Remembering Anthony Perkins
The iconic “Psycho” actor died 32 years ago
Remembering Anthony Perkins
32 years ago today, the actor Anthony Perkins, passed away due to AIDS-related pneumonia. The actor was best known for his role as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho and its three sequels. But have you seen “Pretty Poison,” “Friendly Persuasion,” “Murder on the Orient Express” or “The Trial”? Those films will give you a more developed picture of Oscar-nominated Anthony Perkins, talent and range. Do yourself a favor and seek out a few other films, you will see that “that guy from Psycho” was actually more than just that. On September 12th, 1992, the world has lost a talented actor that still had much more to give to it.
Anthony Perkins was born on April 4, 1932, in New York City into a theatrical family. His father, Osgood Perkins, was a Broadway actor, but he passed away when Anthony was just five years old. This loss deeply impacted Perkins, who later channeled some of his own personal complexities into his acting. He attended Rollins College in Florida and later Columbia University, but his love for acting led him to the stage and screen.
Perkins began his film career in the early 1950s, earning attention for his performance in “The Actress” (1953). His boyish charm and lean physique made him a natural for sensitive, awkward, and troubled young men. He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Friendly Persuasion” (1956), and this marked his rise as a promising young actor.
In 1960, Perkins starred as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” a performance that would define his career. His portrayal of the shy, disturbed motel owner became one of the most famous villain roles in cinema history. Perkins masterfully conveyed both vulnerability and menace, creating a character that terrified audiences yet evoked a certain amount of sympathy. The film was a massive success and has since become a cultural touchstone in horror and psychological thriller genres.
Despite his wide range as an actor, Perkins found himself typecast after Psycho. He reprised the role of Norman Bates in three sequels: Psycho II (1983), Psycho III (1986), and Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990), even directing Psycho III.
Though Psycho loomed large over his career, Perkins had notable performances in other films and theater productions. He starred in “Fear Strikes Out” (1957), playing baseball player Jimmy Piersall, who struggled with mental illness—a performance that foreshadowed his future roles portraying complex, psychologically fraught characters.
He also appeared in films like “The Trial” (1962), directed by Orson Welles, and “Goodbye Again” (1961), for which he won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Perkins worked across a variety of genres, from drama to comedy, and also pursued a successful stage career, appearing in Broadway productions such as “Look Homeward, Angel” and “Greenwillow,” earning a Tony Award nomination.
Perkins was known for his complex personal life. For much of his career, he struggled with his sexuality and lived a relatively private life in Hollywood. He had relationships with both men and women, but later married photographer Berry Berenson in 1973, and they had two sons together, Oz and Elvis Perkins.
In the early 1990s, Perkins was diagnosed with AIDS. He kept his illness private and continued to work until his death. He passed away on September 12, 1992, at the age of 60, just one day before the 12th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s death. His wife, Berry Berenson, tragically died in the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
Anthony Perkins remains an iconic figure in Hollywood, best remembered for his haunting portrayal of Norman Bates, a role that redefined psychological horror.
Article originally published by Ken Warren, 2017 for the 25th Anniversary of Anthony Perkins death
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