Lee Grant began her acting career on stage as a child-artist and later earned fame in various stage productions. She reprised her role of the ‘shoplifter’ in the film adaption of the play ‘Detective Story’ (1949). This performance fetched her a ‘Golden Globe’ and ‘Academy Award’ nomination for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ and won her the ‘Best Actress Award’ at Cannes.
Grant was ‘Blacklisted’ for the next 12 years during which period she worked mostly on stage. Her only screen appearances came on the TV soap opera ‘Search for Tomorrow’ (1953-1954), the film-noir ‘Storm Fear’ (1955) and the drama film ‘Middle of the Night’ (1959).
After Grant’s name was cleared from ‘Blacklist,’ she starred in ‘The Balcony’ (1963), drama films ‘An Affair of the Skin’ (1963), ‘Terror in the City’ (1964) and the crime drama ‘The Fugitive’ (1964). Her work in the prime-time soap opera ‘Peyton Place’ (1965-1966) earned her the ‘Emmy’ for ‘Outstanding Supporting Actress,’ while her role in the mystery-drama film ‘In the Heat of the Night’ (1967) got her ‘Golden Globe’ nomination.
Thereafter, Grant featured in the drama film ‘Valley of the Dolls’ (1967), the comedy film ‘Buena Sera, Mrs. Campbell’ (1968), the drama film ‘The Big Bounce’ and the sci-fi film ‘Marooned’ (both 1969). Her performance in the legal series ‘Judd, for the Defense’ (1968) got her ‘Emmy’ nomination, while the comedy drama film ‘The Landlord’ (1970) brought in nominations for ’Academy Award’ and ‘Golden Globe.’
Grant received ‘Emmy’ nomination for the crime-drama TV series ‘Columbo’ (1971), while her starring role in the TV film ‘The Neon Ceiling’ (1971) won her ‘Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress.’ She also starred in the comedy film ‘Plaza Suit’ (1971). She was co-director/performer for ‘The Shape of the Things’ (1973) which fetched ‘Emmy’ nomination. She starred as the lead in the thriller film ‘The Internecine Project’ (1974).
Grant won the ‘Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress’ for her role as ‘Felicia’ in the major hit satirical-comedy drama film ‘Shampoo’ (1975), and ‘Academy Award’ and ‘Golden Globe’ nominations for the drama film ‘Voyage of the Damned’ (1976). Her title role in the sitcom ‘Fay’ (1975) also earned ‘Emmy’ nomination.
After participating in ‘AFI Directing Workshop,’ Grant directed a short film adaption of the play ‘The Stronger’ (1976). She appeared in the thriller-action ‘Airport 77’ (1977) and the supernatural horror film ‘Damien: Omen II’ (1978), sequel of ‘The Omen.’
Grant made her feature-film directorial debut with the drama film ‘Tell Me a Riddle’ (1980). She directed several documentaries dealing with social issues, especially women’s issues. Her documentary ‘Down & Out in America’ (1986) won her ‘Academy Award for Documentary Feature.’ Her TV film ‘Nobody’s Child’ (1986) made her the first woman director to win ‘The Director’s Guild of America Award.’
Grant directed several other films, including the TV film ‘Seasons of Heart’ (1994) and the biographical documentary TV series ‘Intimate Portrait’ (2000-2004). Her role as ‘Dora Cohn’ in the biographical TV film ‘Citizen Cohn’ (1992) brought her ‘Emmy’ nomination. She also appeared in the neo-noir mystery film ‘Mulholland Drive’ (2001). In 2020, she starred in the musical-drama ‘Killian & the Comeback Kids’ (2020).
Bill Gillespie, the bigoted police chief of Sparta, Mississippi, arrests African-American Philadelphia detective Virgil Tibbs for a businessman’s murder. After proving his credentials, Tibbs is reluctantly asked to assist the investigations. Facing risks, he delves deep into the case, but encounters difficulties from Gillespie on every step. As the two men learn to work together, Tibbs proves his mettle earning Gillespie’s respect.
