Anthony Perkins was an American actor, filmmaker and singer. Perkins became famous for playing Norman Bates, the troubled proprietor of a roadside motel in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). The part brought lasting recognition but also overshadowed much of his other work.
Before Hitchcock’s film, Perkins had established himself as a promising young actor. His performance in Friendly Persuasion (1956) earned an Academy Award nomination, while the Golden Globes named him Most Promising Newcomer. His career continued on both sides of the Atlantic.
He appeared in Pretty Poison, Catch-22 and Murder on the Orient Express. In 1986, he directed Psycho III, returning once more to Norman Bates. He also recorded several albums, drawing on his trained baritone voice. He was married to photographer Berry Berenson. He died on September 12, aged 60, from pneumonia related to AIDS.
What’s the Anthony Perkins Net Worth?
Anthony Perkins net worth stood at $2.5 million when he died in 1992, according to Celebritynetworth. Adjusted for inflation, that would amount to roughly $6 million today.
Know About Anthony Perkins’ Childhood, Parents and Education
Anthony Perkins was born in Manhattan, New York City, on April 4, 1932. His parents were Osgood Perkins, a stage and screen actor, and Janet Esselstyn. His family traced its roots to John Perkins, who left England for Boston in 1630 during the Puritan migration to New England. Anthony saw little of his father during his early years. Acting kept Osgood away from home.
The family employed a French nanny named Jeanne, who cared for Anthony and taught him the language. He grew particularly attached to his mother. Their bond grew stronger after Osgood died suddenly in 1937. In 1942, the family settled in Boston. Anthony’s schoolwork suffered, so his mother sent him to Brooks School, outside the city.
She promised to bring him back if he improved his grades. He kept his side of the bargain and entered Browne & Nichols School the following year. During summer holidays, he worked with his mother at local theatre companies. After graduation, he enrolled at Rollins College in Florida before transferring to Columbia University.
From Broadway to Hollywood, How Anthony Perkins Built His Acting Career
Perkins built his reputation through a succession of stage and screen roles. He appeared with Jean Simmons and Spencer Tracy in The Actress (1953), then joined the Broadway production of Tea and Sympathy the following year. His work in Friendly Persuasion (1956) brought his first major recognition. The performance won him a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Paramount Pictures subsequently offered him a seven-year semi-exclusive contract. The studio’s first production with Perkins was Fear Strikes Out (1957), based on the life of baseball player Jimmy Piersall. His portrayal won critical approval. He also took parts in the Westerns The Lonely Man and The Tin Star. In 1959, he shared the screen with Audrey Hepburn in Green Mansions and appeared in On the Beach and Tall Story, Jane Fonda’s film debut.
How Psycho Made Anthony Perkins a Hollywood Icon
His career changed with Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). Perkins played Norman Bates and later returned for three sequels. He also bought his freedom from Paramount. Perkins settled in France in the early 1960s and took up work in European cinema. His performance in Goodbye Again earned him the Best Actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
He remained in Europe for several years before returning to the United States in 1968 to star in Pretty Poison. The film marked the beginning of another productive period. Perkins appeared in Catch-22 (1970), Play It as It Lays (1972), Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and Mahogany (1975).
He also returned to Norman Bates in three more Psycho films, released in 1983, 1986 and 1990. His later credits included Edge of Sanity, Daughter of Darkness, A Demon in My View and In the Deep Woods, which came out after his death.
His portrayal of Bates remains his most enduring legacy. Hollywood honoured him with two Walk of Fame stars, for film and television.
Anthony Perkins’ Marriage, Family and Final Years
In August 1973, Perkins married photographer Berinthia Berenson. Their first son, Oz, was born the following year and later entered the film industry as an actor and director. Their younger son, Elvis, arrived in 1976 and pursued a career in music. The marriage raised eyebrows among some acquaintances who knew of the rumours surrounding Perkins’ private life.
His relationships with men had long attracted attention. Between 1964 and 1971, he shared a lasting relationship with actor and dancer Grover Dale. Accounts of his life suggest that Perkins believed his sexuality prevented him from finding personal happiness. He sought conversion therapy and later pursued relationships with women.
His marriage to Berenson lasted until his death. His circle of friends also included composer Stephen Sondheim and filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock. While working on Psycho IV: The Beginning, Perkins was receiving medical care for facial palsy. A tabloid soon published a report claiming that he had HIV. He kept his AIDS diagnosis private for roughly two years and visited hospitals under false names to avoid public attention.
His wife and two sons underwent regular tests but remained free of the infection. Perkins died at his Los Angeles home on September 12, 1992. He was 60. AIDS-related pneumonia caused his death. Berenson’s life ended nine years later. On September 11, 2001, she boarded American Airlines Flight 11. Hijackers crashed the aircraft into the World Trade Center’s North Tower. She was 53.
Conclusion
Anthony Perkins’ career may have been defined by his attempts to outrun Norman Bates, but cinema didn’t let him check out of the Bates Motel. Outside of Psycho, he had a solid film career, critical acclaim and developed his skills as a filmmaker and singer. His $2.5 million fortune at the time of his death was due to a career that went far beyond one iconic horror role.
Perkins passed away in 1992 at the age of 60, and his legacy continues to captivate film audiences. His wife Berry was killed in the September 11 attacks 9 years later. Now decades later, Perkins remains one of Hollywood’s most memorable actors.
