Anthony Perkins
His chilling, psychologically nuanced performance as Norman Bates in 'Psycho' forever redefined the movie villain and the horror genre.
1932–1992 (age 60)·American actor·Birthday: April 4·The Silent Generation
Biography
Anthony Perkins possessed a unique and unsettling screen presence that Hollywood never quite knew how to categorize, which is precisely what made him perfect for the role that would define his career. The son of a stage actor, he found early success on Broadway and in films, earning an Oscar nomination for his second movie, 'Friendly Persuasion.' His tall, gaunt frame and hesitant, boyish demeanor often typecast him in sensitive roles, but director Alfred Hitchcock saw something more complex lurking beneath. Casting him as the motel manager Norman Bates in 1960's 'Psycho' was a masterstroke; Perkins's performance was a breathtaking study in fragile charm masking profound disturbance. The film's success, however, became a gilded cage, making it difficult for him to escape the shadow of Bates. He spent much of his subsequent career working in European cinema and theater, occasionally returning to the Bates character in sequels. Perkins's legacy is that of an actor who, in one monumental performance, demonstrated that true horror resides not in monsters, but in the fractured human psyche.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Anthony was born in 1932, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anthony Was Born
The biggest hits of 1932
#1 Movie
Grand Hotel
Best Picture
Grand Hotel
Anthony's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1932Born
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1937Started school
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1945Became a teenager
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1948Could drive
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1950Could vote
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1953Turned 21
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1962Turned 30
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 40
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 50
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 60
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
Key Achievements
- Delivered the seminal performance as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho,' a role that reshaped cinematic horror.
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Friendly Persuasion' at age 24.
- Maintained a successful stage career, earning a Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut in 'Tea and Sympathy'.
- Directed and starred in the film 'The Last of Sheila,' a sophisticated mystery co-written by Stephen Sondheim.
Did You Know?
He was a skilled musician and composed the song "Moon-Light Swim" that became a hit for Tony Bennett.
He was openly bisexual and had relationships with both men and women, including a long-term partnership with dancer-choreographer Grover Dale.
He turned down the role of Father Karras in 'The Exorcist.'
He died from complications due to AIDS in 1992.
“The imagination is a dangerous thing. It can make a man do terrible things.”
