Edmond O'Brien

<p> One of the most versatile actors of his generation Edmond O'Brien made a series of iconic noir films. From a man reporting his own murder in <I>D.O.A.</I> (1949) to the conflicted title character in <I>The Bigamist</I> (1953) he portrayed the confusion of the postwar Everyman.</p><p> His memorable roles spanned genres from Shakespeare to westerns and comedies--he also turned his hand to directing. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as the harassed press agent Oscar Muldoon in Joseph Mankiewicz's bitter Cinderella fable <I>The Barefoot Contessa</I> (1954).</p><p> This first in-depth study of O'Brien charts his life and career from Broadway to Hollywood and to the rise of television revealing a devoted family man dedicated to his craft.</p>