Motion Picture Director. The son of Polish-born stage actor Baruch Lumet, he began his career as a performer on radio at the age of four and made his stage debut at the Yiddish Art Theatre one year later. Lumet initiated his association with Broadway in the play "Dead End" (1935 to 1937) and appeared in several other productions before attending Columbia University. He served with the US Army during World War II; Lumet was stationed in Burma and India where he was a radar repairman. Upon returning home, he formed an off-Broadway group for which he was director and directed summer stock. He advanced to TV, as he directed episodes of the programs "Danger", "You Are There", "The Alcoa Hour", "Kraft Theatre" and marked his film debut with the suspenseful "12 Angry Men" (1957, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination). This was followed by a string of memorable pictures, among them "The Pawnbroker" (1964), "Fail-Safe" (1964), "The Group" (1966), "The Anderson Tapes" (1971), "Serpico" (1973), "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974), "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975, receiving and Oscar nomination), "Network" (1977, earning an Oscar nomination), "Prince of the City" (1981, receiving an Academy Award nomination) and "The Verdict" (1982, earning an Oscar nomination). In addition, Lumet had Broadway directing efforts with "Caligula" (1960) and "Nowhere to Go But Up" (1962). He was a recipient of an honorary Oscar in 2005. He died of complications from lymphoma.
Motion Picture Director. The son of Polish-born stage actor Baruch Lumet, he began his career as a performer on radio at the age of four and made his stage debut at the Yiddish Art Theatre one year later. Lumet initiated his association with Broadway in the play "Dead End" (1935 to 1937) and appeared in several other productions before attending Columbia University. He served with the US Army during World War II; Lumet was stationed in Burma and India where he was a radar repairman. Upon returning home, he formed an off-Broadway group for which he was director and directed summer stock. He advanced to TV, as he directed episodes of the programs "Danger", "You Are There", "The Alcoa Hour", "Kraft Theatre" and marked his film debut with the suspenseful "12 Angry Men" (1957, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination). This was followed by a string of memorable pictures, among them "The Pawnbroker" (1964), "Fail-Safe" (1964), "The Group" (1966), "The Anderson Tapes" (1971), "Serpico" (1973), "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974), "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975, receiving and Oscar nomination), "Network" (1977, earning an Oscar nomination), "Prince of the City" (1981, receiving an Academy Award nomination) and "The Verdict" (1982, earning an Oscar nomination). In addition, Lumet had Broadway directing efforts with "Caligula" (1960) and "Nowhere to Go But Up" (1962). He was a recipient of an honorary Oscar in 2005. He died of complications from lymphoma.
Bio by: C.S.
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