Lee Marvin

One of the screen's great heavies, Lee Marvin was born in New York City on Feb. 19, 1924, the son of an advertising executive. A decorated World War II veteran, he was working as a plumber when he got the acting "bug" in summer stock.

After paying his dues with the New York American Theatre Wing, Marvin made his Broadway debut in 1951, followed by a film debut that same year in You're in the Navy Now. He lent memorable support to The Big Heat, The Wild One and Bad Day at Black Rock, and menaced John Wayne in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

After winning a Best Actor Oscar for his dual role in Cat Ballou (1965), Marvin starred in a number of films that became cult favorites -- The Dirty Dozen, Point Blank, Paint Your Wagon (for which he had a hit album), The Big Red One and others. The Delta Force (1986) was his final film; he died Aug. 8, 1987.

Donovan's Reef

1963 NR

Making one of his rare forays into comedy, John Wayne stars in this charming tale as Guns Donovan, a World War II vet who sees his idyllic life on a tropical island turned upside down when a young American beauty arrives in search of her father.