Jack Elam
November 13, 1920 (104 years old) in Miami, Gila, Arizona, USA
Colorful American character actor equally adept at vicious killers or grizzled sidekicks. As a child he worked in the cotton fields. He attended Santa Monica Junior College in California and subsequently became an accountant and, at one time, manager of the Bel Air Hotel. Elam got his first movie job by trading his accounting services for a role. In short time he became one of the most memorable supporting players in Hollywood, thanks not only to his near-demented screen persona but also to an out-of-kilter left eye, sightless from a childhood fight. He appeared with great aplomb in Westerns and gangster films alike, and in later years played to wonderful effect in comedic roles.
Known For
Credits
- 2004 ยทSam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegadeas (archive footage)
- 1997 ยทBig Guns Talk: The Story of the Westernas Self
- 1995 ยทBonanza: Under Attackas Buckshot
- 1993 ยทBonanza: The Returnas Buckshot
- 1993 ยทUninvitedas Grady
- 1992 ยทShadow Forceas Tommy
- 1992 ยทLucky Lukeas Axel Ericson
- 1991 ยทSuburban Commandoas Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell
- 1991 ยทHome Improvementas Hick Peterson
- 1990 ยทThe Giant of Thunder Mountainas Hezekiah Crow
- 1990 ยทBig Bad Johnas Jake Calhoun
- 1988 ยทWhere the Hell's That Gold?!!?as Boone
- 1988 ยทParadiseas Skragg
- 1988 ยทOnce Upon a Texas Trainas Jason Fitch
- 1987 ยทI Am Not a Freakas Self
- 1987 ยทJ.J. Starbuckas
- 1987 ยทHawken's Breedas Tackett
- 1986 ยทLouis L'Amour's Down the Long Hillsas Squires
- 1986 ยทEasy Streetas
- 1986 ยทThe Aurora Encounteras Charlie
- 1985 ยทDetective in the Houseas
- 1984 ยทScrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmasas Scrooge
- 1984 ยทCannonball Run IIas Doc
- 1983 ยทLostas Mr. Newsom
- 1983 ยทSacred Groundas Lum Witcher
- 1982 ยทJinxed!as Otto
- 1981 ยทSkyward Christmasas Clay Haller
- 1981 ยทSimon & Simonas
- 1981 ยทFather Murphyas
- 1981 ยทSoggy Bottom, U.S.A.as Troscliar Boudreaux
- 1981 ยทThe Cannonball Runas Doctor
- 1981 ยทThe Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamiteas Seth Beaumont
- 1979 ยทStruck by Lightningas Frank
- 1979 ยทThe Villainas Avery Simpson
- 1979 ยทThe Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Againas Big Mac
- 1979 ยทThe Sackettsas Ira Bigelow
- 1978 ยทThe Norsemanas Death Dreamer
- 1978 ยทHot Lead & Cold Feetas Rattlesnake
- 1978 ยทLacy and the Mississippi Queenas Willie Red Fire
- 1978 ยทBlack Beautyas Jonas McBride
- 1977 ยทGrayeagleas Trapper Willis
- 1977 ยทEight Is Enoughas
- 1977 ยทGrizzly Adamsas
- 1977 ยทHow the West Was Wonas Cully Madigan
- 1976 ยทPony Express Rideras Crazy Charlie
- 1976 ยทThe Winds of Autumnas J. Pete Hankins
- 1976 ยทThe New Daughters of Joshua Cabeas Bitterroot
- 1976 ยทHawmps!as Bad Jack Cutter
- 1976 ยทCreature from Black Lakeas Joe Canton
- 1975 ยทHuckleberry Finnas King
- 1974 ยทA Knife for the Ladiesas Jarrod (Sheriff)
- 1974 ยทSidekicksas Boss
- 1974 ยทShootout in a One-Dog Townas Handy
- 1973 ยทPat Garrett & Billy the Kidas Alamosa Bill Kermit
