Top 5 acting performances from Marine veterans

Veterans have made great actors across the history of cinema and stage. Marines have given some of the best efforts on screen and here is a list of their top acting performances, some earning an Academy Award. Take a look and if you are unfamiliar with them, you should check them out for a great performance and wonderful film.

George C. Scott as General George S. Patton

George C. Scott served in the Corps from 1945 to 1949 and was assigned to 8th and I Barracks in Washington, D.C. After numerous great roles and years of acting he was cast as General George S. Patton in the 1970 film Patton. The role is iconic, inspirational and larger than life, a fitting lead part for Scott. His performance earned him the Acadamy Award for Best Actor in 1970.

The real General Patton (left) next to Scott’s Patton (right). Photo courtesy of https://63highlanders.blogspot.com/2010/10/general-george-s-patton.html

2. TIE! Steve McQueen as Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Jake Holman in The Sand Pebbles and as Henri Charrière in Papillon.

McQueen served in the Corps 1947 to 1950 and during his service saved five fellow Marines by rescuing them from a tank just before it broke through the ice and went into the water on an Arctic exercise. He had one of his roles nominated for Best Actor by the Academy in 1967 for the The Sand Pebbles and then he was up for the Golden Globe as Best Actor in Papillion. Both engaging and intense performances from the King of Cool.

A black-and-white photo of a sailor in a white uniform and cap holding a rifle. He has a serious expression and wears a belt with pouches and a sheathed knife. Another man in a white naval uniform and cap stands behind him on a ship. The background shows parts of the ship's structure and other crew members. — Mcqueen in *The Sand Pebbles* with Richard Crenna (Right). Photo courtesy of https://bamfstyle.com/2019/10/27/sand-pebbles-mcqueen/

Two men in striped prison uniforms are shown in a black and white photo. One man, wearing glasses, is holding the other man, who has handcuffs and chains on his wrists. They appear to be inside a prison, with barred doors visible in the background. The man with handcuffs looks concerned or tense, while the other man looks at him with a serious expression. — Dustin Hoffman (left) with McQueen in *Papillion*. Photo courtesy of https://www.collectors.com/entertainment-item/dustin-hoffman-steve-mcqueen-in-papillon-original-vintage-p/7951538044183291690

3. Lee Marvin as Kid Shelleen and criminal Tim Strawn in Cat Ballou.

Lee Marvin served in the Corps from 1942 to 1945 in the 4th Marine Division during World War II and was injured on Mount Topachau during the Battle of Saipan. Marvin spent decades as an actor and on-screen tough guy in many great roles. The Academy recognized him for his work in the 1965 western comedy Cat Ballou, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor in a dual role.

Lee Marvin as Kid Shelleen and Tim Strawn in *Cat Ballou*. Photo courtesy of https://actoroscar.blogspot.com/2011/01/best-actor-1965-lee-marvin-in-cat.html

4. Gene Hackman as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection

Hackman served in the Corps from 1946 to 1951 as a radio operator stationed in China, Hawaii and Japan. He attained the rank of sergeant during his service. Hackman has been nominated and won many different acting awards throughout his career. The one that put him on the map was earning the Academy Award for Best Actor as the tough as nails Popeye Doyle in The French Connection in 1971.

Left side: A young man with short dark hair wearing a textured brown jacket and a maroon shirt underneath is pointing a revolver directly at the camera with a serious expression. The background features vertical metal bars. Right side: An older man with short gray hair and a mustache is smiling and gesturing with his right hand. He is dressed in a dark blazer over a black buttoned shirt. The background shows a few people and a blurred poster. — Hackman as Doyle (left) and a more recent photo (right). Photo courtesy of https://nypost.com/2021/10/04/secrets-of-the-french-connection-on-50th-anniversary/

5. Harvey Keitel as Winston “The Wolf” Wolfe in Pulp Fiction.

Keitel has a wealth of film work worth watching and studying. He has been in the business now for over 50 years. He has worked with the best and brightest to include Scorsese, Tarantino and Nicholson. Keitel served in the Corps during the mid-to-late 1950s with a deployment to Lebanon for Operation Blue Bat. His best role, which will likely be contested, is as the Wolf in Pulp Fiction. Threatening, refined and professional are choice words to describe his role as Winston in the seminal Tarantino film. He also drove a really cool NSX in the film.

A silver sports car with both driver and passenger doors open is parked on a street. A man in a dark suit stands by the driver's side door, and a woman wearing a red and black plaid shirt with blue jeans stands by the passenger side door. The car has a California license plate. Several older model vehicles and trucks are parked along the street in the background. — Keitel (left) with his NSX as The Wolf. Photo courtesy of https://www.hotcars.com/the-acura-nsx-was-the-real-hero-of-pulp-fiction/

Honorable mention: James Whitmore as Brooks Hatlen in The Shawshank Redemption.

Whitmore played a wonderful role as Brooks in the The Shawshank Redemption and endeared a younger generation to his fantastic skills as an actor. He served in the Corps from 1942 to 1946 initially on the enlisted side and was eventually commissioned as an officer.

Whitmore as Brooks in *The Shawshank Redemption*. Photo courtesy of https://www.hotcars.com/the-acura-nsx-was-the-real-hero-of-pulp-fiction/

Honorable Mention: Brian Dennehy as Sheriff Will Teasle in First Blood.

Dennehy served in the Corps from 1958 to 1963 which included being stationed in Okinawa. His portrayal of Teasle is chilling, irritating, and likable all at the same time. Too bad his character found out why people shouldn’t mess with Rambo.

Two men outdoors in a wooded area, one with curly hair wearing a green U.S. Army jacket with an American flag patch, looking serious and staring ahead, while the other man with light hair in a brown jacket holds the first man's arm and looks at him intently. — Stallone (right) as Rambo with Dennehy (left) as Teasle in *First Blood*. Photo courtesy of Yahoo.com.

Super Honorable Mention: Glenn Ford as Jonathan Kent in Superman (1978).

Ford’s career began in the Golden Era of Hollywood and served in the Marines in mid 1940s during World War II. His great film credits include Gilda, The Big Heat, Blackboard Jungle and the original 3:10 to Yuma. He earns the honorable mention for his subdued yet spectacular role as Superman’s father Jonathan Kent in Richard Donner’s legendary Superman in 1978.