Edmond O ' Brien Edmond O ' Brien ( September 10 , 1915 – May 9 , 1985 ) was an American actor who is perhaps best remembered for his role in " D . O . A . " ( 1950 ) . He played an Oscar - winning role in " The Barefoot Contessa " ( 1954 ) . His many other memorable films include " The Killers " , " White Heat " , " The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance " , " The Wild Bunch " , Julius Caesar , and the first film adaptation of George Orwell ' s " 1984 " ( 1956 ) . Career . O ' Brien was born was in New York , New York of English and Irish stock . " After majoring in drama at Columbia University , he made his first Broadway appearance at age 21 in Daughters of Atrus . " O ' Brien made his film debut in 1938 , and gradually built a career as a highly regarded supporting actor . During World War II , he served in the U . S . Army Air Forces and appeared in the Air Forces ' Broadway play and film " Winged Victory " . He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a harried publicity agent in " The Barefoot Contessa " ( 1954 ) and was also nominated for his role as an alcoholic U . S . senator in " Seven Days in May " ( 1964 ) . Prior to that , O ' Brien had an acclaimed role in 1950 ' s film noir drama " D . O . A . " as a poisoned man who sets out to find his own murderer before he dies . His other notable films include " The Killers " ( 1946 ) , " White Heat " ( 1949 ) , " The Girl Can ' t Help It " ( 1956 ) , " The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance " ( 1962 ) , " Birdman of Alcatraz " ( 1962 ) , " The Longest Day " ( 1962 ) , " Fantastic Voyage " ( 1966 ) , and " The Wild Bunch " ( 1969 ) . From 1950 to 1952 , O ' Brien starred in the radio drama " Yours Truly , Johnny Dollar " . He appeared extensively in television , including the 1957 live 90 - minute broadcast on " Playhouse 90 " of " The Comedian " , a drama written by Rod Serling and directed by John Frankenheimer in which Mickey Rooney portrays a television comedian while O ' Brien plays a writer driven to the brink of insanity . From 1959 to 1960 , O ' Brien portrayed the title role in the syndicated crime drama " Johnny Midnight " , the story of a New York City actor - turned - private detective . Two years after " Johnny Midnight " , he was cast as lawyer " Sam Benedict " . O ' Brien had roles on many television series , including an appearance on " " , " The Eleventh Hour " , " Breaking Point " , and " " . In the mid - 1960s , O ' Brien co - starred with Roger Mobley and Harvey Korman in the " Gallegher " episodes of NBC ' s " Walt Disney ' s Wonderful World of Color " . From 1963 to 1965 , he co - starred in the NBC legal drama " Sam Benedict " . Personal life . O ' Brien was divorced from actresses Nancy Kelly and Olga San Juan . San Juan was the mother of his three children , including television producer Bridget O ' Brien and actors Maria O ' Brien and Brendan O ' Brien . Death . O ' Brien died in Inglewood , California , of Alzheimer ' s disease and was interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City , California . For his contribution to the motion picture industry , Edmond O ' Brien has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1725 Vine Street , and a second star at 6523 Hollywood Blvd . for his contribution to the television industry .