- 1973 ยทThe Red Ponyas Granddad
- 1972 ยทKung Fuas Marcus Taylor
- 1972 ยทThe Brian Keith Showas
- 1972 ยทThe Daughters of Joshua Cabeas Bitterroot
- 1972 ยทThe Last Escape of Billy the Kidas Pat Garrett
- 1971 ยทHannie Caulderas Frank Clemens
- 1971 ยทThe Last Rebelas Matt
- 1971 ยทNicholsas Marcus A.F. Baxter
- 1971 ยทCat Ballouas Kid Sheleen
- 1971 ยทSupport Your Local Gunfighteras Jug May
- 1971 ยทAlias Smith and Jonesas
- 1970 ยทThe Wild Countryas Thompson
- 1970 ยทPlimpton! Shoot-Out at Rio Loboas Self
- 1970 ยทDirty Dingus Mageeas John Wesley Hardin
- 1970 ยทRio Loboas Phillips
- 1970 ยทThe Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico Countyas Kittrick
- 1969 ยทThe Over the Hill Gangas Sheriff Clyde Barnes
- 1969 ยทSupport Your Local Sheriff!as Jake
- 1969 ยทRide a Northbound Horseas Sheriff
- 1968 ยทOnce Upon a Time in the Westas Frank's Gunman
- 1968 ยทSartana Does Not Forgiveas Slim Kovacs
- 1968 ยทLanceras
- 1968 ยทThe Outcastsas
- 1968 ยทNever a Dull Momentas Ace Williams
- 1968 ยทFirecreekas Norman
- 1967 ยทThe Last Challengeas Ernest Scarnes
- 1967 ยทThe High Chaparralas Macklin
- 1967 ยทThe Guns of Will Sonnettas
- 1967 ยทHondoas
- 1967 ยทCimarron Stripas
- 1967 ยทThe Way Westas Preacher Weatherby
- 1966 ยทTarzanas
- 1966 ยทThe Night of the Grizzlyas Hank
- 1966 ยทThe Rare Breedas Deke Simons
- 1965 ยทF Troopas
- 1965 ยทThe Legend of Jesse Jamesas Deacon Smith
- 1964 ยทDaniel Booneas Petch
- 1963 ยท4 for Texasas Dobie
- 1963 ยทTemple Houstonas George Taggart
- 1963 ยทThe Dakotasas
- 1962 ยทThe Virginianas Harve Yost
- 1961 ยทPocketful of Miraclesas Cheesecake
- 1961 ยทThe Comancherosas Horseface (Comanchero)
- 1961 ยทBen Caseyas
- 1961 ยทTarget: The Corruptors!as
- 1961 ยทThe Last Sunsetas Ed Hobbs
- 1960 ยทOutlawsas
- 1960 ยทNational Velvetas Black Barr
- 1960 ยทThe Girl in Lovers Laneas Jesse
- 1960 ยทThe Slowest Gun in the Westas Ike Dalton
- 1960 ยทMiss Jennyas
- 1959 ยทEdge of Eternityas Bill Ward
- 1959 ยทMr. Luckyas Phil Bricker
- 1959 ยทThe Untouchablesas Jug Alverson
- 1959 ยทThe Untouchablesas Nick Bravo
- 1959 ยทThe Rebelas Uncle Luce
- 1959 ยทThe Twilight Zoneas Avery
- 1959 ยทBonanzaas Dodie Hoad
- 1959 ยทBonanzaas Honest John
- 1959 ยทBonanzaas Buford Buckalew
- 1959 ยทTightropeas
- 1959 ยทRawhideas Turkey Creek Jack Johnson
- 1958 ยทWestinghouse Desilu Playhouseas
- 1958 ยทLawmanas
- 1958 ยทLawmanas Herm Forrest
- 1958 ยทThe Riflemanas
- 1958 ยทThe Texanas
- 1958 ยทThe Texanas Luke Watson
- 1958 ยทBroncoas
- 1958 ยทThe Gun Runnersas Arnold
- 1957 ยทBaby Face Nelsonas Fatso Nagel
- 1957 ยทZorroas Gomez (uncredited)
- 1957 ยทThe Restless Gunas Tony Molinor
- 1957 ยทM Squadas Luke Morgan
- 1957 ยทSugarfootas Toothy Thompson
- 1957 ยทHave Gun, Will Travelas
- 1957 ยทHave Gun, Will Travelas Arnold Shaffner
- 1957 ยทDragoon Wells Massacreas Tioga
- 1957 ยทNight Passageas Shotgun
- 1957 ยทRichard Diamond, Private Detectiveas Danny Boy
- 1957 ยทRichard Diamond, Private Detectiveas Perk Butler
- 1957 ยทGunfight at the O.K. Corralas Tom McLowery
- 1957 ยทLure of the Swampas Henry Bliss
- 1957 ยทTales of Wells Fargoas Chris
