E. G. Marshall (Everett Eugene Grunz or Everett Gunnar Marshall, sources vary), who was born June 18th, 1914 (or 1910, again, sources vary), and died on August 24th, 1998, was an American actor, known for his portrayal of the lawyer Lawrence Preston on the courtroom TV series The Defenders. His main film role was as juror number four on the 1957 courtroom drama 12 Angry Men. He was on stage from the '40s up until his death from lung cancer complications on August 24, 1998. Marshall had seven children from two marriages.
Little is known about his early life; even his name was shadowed up until his death, as no one really knew his real name, except for the initials, 'E.G', which he never fully disclosed to the public. Marshall has said that the acronym means "Everybody's Guess". He was born in Owatonna, Minnesota; her mother's name was Hazel Irene Cobb and Charles Grunz. Although we know Marshall mainly as a TV series actor, his career started at Broadway circa 1933 when he became interested in acting. However, records say that about at the same time, Marshall attended Carleton College and the University of Minnesota. On Broadway, Marshall starred in plays such as The Skin of Our Teeth; The Crucible; The Iceman Cometh; etc.
E.G. Marshall's first film role was a 1945 portrayal of a morgue worker in The House on 92nd Street. He had numerous film credits in his later career, including films like Call Northside 777, The Bachelor Party, The Left Hand of God, etc; however, he was mostly known for his works in television. Marshall made his television career with two big roles: he worked alongside Robert Reed in 1961s The Defenders, and further embellished his "serious man" role in The New Doctors in 1969. Both shows ran for four years.
After he stopped appearing at television (he still did some minor roles after the latter shows, though), E.G. Marshall went on to become the host of the radio drama The CBS Radio Mystery Theater; the radio drama ran from 1974 to 1982, when Marshall had to retire, mainly because of his ongoing health problems. The show was an interesting attempt to resuscitate carnivalist, Lovecraft-ish experiences and bring them each night on the radio; the show became increasingly popular as it offered each listener a vivid experience each night. The last time Marshall appeared on television was when he was in Chicago Hope for one season (1994-1995); he portrayed Dr. Arthur Thurmond.
Marshall was a truly unique person, and will be remembered not only because of the hassle around his name. The Hollywood prankster was known to mimic swear words when he didn't like something, but nobody could do a thing about it, as he didn't speak them out loud; furthermore, when filming with a doctor's mask, he often talked deliberate profanities when his lips couldn't be seen. However, Marshall's death in 1998 wasn't a prank, and he is now buried inside the Middle Patent Rural Cemetery in Bedford, NY.
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