Unscripted: Martin Landau

Who says there are no second acts in American lives? Brooklyn-born Martin Landau studied at the Actors Studio alongside Steve McQueen, and made his big-screen breakthrough in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest. A close friend of James Dean, Landau achieved cult stardom in the 1960s TV hit Mission: Impossible, but his career fizzled afterwards. Happily, he was rediscovered in the Eighties, earning critical acclaim for his work in films like Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors, and eventually taking home an Oscar for Ed Wood. Today, the man who once very nearly won the part of Star Trek's Mr. Spock remains at the top of his game, picking up Emmy Award nominations for his work on shows like Entourage and Without a Trace. In this episode, Martin Landau reflects on the inevitable ups and downs of a journeyman actor's life.

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[AngryOfMayfair]

He FINALLY got an Oscar for portraying Bella Lugosi in Ed Wood, and very well deserved it was too. Landua is a fine actor with some sterling performances under his belt AND Mission Impossible: AND Space 1999.

Long may he continue....

[healer378]

This guy is a LEGEND!! He and his colleagues don't even know his value. Movies that he has done and last Space 1999. He needs to be studies. The Whole space 1999 series One needs to be re-evaluated in terms of human psychology, duty, honor, betrayal and breaking points of Man and Woman. Series Two is unfortunate.

We must search those values and remake another Space 1999 with presence of old actors and younger one. to follow.

[mywhipperin1]

both martin landau and roddy mcdowell were robbed of oscar glory for the film Cleopatra.

[AfricanNaziJew]

him and james dean we're close friends!

[apemant]

I can't say I know his work, but he always struck me as a very sympathetic fellow, from the little I saw. Inspires me. Just a hunch.

[SaturdayNightmares]

meet Martin at Saturday Nightmares Expo June 3rd-5th. Screening of Ed Wood, Q&S's and autographs all weekend.

[hawkeyepierce12]

His daughter Juliet Landau played Dursilla on Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

[Realmasterorder]

I love Martin landau he is an amazing actor and he stands out for having an unusual type,i grew up watching Space 1999 and mission impossible mostly from first reruns on TV,even though he was obnoxious to work with as i heard in space 1999 and when he became well known he matured a lot as time passed and he is still one of my favourites.

[collegeman1988]

I remember him as Commander Koenig, but I think his best acting job was as Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood.

[fanbrazil29]

I loved you and Barbara Bain in Mission: Impossible! And Peter Graves, and Greg Morris, and Peter Lupus, of course! And oh yeah, the gorgeous Lynda Day George too.