He was the original squad leader of the Dirty Dozen, so when you're in charge of a dozen killers who have nothing to lose, you better be sure you pick the right guy to lead. Lee Marvin was that man, making him an immediate inclusion into the all-time Dirty Dozen. He was the prototype for the Hannibal character from the A-Team, only he actually shot people in film and in real life he was a US Marine in World War II and received a Purple Heart after surviving a firefight that left most of his company dead. Like a few others on this list, after the War he went to Hollywood where he found steady (but small) work usually as either a soldier, cop, or gang member in the burgeoning film industry. His star rose gradually a small part in The Wild Ones, a TV show here, a movie there but his strong, intimidating work playing heavies gave him a steady paycheck and a surprising Oscar for his work in the Western-comedy Cat Ballou put him on the A list in Hollywood. When Dirty Dozen came calling, it was Marvin who would be leading the charge. He was so tough that in later years, when he was picked to pick Quint in Jaws, he refused because he heard he wasn't going to be fighting a real shark. His final movie role was leading the crack navy squadron Delta Force with Chuck Norris and in-keeping with his soldier-first, actor-second image, he's buried in the US military's Arlington cemetery where his headstone simply reads Lee Marvin, PFC US Marine Corps, World War II.
Been there, done that but not too well. Continually financially restrained. Now (and still) lives in Western Canada and talks some hockey and parenting on ogieoglethorpe.blogspot.ca and watching trailers on 2minutemovies.blogspot.ca.
