Today Hollywood lost a real treasure . Martin Landau died of complications after a short hospital stay. Landau was a Hollywood icon whose career was celebrated with both television and movie roles. Most notably, he will be remembered for his Oscar winning role as Bela Lugosi in the cult film, “Ed Wood.” Landau will also be remembered for his role on the 60’s classic that inspired the movie , “Mission Inpossible.” His career also included the claim of being the boyfriend of Marilyn Monroe. His career includes a lot of roles that he put his heart and soul into as an actor.
Martin Landau was born on June 20, 1928 , the son of Selma and Morris. With Jewish roots, he was proud of his father who rescued their relatives from the Nazis. Landau began his life as a cartoonist where he worked for five years alongside Gus Edson . Together they produced the comic strip , “The Gumps” for the New York Daily News. When Landau became 22, he quit to concentrate on his acting career. Auditioning for the famous Actors Studio , one of his classmates was Steve McQueen.He also studied with such acting gods as Lee Strasberg. They were so impressed with Landau that they asked him to teach with Mark Rydell and Sydney Pollack. His best friend was the late James Dean. Landau made his first big hit on television on “Mission Impossible” as master of disguise artist, Rollin Hand. He appeared on the show with his then wife, Barbara Bain. The role gained him praise as well as an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination.
Here is Landau as Rollin Hand with his former wife, Barbara Bain and Peter Graves in a “Mission Impossible ” cast photo.
Here are Bain and Landau in the 70’s sci -fi classic, “Space 1999”
Landau studied 25 films of the late horror star when he played Bela Lugosi in “Ed Wood.” It paid off with Landau getting his third Oscar nom and his first win.
In 1994, Landau won an Oscar for his role in “Ed Wood.”
He also appeared in the Hitchcock classic , “North by Northwest.”
Landau had played many tv guest roles including this one on “Without a Trace.” Landau played Jack’s father with Alzheimer’s and was nominated for an Emmy for the role. Here he is with Anthony LaPaglia.
Here is Landau as wrestling coach , Sal Bandini , as he trains Jimmy (Oliver Platt of “Chicago Med” ) in “Ready to Rumble.”
Here is Landau when he was a Hollywood big shot on “Entourage” trying to relive his glory days. He is walking with Kevin Connolly and Chicago’s own, Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold.
One of his last roles was in the Lifetime movie , “Outlaw Prophet. ” Landau played a Mormon patriarch with 50 some wives . Here he is having a talk with his son, “Scandal’s ” own POTUS , Tony Goldwyn.
He is survived by his two daughters , Susan and Juliet from his former wife, Bain. Chitownstarconnections gives our sympathy as we remember this actor’s actor.
1928- 2017
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