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Rod Steiger 1925 - 2002 *** Outspoken, Goofy, Shaved-Headed, Method Ham Felled by Pneumonia and Kidney Failure Rod Steiger (1925-2002) died at 77 on July 9, 2002, in Los Angeles, after suffering pneumonia and kidney failure. Steiger made so much shit, and turned in so many ridiculously over-the-top performances that it makes my head spin. He could be very good, but it usually took a quality script and a director who could reign in the great ham. His best performances were in In the Heat of the Night (1967) and On the Waterfront (1954). I have not seen all of his films, including The Pawnbroker (1964). He came from The Method school of acting out in New York. The Method works for some, but it lends itself very easily to scenery chewing, also known as "Steigering." A depression sufferer, he married five times: Sally Gracie (1952 - 1958) (divorced), Claire Bloom (1959 - 1969) (divorced), Sherry Nelson (1973 - 1979), Paula Ellis (1986 - 1997) (divorced), Joan Benedict (10 October 2000 - his death). He has a daughter with Claire Bloom, and a son with Paula Ellis. Steiger was born April 14, 1925, in Westhampton, New York He was offered the title role in the movie, "Patton", but refused it, saying "I'm not going to glorify war." The role was then given to George C. Scott, who won the Oscar for it. Steiger calls this refusal his "dumbest career move." Expecting to win the Oscar for The Pawnbroker, Steiger reportedly started choking when Lee Marvin was announced the surprise winner for Cat Ballou. He finally did win an Academy Award playing a gum-chewing, redneck Southern sheriff opposite Sidney Poitier in In the Heat of the Night (1967). In 1998, Steiger began a stint as a semi-regular on Whoopi Goldberg's "Hollywood Squares" TV Series.
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