Who Played Me in "Psycho"? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Anthony Perkins

Perkins, born on April 4th, 1932 in New York City, was cast as Norman Bates. Norman was an awkward person who Marion encountered when she went off the road and stayed at his motel, the Bates Motel. Norman made sandwiches for Marion and himself on her night there since she did not want to drive out to a diner about ten miles away. During their talk, Norman revealed that his mother in the nearby house was ill but he disliked Marion's suggestion that she be institutionalized. Marion simply stated that she meant no harm so Norman replied that people seemed to always mean well with their suggestions.

It was revealed at the end of the film that Norman not only killed his mother but had a dual personality: himself and his mother. Perkins starred in the films, "Green Mansions", "On the Beach" and "Tall Story".

The American Film Institute ranked Norman Bates as the second most iconic movie villain/villainess, just behind Hannibal Lecter of "The Silence of the Lambs". In 1957, Perkins was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for "Friendly Persuasion" but lost to Anthony Quinn of "Lust for Life".

Other Oscar nominees for Best Supporting Actor that year were Mickey Rooney for "The Bold and the Brave", Don Murray for "Bus Stop" and Robert Stack for "Written on the Wind".

Answer: Janet Leigh

Leigh, a native of Merced, California, got the part of Marion Crane. Marion was in the opening scene where she spent some time with her boyfriend, Sam. Marion mentioned that she was taking an extended lunch hour in order to spend time with him. Midway through the film, Marion fled Phoenix after she had committed a crime.

She wound up at the Bates Motel and spoke for a little bit with the owner, Norman Bates. Marion used the alias "Marie Samuels" when she signed the hotel's registry. Norman told Marion that she would be in cabin one and stated that it was the closest one to the office in case she needed anything.

In Marion's final scene (and one of cinema's most memorable and iconic scenes), she was taking a shower when someone entered the bathroom and killed her with a knife. Leigh was seen in the movies, "Bye Bye Birdie", "Pepe" and "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962).

In 1961, Leigh was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Marion Crane in "Psycho" but lost to Shirley Jones for "Elmer Gantry".

Other nominees for Best Supporting Actress that year were Glynis Johns for "The Sundowners", Mary Ure for "Sons and Lovers" and Shirley Knight for "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs".

Answer: John Gavin

Gavin, born in 1931 in Los Angeles, California, played the role of Sam Loomis. Sam suggested to Marion in the opening scene that she call her boss and tell him she was taking the rest of the day off so he could spend time with her but Marion refused to do such. Midway through the film, Sam was working at a store when Lila paid him a visit and said that Marion had not been heard from in a couple days.

In one scene, Sam and Lila went to the Bates Motel and spoke to Norman. Sam told Norman that he was on a trip and much of the trip was business so he wanted a receipt. Sam badgered Norman to see if he would reveal anything about Marion but Norman used an object to knock out Sam. Gavin portrayed characters in the movies "Thoroughly Modern Millie", "Spartacus" and "Jennifer".

Answer: Vera Miles

Miles, who hails from Boise City, Oklahoma, portrayed Lila Crane. Lila was Marion's sister and became concerned after she learned that Marion had embezzled. In her first scene, she spoke to Sam and wondered if he had anything to do with Marion's crime. Both of them eventually went to the Bates Motel and Sam decided to distract Norman while Lila went to the nearby home. Lila searched the home and noticed Norman running up to the door so she hid.

She eventually found her way to a dank fruit cellar.

While there, she was horrified to see Mrs. Bates' rotted corpse. Shortly afterwards, Norman came in donning a wig and dress as well as carrying a knife but Sam subdued him before he could harm Lila. Miles starred in the films "Into the Night", "The Initiation" and "A Tiger Walks".

Answer: Martin Balsam

Balsam, born on November 4th, 1919 in The Bronx, New York, was cast as Milton Arbogast. Arbogast was a private investigator that was hired to figure out what happened with the money that Marion embezzled. Arbogast went to the Bates Motel and called around for Norman Bates and Norman eventually spoke with him.

While in the Bates Motel office, Arbogast provided Norman a photo of Marion and Norman initially said he had not seen her but, after looking again, he did say she was just at the motel a few days ago and commented that it was not a good photo. Norman eventually mentioned his mother and Arbogast asked if he could speak to her but Norman refused to let him do it. Arbogast at one point managed to get inside the Bates home.

