When you know what an actor has, you can reach in and arouse it. If you don't know what he has, you don't know what the hell is going on.

His second marriage to the actress Barbara Loden lasted from 1969 until her death in 1980 and produced one son. Bright as they come intrepid and with that thing all women secretly respect: complete confidence in his sexual powers confidence so great that he never had to advertise himself even by hints. His father became a rug merchant after emigrating to the United States and expected that his son would go into the family business.

Noted for drawing out the best dramatic performances from his actors he directed 21 actors to Oscar nominations resulting in nine wins. "A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) an adaptation of the stage play which he had also directed received 12 Oscar nominations winning 4 and was Marlon Brando's breakthrough role. He became "one of the consummate filmmakers of the 20th century" after directing a string of successful films including A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) On the Waterfront (1954) and East of Eden (1955).