Born in New York City; trained at the American Theatre Wing, New York. Durable leading man, in films from 1951. Marvin specialized in playing tough, aggressive characters, memorably in THE BIG HEAT (1953), THE KILLERS (1964) and POINT BLANK (1967). He first branched out into sympathetic film roles in the early 1960s, partly thanks to the success of TV's "M Squad" (1957-59) in which he played a hard-bitten but honest detective. Marvin demonstrated a flair for comedy with DONOVAN'S REEF (1963) and CAT BALLOU (1965), earning an Oscar® for his performance in a dual role in the latter film. He died of a heart attack in Tucson, Arizona, in 1987. Other notable acting credits include "Meatball" in THE CAINE MUTINY (1954), PETE KELLY'S BLUES (1955), RAINTREE COUNTY (1957), THE COMANCHEROS (1961), THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (1962), DONOVAN'S REEF (1963), SHIP OF FOOLS (1965), THE PROFESSIONALS (1966), THE DIRTY DOZEN (1967), SERGEANT RYKER (1968), PAINT YOUR WAGON (1969), EMPEROR OF THE NORTH and THE ICEMAN COMETH (both 1973), THE BIG RED ONE (1980), GORKY PARK (1983) and THE DELTA FORCE (1986).  Actor 1965: CAT BALLOU 1 nomination, 1 Award