This article dives into the life of a talented American actor whose path to stardom began with a stroke of luck. Despite a challenging and emotionally turbulent childhood that left lasting scars, he managed to leave behind a significant artistic legacy. Discover more about actor Anthony Perkins’ early life and remarkable career right here on manhattan-trend.

Early Life

Anthony Perkins, a renowned American actor, was born on April 4, 1932, in Manhattan. His parents were actor James Ridgeway Osgood Perkins and Janet Esselstyn. Anthony’s childhood proved to be emotionally complex. He spent very little time with his father, whose constant work commitments meant a drastic lack of attention. Even during their limited leisure time, they rarely connected.

Anthony felt the most affection and love for his mother. He was so deeply attached to her that he even harbored jealousy towards his father, at one point wishing for his death. Tragically, his wish soon came true. On September 21, 1937, Osgood Perkins died of a heart attack, right after the successful premiere of his new play, “Susan and God.” For a long time, young Anthony struggled to believe it and often blamed himself for his earlier thoughts.

It’s worth noting that almost all of Perkins’ childhood was spent surrounded by women: his mother, a French nanny, and his mother’s friends, including playwright Michaela O’Harra. There were assumptions that his mother was not heterosexual and had romantic relationships with women. This period was deeply traumatic for Anthony Perkins, as his mother repeatedly displayed emotional and physical intimacy towards him, including inappropriate touching. This behavior continued into his adulthood. In 1942, when Perkins was ten years old, the family moved to Boston. His mother began working at the Stage Door Canteen, often leaving her son with his grandmother. Due to the emotional instability in his life, Anthony began to act out in school, leading his mother to transfer him to a private school. Although he was gifted, his academic performance steadily declined. Later, he returned to studying in Boston, and the situation improved.

The years 1947–1950 were significant for Anthony. During this period, to identify with his late father, he developed an interest in acting. Soon after, his mother enrolled him in the Brattleboro Summer Theatre. There, he played minor roles in productions like “Junior Miss” and “Kiss and Tell.” His performance in “Sarah Simple” was particularly memorable, standing out as one of his brightest early appearances. It was here, at the theater, that Perkins met Charles Williamson, the first man he fell in love with. From then on, Perkins explored and experimented with his sexual identity. He pursued higher education at Rollins College and Columbia University.

A Career in Film: From Coincidence to Worldwide Stardom

In the 1950s, Anthony Perkins’ destiny took a dramatic turn. During a break from Rollins College, he traveled to California, hoping to break into movies. Without an official audition or any connections, he simply hung around the MGM studio, hoping to get noticed. And partly, he did! He was invited to be an extra in a scene where only the back of his head would be visible. This lucky break marked the beginning of his acting career. His first significant role came in 1953 in the film “The Actress,” where he played Fred Whitmarsh. True recognition, however, arrived in 1956 with the movie “Friendly Persuasion,” in which he portrayed Josh Birdwell. The film was a hit, earning Anthony an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 1957, his role in “Fear Strikes Out” solidified his status as a serious dramatic actor.

In 1960, the actor starred as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” a role that brought him global fame and recognition, yet also trapped him. Perkins masterfully played the character in the horror film, so convincingly that the unsettling image of Norman Bates would follow him for the rest of his life. Throughout his later acting career, Perkins appeared in numerous other films, including “Goodbye Again,” “Five Miles to Midnight,” “The Fool Killer,” “Is Paris Burning?”, “In the Deep Woods,” “American Nightmare,” “Boogeymen: The Killer Compilation,” “Psycho IV: The Beginning,” and many more.

Anthony Perkins passed away on September 12, 1992, at the age of 60, due to pneumonia related to AIDS.