Jack Elam (1920–2003) |
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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. ...
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Born:in Miami, Arizona, USADied:(age 82) in Ashland, Oregon, USA |
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Known For
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Filmography
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Actor (206 credits)
Actor (206 credits)
1994-1995
Lonesome Dove: The Series
(TV Series)
Curtis
Curtis
- The List
(1995)
... Curtis
- High Lonesome
(1994)
... Curtis
1992
Home Improvement
(TV Series)
Hick Peterson
Hick Peterson
- Birds of a Feather Flock to Taylor
(1992)
... Hick Peterson
1986-1987
Easy Street
(TV Series)
Uncle Alvin 'Bully' Stevenson
Uncle Alvin 'Bully' Stevenson
- Spring Fever
(1987)
... Uncle Alvin 'Bully' Stevenson
- Maid in Italy
(1987)
... Uncle Alvin 'Bully' Stevenson
- The Country Club
(1987)
... Uncle Alvin 'Bully' Stevenson
- Our Kind of People
(1987)
... Uncle Alvin 'Bully' Stevenson
- Too Many Cooks
(1987)
... Uncle Alvin 'Bully' Stevenson
1985
Webster
(TV Series)
Dusty
Dusty
- How the West Was Once: Part 2
(1985)
... Dusty
- How the West Was Once: Part 1
(1985)
... Dusty
1985
Detective in the House
(TV Series)
Nick Turner
Nick Turner
- Whatever Happened To...?
(1985)
... Nick Turner
1981
Father Murphy
(TV Series)
Eli McQuade
Eli McQuade
- By the Bear That Bit Me: Part 2
(1981)
... Eli McQuade
- By the Bear That Bit Me: Part 1
(1981)
... Eli McQuade
1978-1981
Fantasy Island
(TV Series)
Kid Corey / Hollis Buford Jr.
Kid Corey / Hollis Buford Jr.
- Devil and Mr. Roarke/Ziegfeld Girls/Kid Corey Rides Again
(1981)
... Kid Corey
- Vampire/The Lady and the Longhorn
(1978)
... Hollis Buford Jr.
1981
Here's Boomer
(TV Series)
Captain O'Connell
Captain O'Connell
- Boomer and the Musket Cove Treasure
(1981)
... Captain O'Connell
1978-1980
Eight Is Enough
(TV Series)
Joe Simons
Joe Simons
- The Return of Joe Simons
(1980)
... Joe Simons
- You Won't Have Nicholas to Kick Around Anymore: Part 2
(1978)
... Joe Simons
- You Won't Have Nicholas to Kick Around Anymore: Part 1
(1978)
... Joe Simons
1979
Struck by Lightning
(TV Series)
Frank
Frank
- The Maine Event
(1979)
... Frank
- Frank Meets the Press
(1979)
... Frank
- The Movie
(1979)
... Frank
- Toot, Toot, Tutor, Goodbye
(1979)
... Frank
- Struck by Lighting
(1979)
... Frank
1977-1979
ABC Weekend Specials
(TV Series)
Sam / Sam Howard
Sam / Sam Howard
- The Revenge of Red Chief
(1979)
... Sam
- The Ransom of Red Chief
(1977)
... Sam Howard
1979
The Sacketts
(TV Mini-Series)
Ira Bigelow
Ira Bigelow
- Part II
(1979)
... Ira Bigelow
- Part I
(1979)
... Ira Bigelow
1977
How the West Was Won
(TV Series)
Cully Madigan
Cully Madigan
- Bowie John Christie
(1977)
... Cully Madigan
- Erika
(1977)
... Cully Madigan
1975-1976
Phyllis
(TV Series)
Van Horn
Van Horn
- Off the Bench
(1976)
... Van Horn
- The $17,623,419.53 Man
(1976)
... Van Horn
- The First Day
(1975)
... Van Horn
1974-1975
The Texas Wheelers
(TV Series)
Zack Wheeler
Zack Wheeler
- The Rebel
(1975)
... Zack Wheeler
- The Call
(1975)
... Zack Wheeler
- The Music Box
(1975)
... Zack Wheeler
- The Bookmobile
(1975)
... Zack Wheeler
- The Twister
(1974)
... Zack Wheeler
1969-1975
The Magical World of Disney
(TV Series)
Sheriff / Thompson
Sheriff / Thompson
- Wild Country: Part 2
(1975)
... Thompson
- Ride a Northbound Horse: Part 2
(1969)
... Sheriff
- Ride a Northbound Horse: Part 1
(1969)
... Sheriff
1959-1972
Gunsmoke
(TV Series)
Pierre Audubon / Titus Spangler / Lucas Murdoch / ...
