Matinee Classics - Anthony Perkins Biography & Filmography

Anthony Perkins ACTOR

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ANTHONY PERKINS BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Anthony Perkins was born April 4th, 1932, in New York, New York. This actor is best known for his psychotic roles. He was the son of actor Osgood Perkins, and he consequently followed in his father’s footsteps. He decided to continue down the same path as his dad when he became a member of the Actor’s Equity at age fifteen. He started off in the summer stock and worked many backstage jobs before actually switching to performing onstage. He eventually appeared in some plays like “Junior Miss” and “My Sister Eileen” and later was in Rollins College productions such as “The Importance of Being Earnest”.

Perkins decided that moving to Hollywood would help his film career get started, so he did. His film debut was in the movie “The Actress” (1953) alongside Spencer Tracy. He wasn’t so happy in Tinsletown, though, as he moved back to New York. There, he searched for television shows to act in between classes at Columbia University. He landed a few TV appearances and some Broadway shows, and even made some albums, but he was ultimately not landing any good parts. His fortune changed, when he snatched roles in William Wyler’s “Friendly Persuasion” (1956) as a shy pacifist and in the baseball film “Fear Strikes Out” (1957). He received a Golden Globe for these performances and was dubbed “Most Promising Newcomer”. Perkins additionally scored an Oscar nomination for the former. He followed this good streak with the movie “Tin Star” (1957) as the juvenile lead starring alongside veteran actor Henry Fonda. In 1958, he starred alongside Shirley Booth and Shirley MacLaine in “The Matchmaker”, but he also won a Tony Award for “Best Actor in a Play” for his performance in “Look Homeward Angel” on Broadway. Perkins was miscast unfortunately in the failure “Green Mansions” (1959) with Audrey Hepburn. On the flipside, he was praised by co-star Fred Astaire in the showy end-of-the-world “On the Beach” (1959).

Perkins’ most important year was following: 1960. He began this year with the comedy “Tall Story” with Jane Fonda, but then he starred in his most memorable movie of all – “Psycho” – in which he portrayed mother-fixated Norman Bates. This Alfred Hitchcock thriller earned Norman Bates the #4 spot in Premiere Magazine’s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

Following “Psycho”, he attempted to shake the association of him and his previous disturbing character, so he relocated to Europe. There, he starred in the film “Goodbye Again” (1961), which earned him critical acclaim and the Best Actor Award at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival. A successful European career ensued, not limited to the role of Joseph K. in Orson Welles’ “The Trial” (1962) and a part in “Is Paris Burning?” (1966).

Perkins later made reappearance on American screens when he took on the role of a troubled young murderer in “The Pretty Poison” (1968). As well, he appeared in films like “Catch 22” (1970) and “Mahogany” (1973). His screenwriting career also availed, because in 1973 he won an Edgar Allen Poe award for his work with Stephen Sondheim on the motion picture “The Last of Sheila” (1973). He worked more prominently in television moving into the 1980’s, but also continued to excite movie-goers with titles such as the star studded hit “Murder on the Orient Express” (1978), the box office smash Disney’s “The Black Hole” (1979) and the suspenseful “Folkes” (1979). He furthermore was seen in the sexually provocative “Crimes of Passion” alongside Kathleen Turner and the Jekyll-Hyde remakes “Edge of Sanity” (1989) and “Daughter of Darkness” (1990). Perkins returned to the Hitchcock scene, as he again performed as Mr. Bates in three Psycho sequels in 1983, 1986, and again in 1990 with a made for TV one. “Psycho III” (1986) landed the actor a Saturn Award nomination.

Near the draw of his career, he transferred his focus from the big screen to the small screen, acting in Broadway productions and television oriented movies. He also wrote some additional screenplays. In 1990, Perkins had his blood illegally tested by the National Enquirer and he unfortunately discovered that he had the AIDS virus by reading an article in this magazine. He remained positive throughout his journey with AIDS though and even claimed that it taught him “…love, selflessness, and human understanding…”. Even more, in 1991 he was bestowed the honor of having the Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sebastián International Film Festival. Before passing away, he acted in three final films, the horror “A Demon in My View” (1991), the comedy “The Naked Target” (1992), and lastly, the suited for television movie “In the Deep Woods” (1992). On September 12th 1992, in his Hollywood home, Perkins died at the age of sixty. It was due to pneumonia brought on by his horrid disease.

His life is over, but documented in the detailed book Anthony Perkins: Split Image by Charles Winecoff. Perkins’ name is moreover inscribed on a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the motion picture industry.

Filmography

1992 In the Deep Woods

1992 The Naked Target

1992 A Demon in My View

1990 Psycho IV: The Beginning

1990 Daughter of Darkness

1989 Edge of Sanity

1989 Chillers TV Show Series

1988 Lucky Stiff

1986 Psycho III

1984 The Glory Boys

1984 Crimes of Passion