Photo: Stefanianj / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Martin Balsam was credited as a character actor, stage actor and film actor. Martin Balsam was born on November 4, 1919 in The Bronx, New York, United States. Death is recorded on February 13, 1996, at the age of 76. Education on record includes DeWitt Clinton High School. Recorded honors include Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (1966), Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (1968) and National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor (1964).
My Take
Martin Balsam is the kind of actor who makes you realize how much a great supporting performance holds a film together — the guy was never the marquee name, but the moment he walked on screen you felt the whole thing get more real. Born and raised in the Bronx, trained at the Actors Studio alongside some of the most intense talents of his generation, he built a career that was essentially a masterclass in craft over glamour. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1966 and a Tony for Best Actor in 1968, which tells you everything: the man could do it all, stage and screen, without breaking a sweat. He passed away in February 1996, and honestly the movies lost one of those reliable, irreplaceable presences that you only fully appreciate once they're gone.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Martin Balsam
- Name (Japanese)
- マーティン・バルサム
- Reading
- まーてぃん・ばるさむ
- Born
- November 4, 1919 – February 13, 1996
- Origin
- The Bronx, New York, United States
- Occupation
- character actor / stage actor / film actor / television actor / actor
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Scorpio / Goat
2. Background
- High school
- DeWitt Clinton High School
Awards & achievements
- 1966 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
- 1968 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
- 1964 National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Martin Balsam born?
Martin Balsam was born on November 4, 1919.
When did Martin Balsam die?
Martin Balsam died on February 13, 1996, aged 76.
Where was Martin Balsam from?
Martin Balsam was from The Bronx, New York, United States.
What did Martin Balsam do?
Martin Balsam worked as character actor, stage actor, film actor, television actor, actor.
Which high school did Martin Balsam attend?
Martin Balsam attended DeWitt Clinton High School.
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