Lee J. Cobb
Biography
Lee J. Cobb was born Leo Jacob in New York City, grew up in The Bronx, and studied at New York University before making his film debut in The Vanishing Shadow (1934). He joined the Group Theatre and performed in numerous theater productions and companies, including the original Broadway production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman under the direction of Elia Kazan. Cobb served in the First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Force during World War II before returning to film, television, and theater after being accused of being a Communist in 1951 testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He later testified in 1953, naming 20 people as former members of the Communist Party USA, and resumed his career with Elia Kazan and Budd Schulberg on the 1954 film On the Waterfront.
