Most interviews and blurbs, like this German minibio, have claimed that Rod Steiger is originally from Long Island. However a recent US interview, which annoyingly forces you to click through one page per question, starts in Newark and eventually leads to discussions of Steiger's childhood, his first job after WWII, and his career.

Al Capone with his mouth full as usual. Rod Steiger got his first breaks in 50s New York area television productions. His anti-hero look made him the perfect Marty - a sweet, ordinary guy hiding a deep well of fear and anger. Even an early theatrical like Al Capone looks reminiscent of a tv show from that era, because the cast and crew were all drawn from that milieu.

People in The Window Some of Steiger's earliest performances have survived on video. In a bizarrely self-referential episode of Tales of Tomorrow called "The Window", the station picks up the sights and sounds of two lovers planning to bump off the woman's husband. A fake series entry and a fake commercial are both interrupted by the couple's arguments. (The floor manager and announcer even played themselves onstage, just like Biff on Letterman!) Steiger must've had the censors gnawing their nails down while he glued himself nose to knees up against his co-star and practically suffocated her into silence.

Credit: picpal.com