Almost all the novels of writer Raymond Chandler featuring private detective Philip Marlowe were made for cinema, television, and even radio. Thus, the character of Philip Marlowe was portrayed over the years by Dick Powell, Humphrey Bogart, Robert Montgomery, James Garner, Elliott Gould, Robert Mitchum and James Caan. Dick Powell, Philip Carey, Powers Boothe and Richard Denning played the private investigator for television.

Today, Philip Marlowe definitely belongs to the category of famous detectives, which is also because he was portrayed by Humphrey Bogart in the film noir The Big Sleep. The audience still links the name of Philip Marlowe to actor Humphrey Bogart today, even though he only played the private detective in one movie.

His portrayal of Philip Marlowe, with the now famous Bogarthut and the casual cigarette hanging from his lips, provided for a brilliant incarnation of Raymond Chandler’s character. Even though other well-known actors such as Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Elliott Gould and others would later play the role of Philip Marlowe, Humphrey Bogart's portrayal has been burned into the minds of the audience, and he furthermore managed to show the audience how a private detective was supposed to look in movies.

A 26-part crime series, in which Philip Carey played the role of Philip Marlowe was created in the US in the years 1959 and 1960. It then took about 20 years before the material was converted again for television. In the early 80’s, Powers Boothe played the main role in the series Philip Marlowe. Private Eye. After a total of five episodes of the eleven-part series had been broadcast in 1983, the series was cancelled. The remaining six episodes were aired until 1986.

Hollywood star Van Heflin, well-known for his roles full of character, played the private investigator in the 1947 NBC radio show The New Adventures of Philip Marlowe. From 1948 to 1951 the role was taken over by Gerald Mohr, among others, who also guest starred in Maverick, Perry Mason and Bonanza, and who played the part of Philip Marlowe on the CBS radio show The Adventures of Philip Marlowe!. Mohr also played the role of Mr. Fantastic in the animated film adaptation of the Marvel Comics The Fantastic Four from 1967 to 1968.

29 years later, Ed Bishop played the role of Philip Marlowe in a BBC radio show from 1977 to 1988. Bishop was, among othes, known for films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, You Only Live Twice and UFO.

Hermann Naber worked on the short stories and novels for the German radio between 1969 and 1990, whereby the role of Philip Marlowe was undertaken by Arnold Marquis, Hilmar Thate and Matthias Habich.