (1997)
UNKNOWN SOLDIER (1995)
THE SILENCE OF THE HAMS (1994)
THE BLACK CAT (1993)
CAPE FEAR (1991)
TWO EVIL EYES (1990)
L'ULTIMA PARTITA (1990)
BROTHERS IN BLOOD (1988)
THE BROTHER FROM SPACE (1988)
P.I. PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS (1987)
WHATEVER IT TAKES (1986)
THE DELTA FORCE (1986)
DEATH WISH 3 (1985)
ST. ELMO'S FIRE (1985)
THE GOODBYE PEOPLE (1984)
INNOCENT PREY (1984)
L'AVVERTIMENTO (1981)
GARDENIA (1981)
THE SALAMANDER (1981)
THERE GOES THE BRIDE (1980)
CUBA (1979)
SILVER BEARS (1978)
EYES BEHIND THE STARS (1978)
THE SENTINEL (1977)
DIAMANTI SPORCHI DI SANGUE (1977)
TWO-MINUTE WARNING (1976)
DEATH RAGE (1976)
MEET HIM AND DIE (1976)
ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976)
CIPOLLA COLT (1976)
IL TEMPO DEGLI ASSASSINI (1975)
MITCHELL (1975)
SMILING MANIACS (1975)
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974)
THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE (1974)
SUMMER WISHES, WINTER DREAMS (1973)
COUNSELOR AT CRIME (1973)
THE HASSLED HOOKER (1972)
LA COLONNA INFAME (1972)
THE ANDERSON TAPES (1971)
CONFESSIONS OF A POLICE CAPTAIN (1971)
LITTLE BIG MAN (1970)
CATCH 22 (1970)
TORA! TORA! TORA! (1970)
TRILOGY (1969)
THE GOOD GUYS AND THE BAD GUYS (1969)
ME, NATALIE (1969)
HOMBRE (1967)
AFTER THE FOX (1966)
A THOUSAND CLOWNS (1965)
THE BEDFORD INCIDENT (1965)
HARLOW (1965)
YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE (1964)
THE CARPETBAGGERS (1964)
SEVEN DAYS IN MAY (1964)
WHO'S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED? (1963)
CONQUERED CITY (1962)
CAPE FEAR (1962)
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANYS (1961)
ADA (1961)
EVERYBODY GO HOME (1960)
PSYCHO (1960)
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT (1959)
AL CAPONE (1959)
MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR (1958)
TIME LIMIT (1957)
ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)

Balsam's television credits include:

TRILOGY
SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN
MONEY TO BURN
TRAPPED BENEATH THE SEA
DEATH AMONG FRIENDS
RAID ON ENTEBBE
RAINBOW
AUNT MARY
SPACE (Mini-Series)
QUEENIE
THE CHILD SAVER
ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE: (TV series: 1981-82)