Anthony Perkins had a complex and fascinating personal life that included both challenges and joys, often as compelling as the roles he portrayed. Here are some key aspects of his life outside of Hollywood:
1. A Complicated Relationship with His Father
- Perkins was born in 1932 in New York City to a show business family; his father, Osgood Perkins, was a famous stage and film actor. Unfortunately, Osgood passed away when Anthony was just five years old. This loss deeply impacted him, leaving him with feelings of insecurity and a longing for male role models throughout his life.
2. Early Struggles with Identity and Self-Acceptance
- Growing up, Perkins struggled with his sexual orientation in a time when homosexuality was largely stigmatized and even criminalized. He had relationships with men, including with high-profile actors like Tab Hunter. This internal conflict became a source of stress, particularly with his rising fame and public attention.
3. A Late-in-Life Marriage
- Perkins didn’t marry until 1973 when he met photographer and actress Berry Berenson. They married within a year, and their relationship became one of the most stable parts of his life. Despite the
challenges they faced, including Perkins’s well-documented emotional complexities, the two were known for their strong bond and mutual devotion.
4. Fatherhood
- Perkins and Berenson had two sons, Oz and Elvis, and Perkins embraced fatherhood, finding it to be a rewarding and grounding experience. His older son, Oz Perkins, later became a film director and actor, while Elvis Perkins became a musician. Both sons have spoken about their father with warmth, noting his loving, if sometimes
enigmatic, nature.
5. Struggles with Depression and Therapy
- Perkins experienced recurring bouts of depression and anxiety throughout his life. He sought therapy and explored psychoanalysis in an effort to better understand himself. Ironically, his role in Psycho required him to portray a character with mental health struggles, a theme that touched on his own inner conflicts.
6. A Secret Battle with HIV/AIDS
- In the early 1990s, Perkins was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, though he kept his diagnosis a closely guarded secret, only revealing it to his family. He passed away in 1992 from AIDS-related pneumonia. In one of his final statements, Perkins spoke openly about the stigma surrounding AIDS, expressing sorrow over the suffering caused by fear and misunderstanding.
7. Legacy and Berry Berenson’s Tragic Death
- Tragically, Berry Berenson, Perkins’s wife, died in the 9/11 attacks while aboard American Airlines Flight 11. Her untimely passing compounded the sadness of Perkins’s early death, marking a tragic end for the family. His sons have kept his legacy alive, with Oz even directing a horror film, The Blackcoat's Daughter, which nods to his father's impact on the genre.
8. His Enduring Influence
- Despite personal challenges, Perkins’s vulnerability and openness in his performances left a lasting impact. His experience with mental health struggles informed his portrayals of complex characters, particularly his role in Psycho, allowing him to capture layers of human emotion that many fans and critics found compelling.
Anthony Perkins’s life was marked by love, loss, creative passion, and personal battles. His legacy continues to resonate in the worlds of film and theater, as well as in the lives of those he touched personally and professionally.
BJ🙈🙉😱