Pierre Audubon / Titus Spangler / Lucas Murdoch / ...
- The River: Part 2
(1972)
... Pierre Audubon
- The River: Part 1
(1972)
... Pierre Audubon
- P.S. Murry Christmas
(1971)
... Titus Spangler
- Murdoch
(1971)
... Lucas Murdoch
- The Sisters
(1969)
... Pack Landers
1961-1970
Bonanza
(TV Series)
Honest John / Buford Buckalew / Dodie Hoad
Honest John / Buford Buckalew / Dodie Hoad
- Honest John
(1970)
... Honest John
- A Bride for Buford
(1967)
... Buford Buckalew
- The Spitfire
(1961)
... Dodie Hoad
1967
The Wild Wild West
(TV Series)
Zack Slade
Zack Slade
- The Night of Montezuma's Hordes
(1967)
... Zack Slade
1965
The Legend of Jesse James
(TV Series)
Deacon Smith
Deacon Smith
- Three Men from Now
(1965)
... Deacon Smith
1963-1964
Temple Houston
(TV Series)
George Taggart
George Taggart
- Miss Katherine
(1964)
... George Taggart
- The Town That Trespassed
(1964)
... George Taggart
- Do Unto Others, Then Gallop
(1964)
... George Taggart
- The Gun That Swept the West
(1964)
... George Taggart
- Last Full Moon
(1964)
... George Taggart
1962-1963
The Dakotas
(TV Series)
Deputy J.D. Smith
Deputy J.D. Smith
- A Nice Girl from Goliath
(1963)
... Deputy J.D. Smith
- Sanctuary at Crystal Springs
(1963)
... Deputy J.D. Smith
- Feud at Snake River
(1963)
... Deputy J.D. Smith
- The Chooser of the Slain
(1963)
... Deputy J.D. Smith
- Terror at Heart River
(1963)
... Deputy J.D. Smith
1961-1962
Laramie
(TV Series)
Parson Hawks / Charley Fox
Parson Hawks / Charley Fox
- Gun Duel
(1962)
... Parson Hawks
- The Tumbleweed Wagon
(1961)
... Charley Fox
1961-1962
Cheyenne
(TV Series)
Calhoun Durango / Deputy J.D. Smith / Count Nicholas Potosi
Calhoun Durango / Deputy J.D. Smith / Count Nicholas Potosi
- The Durango Brothers
(1962)
... Calhoun Durango
- A Man Called Ragan
(1962)
... Deputy J.D. Smith
- Massacre at Gunsight Pass
(1961)
... Count Nicholas Potosi
1960-1962
The Untouchables
(TV Series)
Jug Alverson / Stan Wilinski / Nick Bravo
Jug Alverson / Stan Wilinski / Nick Bravo
- Pressure
(1962)
... Jug Alverson
- Testimony of Evil
(1961)
... Stan Wilinski
- Syndicate Sanctuary
(1960)
... Nick Bravo
1958-1962
Lawman
(TV Series)
Paul Henry / Herm Forrest / Jake Wilson / ...
Paul Henry / Herm Forrest / Jake Wilson / ...
- Clootey Hutter
(1962)
... Paul Henry
- The Four
(1961)
... Herm Forrest
- Thirty Minutes
(1960)
... Jake Wilson
- The Senator
(1959)
... Spence - Assassin
- The Deputy
(1958)
... Flynn Hawks
1959-1962
Have Gun - Will Travel
(TV Series)
Arnold Shaffner / Joe Gage
Arnold Shaffner / Joe Gage
- One, Two, Three
(1962)
... Arnold Shaffner
- The Man Who Lost
(1959)
... Joe Gage
1962
Rawhide
(TV Series)
Turkey Creek Jack Johnson
Turkey Creek Jack Johnson
- The Pitchwagon
(1962)
... Turkey Creek Jack Johnson
1958-1961
Bronco
(TV Series)
Toothy Thompson / Dooley Lang
Toothy Thompson / Dooley Lang
- The Equalizer
(1961)
... Toothy Thompson
- The Besieged
(1958)
... Dooley Lang
1958-1961
The Rifleman
(TV Series)
Russell / Gates / Gus Smith / ...
Russell / Gates / Gus Smith / ...
