Anthony Perkins (April 4, 1932 – September 12, 1992) was an American actor. Born in Manhattan, he began his acting career as a teenager in summer stock theatre, and appeared in films prior to his Broadway debut. His first film role was in The Actress (1953). That same year, he debuted on Broadway in Tea and Sympathy, a performance for which he received critical acclaim.
Perkins starred in Friendly Persuasion (1956), which earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best New Actor of the Year and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Following the film's success, he signed a seven-year, semi-exclusive contract with Paramount Pictures, where he was regarded as the studio's last matinee idol. In 1957, he appeared in Fear Strikes Out.
During this period, Paramount promoted Perkins in romantic roles, pairing him on screen with actresses including Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, and Shirley MacLaine. He also took on more dramatic roles, including the Broadway production of Look Homeward, Angel, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award, and the film On the Beach (1959).