Tall, powerfully built stage actor whose gaunt, leathery features were first seen on film in 1950, when Elia Kazan, who had previously directed Palance on Broadway in "A Streetcar Named Desire", cast him as a plague-ridden gangster in "Panic in the Streets". With his severe, strongly sculpted cheekbones, beady, piercing eyes and velvety, insinuating line delivery, Palance did manage to achieve star status, though he has usually played menacing, often dangerous or at least harshly unsympathetic types.

Palance went on to earn two supporting actor Oscar nominations, as the seemingly affectionate