- The Shattered Idol
(1961)
... Russell
- Knight Errant
(1961)
... Gates
- Shotgun Man
(1960)
... Gus Smith
- Tension
(1959)
... Gavin Martin
- Duel of Honor
(1958)
... Sim Groder
1960-1961
The Rebel
(TV Series)
Uncle Luce / Lawyer
Uncle Luce / Lawyer
- Helping Hand
(1961)
... Uncle Luce
- Angry Town
(1960)
... Lawyer
1961
Sugarfoot
(TV Series)
Toothy Thompson
Toothy Thompson
- Angel
(1961)
... Toothy Thompson
- Toothy Thompson
(1961)
... Toothy Thompson
1957-1961
Zane Grey Theater
(TV Series)
Dirk Ryan / Stage Driver Cass / Little Jimmy Lehigh / ...
Dirk Ryan / Stage Driver Cass / Little Jimmy Lehigh / ...
- Ambush
(1961)
... Dirk Ryan
- Deception
(1960)
... Stage Driver Cass
- Miss Jenny
(1960)
... Little Jimmy Lehigh
- Dangerous Orders
(1957)
... Hock Ellis
1958-1960
The Texan
(TV Series)
Dud Parsons / Luke Watson / Tug Swann
Dud Parsons / Luke Watson / Tug Swann
- Lady Tenderfoot
(1960)
... Dud Parsons
- South of the Border
(1959)
... Luke Watson
- The Easterner
(1958)
... Tug Swann
1958-1959
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
(TV Series)
Perk Butler / Danny Boy
Perk Butler / Danny Boy
- One Dead Cat
(1959)
... Perk Butler
- The Dark Horse
(1958)
... Danny Boy
1959
Mackenzie's Raiders
(TV Series)
Trooper Colin Grimes
Trooper Colin Grimes
- Desertion
(1959)
... Trooper Colin Grimes
1958
Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre
(TV Series)
Quirt Avery
Quirt Avery
- Tunnel Eight
(1958)
... Quirt Avery
1957-1958
The Restless Gun
(TV Series)
Tony Molinor / Link Jerrod
Tony Molinor / Link Jerrod
- Hornitas Town
(1958)
... Tony Molinor
- Trail to Sunset
(1957)
... Link Jerrod
1958
Zorro
(TV Series)
Gomez / Gomez, the coachman
Gomez / Gomez, the coachman
- Slaves of the Eagle
(1958)
... Gomez (uncredited)
- Garcia Stands Accused
(1958)
... Gomez (uncredited)
- Shadow of Doubt
(1958)
... Gomez, the coachman (uncredited)
1955
Frontier
(TV Series)
Father Matias / Ness Fowler
Father Matias / Ness Fowler
- Ferdinand Meyer's Army
(1955)
... Father Matias
- Cattle Drive to Casper
(1955)
... Ness Fowler
1954-1955
The Lone Ranger
(TV Series)
Jack Miles / Reno Lawrence
Jack Miles / Reno Lawrence
- The Sheriff's Wife
(1955)
... Jack Miles
- Outlaw's Trail
(1954)
... Reno Lawrence
1954
Stories of the Century
(TV Series)
Black Jack Ketchum
Black Jack Ketchum
- Black Jack Ketchum
(1954)
... Black Jack Ketchum
1953-1954
Schlitz Playhouse
(TV Series)
Halleck / Lee Dineen
Halleck / Lee Dineen
- Night Ride to Butte
(1954)
... Halleck
- Knave of Hearts
(1953)
... Lee Dineen
Show
Soundtrack (3 credits)
Soundtrack (3 credits)
Show
Thanks (1 credit)
Thanks (1 credit)
Show
Self (10 credits)
Self (10 credits)
Show
Archive footage (11 credits)
Archive footage (11 credits)
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Personal Details
Other Works:
Unsold pilot: Starred (as "Kid Sheleen") in a western pilot called "Cat Ballou", based on the film Cat Ballou (1965). See more »Height:
6' (1.83 m)
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Did You Know?
Personal Quote:
[Elam was not originally in the cast of "High Noon". After the movie concluded after the first cut, the filmmakers realized the climactic gunfight didn't work. They resumed production with Cooper and new cast member Elam] I knew him [Cooper] very well... They also had some extras in the bar. We went back to he jail cell and did a few shots of me in the cell with Cooper walking around and seeing ... See more »Trivia:
Was known to be skilful in all forms of gambling. Also accomplished enough at winning games played with people on sets. See more »Trademark:
Predominantly played mean, scheming henchmen in Westerns. See more »Star Sign:
ScorpioContribute to This Page
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