A woman who identifies herself as Rita survives a murder attempt and a car crash on Mulholland Drive, but is left with amnesia. Aspiring actress Betty Elms finds Rita in her aunt's apartment and decides to help her regain her identity, but as they proceed with the investigation, the boundary between real and illusion gets blurred.
Detective Story is a crime drama film which tells the story of Detective Jim McLeod, who is on a mission to bring an abortionist named Karl Schneider to justice, as he is responsible for the death of many women. Meanwhile, Schneider’s lawyer informs the police that Jim has a personal reason for wanting to hunt down Karl.
A wealthy garment manufacturer, Jerry Kingsley, in his 60s strikes up a romance with twenty-four year old Betty, after the death of his wife. However, the relationship is denounced by Lillian, his daughter. It is also discouraged by his sister and dismissed by Betty's mother. Betty, too, starts having mixed feelings the moment Jerry mentions marriage. Will they walk down the aisle?
A troubled Vietnam veteran, Teddy, has his car breakdown near a roadside diner in Texas. He steps inside and subjects the diners to mental and physical torture.
Defending Your Life is a romantic comedy fantasy film which revolves around an advertising executive in Los Angeles, who dies in a car accident on his 39th birthday. He soon arrives in Judgment City, where he learns that based on the decisions he took in his life, he will be either reincarnated, or sent to the next phase of existence.
In order to inherit everything, the son of Satan, Damien, makes sure that he eliminates everyone who tries to reveal his true identity. Even the close relatives are not spared!
George Roundy is a hairdresser living in Beverly Hills, who spends a significant amount of time sleeping with his female clients. Although he wants to open his own salon, he doesn’t have enough financial resources for it. However, one of his clients Felicia tries to convince her wealthy husband to invest in his business.
After being offered a job as a Presidential Advisor, a former spy has no option but to dispose of those who knows about his true identity.
Adapted from a play of the same name, this Oscar-nominated film revolves around the Madame of a brothel who is asked to impersonate the missing queen during a country-wide revolution. Instead she offers three of her customers to play the General, the Bishop and the Chief Justice, all of whom are dead.
After fixing a broken television, three kids learn that it can predict the news for next day.
Alex Jurel is an idealistic high school teacher whose life turns upside down when he is sued by a former student, when it is revealed that an illiterate student had received a diploma. Things get even more complicated when the lawyer assigned to the case turns out to be one of his former students.
Based on a best-selling novel, this musical drama film revolves around three young women, Anne, Neely and Jennifer, who are in the show business. The film chronicles their lives starting from their rise to fame, to their downfall.
A group of art thieves hijack a Boeing 747 carrying a collection of priceless works of art. Due to circumstances, however, the plane hits an oil rig, after which it crashes into the sea, which leads the passengers and crew to fight for their survival.
A small-time thief, Jack Ryan, reaches Hawaii. He is hired by a district judge to take care of his properties. He teams up with Nancy, a beautiful mistress of a dishonest hotel tycoon, and plans a plot for a potential heist.
Based on the bestselling novel of same name, this comedy film revolves around the life of Alexander Portnoy, including his childhood, his relationship with his overbearing mother, his sexual fantasies, his problems with the opposite sex, as well as his obsession with his own religion.
The Swarm is a horror thriller film which tells the story of Brad Crane, a scientist who teams up with General Slater in order to stop a huge swarm of bees, that are spreading terror over American cities and killing countless people.
Dr Sullivan Travis is a wealthy gynecologist whose life gets complicated when all the important women close to him, start experiencing troubles that also start affecting him in ways he never expected.
A comedy-mystery film directed by Clive Donner, the movie follows the adventures of retired detective Charlie Chan, who is asked to help the police in solving a new series of murders. Even though the prime suspect in the killings is a lady known as the Dragon Queen, Chan is not convinced she is the murderer.
Lee Grant Awards
| Shampoo | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | 1976 |
| The Neon Ceiling | Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role | 1971 |
| Peyton Place | Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Drama | 1966 |
