One of the most important rollers of American cinema, the Rod Stiger He reached the top when he was trusted by leading roles, although his artistic recognition, from his first steps, as a karatelist and mainly in the role of his brother Marlon Brando in the classic film “The Port of Agony”, for which he received his first nomination.

Rod Stiger, though rather ugly, belongs to the narrow circle of the great performers, the credible actors, which the directors always wanted next to the stars, to stimulate and enlarge the acting range of their film, to cover their film. The American actor, who was distinguished for his interpretation of strange, often unstable and crazy characters, has been rightly classified as “one of Hollywood’s charismatic and dynamic stars”.

Completing 100 years since birth (April 14, 1925) It is an opportunity to remember his difficult first steps, his successes, his interpretive recognition, but also his courageous attitude towards blessing and his problems with depression, which has plagued him for most of his life.

Infinite Father – Mother Alcoholic

Rod Stiger was born in Westhampton, New York in 1925. His parents were Lorren Draver and Frederick Stiger, French, Scottish and German descent. He never met his father, an actor of Vodville, who participated, together with his mother, in a touring music and dance troupe. He grew up with his alcoholic mother, spending difficult childhood years and will be forced to “pop” it at the age of 16. Immediately afterwards he will be classified in the Navy during World War II, participating in war operations in the Pacific.

The good -hearted butcher and the missed opportunity

It will enter the acting field in the early 1950s, and will previously win a study at the New York Theater Wing and Actor’s Studio. He started from the theater and continued on television, with his appearance on Marty’s television, starring a kind -hearted lonely butcher, an interpretation with which he won the public’s love. It is noteworthy that Stiger refused to play the same role in cinema, as suggested by Bart Lancaster and Harold Hekd, a role that Ernest Borgnain eventually played and gave him an Oscar!

Brando, Bogart and the nomination

His cinematic debut will make it in 1951 in Fred Cinemanman’s dramatic film “Teresa”, and three years later he will play Marlon Brando in the excellent drama of Elias Kazan “The Port of Agony”, a role that will give him his first Oscar nomination. The strong film Noir “The Big Knife” by Robert Oldrich and the pleasant musical “Oklahoma”, while in 1956 will co -star in the exquisite film noir “fell hard”, next to the legendary Humphrey Bog. The role of the mafia in the police film “Al Capone” will establish him, though one of the most important roles of his life will follow, that of the Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, in the masterful dramatic film “The Pedigen” by Sidney Lumin.

The 1960s, which reached the top of his career, will also appear in the epic overproduction of David Lynn “Doctor Zivago”, next to Omar Sarif and Julie Christie.

Oscar in the hard sheriff

In 1967, the great moment will come in his career, winning the Oscar for a male role, starring a harsh, but with a sense of justice, sheriff, in the American south, with Sidney Poitier next to him in the film “History of a Crime”. Stiger’s interpretation of Norman Juison’s magnificent film is shocking as he is transformed by a harsh man who grew up in racism, a defender of justice and a disarming praise of equality and black rights in America.

Rod Steiger

The European period

In the 1970s, European calls did not leave him unmoved, perhaps seeing a decline in his shares in Hollywood. Thus, he will participate in several European television and film productions, signing important directing names, such as Francesco Rosie, Sergio Leone, Claude Sabrol and Franco Jefirelli.

He will play with tremendous persuasion both Napoleon in Sergei Bordartzuk’s film “Waterloo”, Benito Mussolini in Karlo Litsani’s film “Mussolini: The Punishment and the End of a Dictator” Francesco Rosie and the robber in Leone’s Western “The Heads Down”.

The fall and the Socrates

In the 1980s and 90s his career will take the downhill, due to the problems of depression in previous years, playing in second roles, while in 1999 he will be back on the plate with Norman Juison, who directed him in “History of a Crime” Denzel Washington. Remarkably, his arrival in Greece in 2001 to play in the play “The Dawn of Culture”, interpreting the role of Socrates.

Rod Steiger

Depression and Bloom

Stiger suffered years of depression, which influenced his career – especially in the 1980s, though the problems had begun many years ago. On this issue he had stated: “You begin to lose your self -esteem … Pain should never be a source of shame. It’s part of life, it’s part of humanity. ” Nevertheless, Stiger will marry five times and have two children, though his first marriage and divorce with famous actor Claire Bloom has irreparably hurt him.

Opposite

Stiger, however, will stand up to both Macharmism and anti -communist hysteria, and therefore he will clash with Charlton Easton, whom he had described as “the beloved fascist of America”. The reason for their conflict will be a letter of Easton to the press, essentially asking the American Institute of Film to honor Elias Kazan, because, as he argued, he had worked with the infamous committee of anti -American activities, condemning many communists. Stiger will answer him by saying that Kazan’s disgusting actions will result in many artists entering the infamous “black list”, destroying some to reach suicide. Easton will never answer …

Stiger, who had heart problems, will die in a Los Angeles hospital on July 9, 2002, leaving 112 films behind him, some truly unforgettable performances, but also the powerful, though deeply hurt, character of an artist, who never became a “Hollywood”