Actor Lee Marvin won the only “Best Male Actor in a Leading Role” Academy Award of his career for his work in what film?

The late Mr. Marvin (2/19/24 – 8/29/87) won the Oscar from the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his portrayal of hired killer Tim Strawn and washed-up, drunken gunfighter Kid Shelleen in “Cat Ballou”. The 1965 film was both homage to and spoof of Western films.

The premise of the movie is that the daughter of a rancher returns home to find her father in trouble with a wealthy businessman operating a land-grab scheme. Dad refuses to sell, so the slick, rich man hires Strawn to kill him. Daughter hires Kid Shelleen to protect him. Shelleen fails in his bodyguard job but wins the inevitable showdown with Strawn to reclaim his honor.

A native of New York City, Mr. Marvin received multiple military awards during his service in the US Marine Corps during World War II. After the war, he worked as a plumber for a theater company in New York. When an actor became ill during rehearsals. Mr. Marvin was asked to replace him, and began his own career in acting.

He won many roles as a tough, determined, no-nonsense character, and brought humanity and range to his portrayals. He was a natural in war films, not only as an actor, but also advising directors and actors about military and combat matters.

Mr. Marvin made a name for himself in television as a hard-boiled NYC detective in “M Squad” (1957 – 1960). He appeared in every film mentioned in the answer options. He made his last appearance on screen the year before his death of a heart attack.