Anthony Perkins 1932to –1992
Hollywood actor, best known for his role in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. He started his career being cast as the teen heartthrob and singing pop songs. By 1960, he was starring as the romantic lead opposite actresses such as Sophia Loren and Jane Fonda; but that same year saw him in his most memorable role as Norman Bates. From then on he had trouble being cast as anything but the villain. Perkins was aware of, and unhappy with, his homosexuality from a young age. Though he kept it a closely guarded secret, he had a number of affairs with men before and during his marriage. His insecurity with himself often came through in his acting, whether as the shy and brooding romantic lead, or the nervous and sympathetic psychopath. He was diagnosed with HIV in 1990 and died two years later.