- 1956 ยทDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatreas Hock Ellis
- 1956 ยทDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatreas Little Jimmy Lehigh
- 1956 ยทDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatreas Stage Driver Cass
- 1956 ยทThunder Over Arizonaas Slats Callahan
- 1956 ยทPardnersas Pete
- 1956 ยทJubalas McCoy
- 1955 ยทThe Silent Partneras Shanks
- 1955 ยทArtists and Modelsas Ivan
- 1955 ยทKismetas Hasan-Ben
- 1955 ยทScreen Director's Playhouseas Shanks
- 1955 ยทFrontieras
- 1955 ยทCheyenneas
- 1955 ยทCheyenneas Calhoun Durango
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Dolph Quince
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Clint Dodie
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Steed
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Ben
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Hector
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Specter
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Del Ordman
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Sam Band
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Jim Barrett
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas William Prange
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Lucas Murdoch
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Titus Spangler
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Pierre Audubon
- 1955 ยทThe Man from Laramieas Chris Boldt
- 1955 ยทWichitaas Al
- 1955 ยทMoonfleetas Damen
- 1955 ยทKiss Me Deadlyas Charlie Max
- 1955 ยทMan Without a Staras Knife Murderer (uncredited)
- 1955 ยทTarzan's Hidden Jungleas Burger
- 1954 ยทVera Cruzas Tex
- 1954 ยทCattle Queen of Montanaas Yost
- 1954 ยทThe Wonderful World of Disneyas Sheriff
- 1954 ยทPrincess of the Nileas Basra
- 1954 ยทJubilee Trailas Whitey
- 1954 ยทThe Far Countryas Frank Newberry
- 1954 ยทRide Clear of Diabloas Tim Lowerie
- 1953 ยทAppointment in Hondurasas Castro
- 1953 ยทThe Moonlighteras Slim
- 1953 ยทGun Beltas Rusty Kolloway
- 1953 ยทRide, Vaquero!as Barton
- 1953 ยทCount the Hours!as Max Verne
- 1952 ยทKansas City Confidentialas Pete Harris
- 1952 ยทMr. & Mrs. Northas
- 1952 ยทThe Ringas Harry Jackson
- 1952 ยทFour Star Playhouseas Vic
- 1952 ยทMy Man and Ias Celestino Garcia
- 1952 ยทLure of the Wildernessas Dave Longden
- 1952 ยทHigh Noonas Charlie - Drunk in Jail (uncredited)
- 1952 ยทMontana Territoryas Gimp
- 1952 ยทThe Battle at Apache Passas Mescal Jack
- 1952 ยทRancho Notoriousas Mort Geary
- 1952 ยทFinders Keepersas Eddie
- 1951 ยทThe Bushwhackersas Cree
- 1951 ยทSchlitz Playhouse of Starsas Lee Dineen
- 1951 ยทSchlitz Playhouse of Starsas Halleck
- 1951 ยทRawhideas Tevis
- 1951 ยทBird of Paradiseas The Trader
- 1950 ยทAmerican Guerrilla in the Philippinesas The Speaker
- 1950 ยทHigh Lonesomeas Smiling Man
- 1950 ยทA Ticket to Tomahawkas Fargo
- 1950 ยทOne Way Streetas Arnie (uncredited)
- 1950 ยทThe Sundownersas Earl Boyce
- 1950 ยทKey to the Cityas Councilman (uncredited)
- 1949 ยทThe Lone Rangeras Reno Lawrence
- 1949 ยทWild Weedas Raymond - Henchman