Lee J. Cobb was born December 8, 1911 in New York City. His big career break came in 1935, when he was asked to join the Group Theatre. Golden Boy (1937) launched his film career; when the play was made into a movie and he was asked to join the cast. 1939–1943 he moved back and forth from the stage to the movies. He then returned to a film career that included roles in some 80 movies.