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Lee J. Cobb
Lee J. Cobb
64 years (Dec 8, 1911 – Feb 11, 1976)
New York City, New York, USA
68 Movies
11 TV Shows

Lee J. Cobb

Known for
12 Angry Men
Juror 3
How the West Was Won
Marshal Lou Ramsey
Coogan's Bluff
Lt. McElroy
On the Waterfront
Johnny Friendly
A thunderous voice and an imposing presence made Lee J. Cobb one of the great character actors of American film and theater. Born in New York in 1911 and trained at the Group Theatre, he premiered on Broadway the role of Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman'. On screen he left memorable performances such as the union boss of 'On the Waterfront' and the irate juror number 3 in '12 Angry Men', and he received two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He also shone in the western 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance' and in 'The Brothers Karamazov'. His range combined menacing authority with a deep vulnerability.
A thunderous voice and an imposing presence made Lee J. Cobb one of the great character actors of American film and theater. Born in New York in 1911 and trained at the Group Theatre, he premiered on Broadway the role of Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman'. On screen he left memorable performances such as the union boss of 'On the Waterfront' and the irate juror number 3 in '12 Angry Men', and he received two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He also shone in the western 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance' and in 'The Brothers Karamazov'. His range combined menacing authority with a deep vulnerability.
Known for
12 Angry Men
Juror 3
How the West Was Won
Marshal Lou Ramsey
Coogan's Bluff
Lt. McElroy
On the Waterfront
Johnny Friendly
Movies
TV Shows
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Blood, Sweat and Fear
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Blood, Sweat and Fear
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Full Filmography
Origins of the Mafia
Bartolomeo Gramignano · 1 episode
★ 8.0
1976
TV
Cross Shot
Dante Ragusa
★ 6.6
1976
Film
Nick the Sting
Robert Clark
★ 6.8
1976
Film
Mark Shoots First
Il commedator Benzi
★ 6.6
1975
Film
That Lucky Touch
Henry Steedman
★ 6.4
1975
Film
Blood, Sweat and Fear
Benzi
★ 5.7
1975
Film
Gunsmoke
Col. Josiah Johnson · 1 episode
★ 6.7
1974
TV
The Balloon Vendor
Twenty Years
★ 7.0
1974
Film
McCloud
Alexander Montello · 1 episode
★ 7.2
1973
TV
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lee J. Cobb still alive?
Lee J. Cobb passed away on February 11, 1976 at age 64.
What are the most famous roles of Lee J. Cobb?
Lee J. Cobb is best known for roles in 12 Angry Men, The Exorcist, On the Waterfront.
How many movies has Lee J. Cobb been in?
Over a 42-year career (since 1934), Lee J. Cobb has appeared in 66 movies and 11 TV shows.
What was Lee J. Cobb's first movie?
The career of Lee J. Cobb began with The Vanishing Shadow (1934).
What is Lee J. Cobb's most recent movie or series?
Lee J. Cobb's most recent release is Arthur Miller on Home Ground, which premiered on November 1, 1979.
What TV shows has Lee J. Cobb appeared in?
On television, Lee J. Cobb has appeared in Gunsmoke, The Oscars, McCloud, The Virginian.
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Lee J. Cobb
Lee J. Cobb
1911-12-08 · New York City, New York, USA

Lee J. Cobb (December 8, 1911 — February 11, 1976) was an American actor. He was best known for his performances in On the Waterfront (1954), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, 12 Angry Men (1957), and The Exorcist (1973). He also played the role of Willy Loman in the original Broadway production of Arthur Miller's 1949 play Death of a Salesman under the direction of Elia Kazan. On television, Cobb costarred in the first four seasons of the popular, long-running western series The Virginian. He typically played arrogant, intimidating, and abrasive characters, but often had roles as respectable figures such as judges. Born Leo Jacob in New York City, he grew up in The Bronx,  before studying at New York University and making his film debut in The Vanishing Shadow (1934).  Cobb performed in numerous theater productions and companies, including Group Theatre (New York) before serving in the First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Force during World War II.  

Following the war, Cobb returned to film, television and theater before being accused of being a Communist in 1951 testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee by Larry Parks, himself a former Communist Party member. Cobb was called to testify before HUAC but refused to do so for two years until, with his career threatened by the blacklist, he relented in 1953 and gave testimony in which he named 20 people as former members of the Communist Party USA. Following the hearing he resumed his career and worked with Elia Kazan and Budd Schulberg, two other HUAC "friendly witnesses", on the 1954 film On the Waterfront, which is widely seen as an allegory and apologia for testifying.  His 1968 performance as King Lear achieved the longest run (72 performances) for the play in Broadway history.  One of his final film roles was that of police detective Lt. Kinderman in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist.

Cobb died of a heart attack in February 1976 in Woodland Hills, California, and was buried in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. He was survived by his second wife, Mary Hirsch, and daughter, also an accomplished actress, Julie Cobb.

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