As he got to the top of the stairs, a mysterious person came out and started to stab him. Arbogast fell down the stairs and the person went down the stairs to stab Arbogast a few more times so he would die. Balsam appeared in the movies "12 Angry Men", "All the President's Men" and "The Silence of the Hams". Balsam won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the film, "A Thousand Clowns", in 1966.

Other Oscar nominees for Best Supporting Actor that year were Frank Finlay for "Othello", Ian Bannen for "The Flight of the Phoenix", Michael Dunn for "Ship of Fools" and Tom Courtenay for "Doctor Zhivago".

Answer: Mort Mills

Mills, a native of New York City, had the small part of the highway patrol officer. The officer saw Marion sleeping in her car so he knocked on her car window. Marion awake and was startled but rolled down her window so the officer could talk to her. She explained to him that she was exhausted and almost had an accident from sleepiness so she pulled over and slept in her car all night.

The officer told her she should have checked into a nearby motel just to be safe. Marion asked the officer if she was free to go but the officer wanted to see her driver's license. Marion gave the license to him and it was then that the officer let her go. Marion drove and the officer followed her for a bit before getting off at an exit on the freeway. Mills landed parts in the films "Touch of Evil", "Tom Curtain" and "Bullet for a Badman".

Answer: John Anderson

Anderson, born in 1922 in Clayton, Illinois, had the minor role of California Charlie. Marion decided to get a new car so she pulled into a car lot and spoke with California Charlie. California Charlie told her that he was in no mood for trouble because there was an old saying that the first customer of the day was always the most trouble. Marion asked California Charlie if she could trade her car in for another and California Charlie said that was fine. California Charlie was surprised at how quickly Marion wanted to get the car and drive off the lot and mentioned that this was the first time he saw the customer pressure the car salesman. Marion provided California Charlie with paperwork on her car and he said that, between her car and some cash, she could get a new car. Marion accepted California Charlie's offer. Anderson had roles in the movies "The Satan Bug", "Eight Men Out" and "Ride the High Country".

Answer: Frank Albertson

Albertson, who hailed from Fergus Falls, Minnesota, played Tom Cassidy. Tom was a wealthy person and he was happy that his daughter would be getting married in a few days. He brought in $40,000 in cash and Marion's boss did not want that amount of cash lying around in the office so he asked her to put it in the safe deposit box at the bank. Marion asked her boss if she could go home after going to the bank so Tom told her she could go home.

While Marion was driving, she thought about what some people back in Phoenix were saying about her and she "heard" Tom Cassidy say he would do anything it took to get his $40,000 back. Albertson starred in the films "It's a Wonderful Life", "Bachelor Mother" and "The Enemy Below".

Answer: Simon Oakland

Oakland, born on August 28th, 1915 in New York City, portrayed the character of Dr. Fred Richman. Dr. Richman was a psychiatrist and he spoke to Norman Bates after Norman was arrested. Dr. Richman explained that Norman Bates no longer existed and that he only half existed for many years because he had a dual personality: one personality was Norman Bates while the other was Norman's mother. Dr. Richman said that Norman's mother was overbearing but Norman was very close to his mother and eventually she got romantically involved with a new man after Norman's father died. Dr. Richman stated that Norman thought his mother forgot about him when she got with this new man and, in a rage, Norman killed them both. Dr. Richman then said that Norman was so shocked at what he did that he developed his mother's personality as a way to try and cover up his crime. Oakland made appearances in the movies "West Side Story", "Bullitt" and "Follow That Dream".

Answer: Vaughn Taylor

Taylor, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, had the small part of George Lowery. George ran a real estate office and he was Marion's boss. George was shocked when one of his clients, Tom Cassidy, came in with $40,000 in cash and George mentioned that a cash transaction of that size was rather irregular.

While Marion was out driving, George saw her and he was shocked because he recalled Marion said she would go home and sleep after she put Tom Cassidy's money in the safe deposit box at the bank. As Marion thought of what certain people in Phoenix would say about her, she "heard" George mention that Marion had worked for him for ten years and thus he had no reason to believe she would embezzle money. Taylor played characters in the films "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", "The Ballad of Cable Hogue" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown".