Lee Wallace (actor)

Lee Wallace (born Leo Melis; July 15, 1930 – December 20, 2020)[1][2] was an American actor of film, stage, and television.

Lee Wallace
Wallace in Alice (1977)
Born
Leo Melis

(1930-07-15)July 15, 1930
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
DiedDecember 20, 2020(2020-12-20) (aged 90)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1966–2005
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1975)​
Children1

Early life

Wallace was born as Leo Melis in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Celia (née Gross) and Eddie Melis.

Career

His movie roles include more than a dozen productions big and small, including Klute (1971), The Hot Rock (1972), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) as the Mayor of New York City, The Happy Hooker (1975), Diary of the Dead (1976), Thieves (1977), Private Benjamin (1980) as Mr. Waxman, World War III (1982), Daniel (1983), Batman (1989) as Gotham City's Mayor Borg, and Used People (1992). John Simon in his review of Batman called Wallace "a perfect Ed Koch lookalike".[3]

On Broadway, he appeared in A Teaspoon Every Four Hours, Unlikely Heroes, The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild, Molly, Zalmen or The Madness of God, Some of My Best Friends, Grind and The Cemetery Club.

Personal life

As of 2016, Wallace lived in New York City with his wife Marilyn Chris[4] until his death on December 20, 2020. The couple have one child, Paul Wallace.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1971 Klute Nate Goldfarb Uncredited
1972 The Hot Rock Dr. Strauss
1974 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Al – the Mayor of New York City
1975 The Happy Hooker Henry Knowlton
1976 Diary of the Dead Lt. Gart
1977 Thieves Harry
Lou Grant Mr. Kelso Episode: Nazi
1978 The Eddie Capra Mysteries Episode: And the Sea Shall Give Up Her Dead
1980 The Associates Gerald McMartin Episode: The Censors
This Year's Blonde Samuel Goldwyn TV movie
Private Benjamin Mr. Waxman
1982 World War III Dr. Jules Farber Miniseries
1983 Daniel The Mayor
1985 War and Love Oskar Kohn
1989 Batman Mayor Borg
1992 Used People Uncle Harry

References
  1. "Lee Wallace". Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  2. "Lee Wallace, Actor in 'The Taking of Pelham One Two Three' and 'Batman,' Dies at 90". The Hollywood Reporter. December 25, 2020.
  3. Simon, John (2005). John Simon on Film: Criticism 1982–2001. Applause Books. p. 224.
  4. "Fall in love with these Queens power couples". QNS. February 10, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
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