Lee Marvin

 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.