A fine classic actor. Yes he did have a tendency to over-emote but when reigned in a bit he delivered some of the best work in Hollywood. "The Pawnbroker" was one of his finest.

Rod Steiger was underrated as an actor, which is a shame, since I view him as one of the greatest. He appeared in over 100 films, and died in 2002. Though he got an Oscar for Best Actor in In The Heat of the Night, he should have gotten one for his intensely powerful and finest performance in The Pawnbroker (1964), one of my favorite films--he unjustly lost the Oscar for Best Actor to Lee Marvin in "Cat Ballou," a comic performance. If you haven't seen The Pawnbroker, rent it. I don't think you'll be disappointed. But fair warning--it's a heavyweight movie that won't leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy. It's deeply affecting--the impact stayed with me for days.

Best known for his performance in The Heat of the Night.  Steiger was a highly versatile actor; IMO, his best work was as the intimidating patriarch in The Chosen.  How many actors can (convincingly) portray both a rural Southern Sheriff and a Hassidic Brooklyn Rabbi?

He is a giant. Remember "On the Waterfront," "Dr. Zhivago," "In the Heat of the Night," etc.?

His output was legendary. Steiger appeared in over 100 motion pictures. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Sheriff Bill Gillespie in In the Heat of the Night (1967) opposite Sidney Poitier.

He was nominated for the Academy Award for his roles in On the Waterfront (1954) and The Pawnbroker (1965).

Terrific as the hick sheriff in the classic film "In the Heat of the Night"

Spent most of his career over-acting.