Jack Elam
Acting
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
Acting185
movieBonanza: Under Attack
1995
Buckshot
movieBonanza: The Return
1993
Buckshot
movieUninvited
1993
Grady
tvLucky Luke
1992
Axel Ericson
movieSuburban Commando
1991
Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell
tvHome Improvement
1991
Hick Peterson
movieThe Giant of Thunder Mountain
1990
Hezekiah Crow
movieBig Bad John
1990
Jake Calhoun
tvParadise
1988
Skragg
movieOnce Upon a Texas Train
1988
Jason Fitch
movieHawken's Breed
1987
Tackett
movieLost
1983
Mr. Newsom
movieSacred Ground
1983
Lum Witcher
movieJinxed!
1982
Otto
movieSkyward Christmas
1981
Clay Haller
movieSoggy Bottom, U.S.A.
1981
Troscliar Boudreaux
movieThe Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite
1981
Seth Beaumont
movieThe Villain
1979
Avery Simpson
tvThe Sacketts
1979
Ira Bigelow
movieThe Norseman
1978
Death Dreamer
movieHot Lead & Cold Feet
1978
Rattlesnake
movieLacy and the Mississippi Queen
1978
Willie Red Fire
tvBlack Beauty
1978
Jonas McBride
movieGrayeagle
1977
Trapper Willis
tvHow the West Was Won
1977
Cully Madigan
moviePony Express Rider
1976
Crazy Charlie
movieThe Winds of Autumn
1976
J. Pete Hankins
movieHawmps!
1976
Bad Jack Cutter
movieCreature from Black Lake
1976
Joe Canton
movieA Knife for the Ladies
1974
Jarrod (Sheriff)
moviePat Garrett & Billy the Kid
1973
Alamosa Bill Kermit
movieThe Red Pony
1973
Granddad
tvKung Fu
1972
Marcus Taylor
movieThe Daughters of Joshua Cabe
1972
Bitterroot
movieThe Last Escape of Billy the Kid
1972
Pat Garrett
movieHannie Caulder
1971
Frank Clemens
tvNichols
1971
Marcus A.F. Baxter
movieCat Ballou
1971
Kid Sheleen
movieThe Wild Country
1970
Thompson
movieDirty Dingus Magee
1970
John Wesley Hardin
movieRio Lobo
1970
Phillips
movieThe Over the Hill Gang
1969
Sheriff Clyde Barnes
movieSupport Your Local Sheriff!
1969
Jake / Danny Boy / Perk Butler
movieOnce Upon a Time in the West
1968
Frank's Gunman
movieSartana Does Not Forgive
1968
Slim Kovacs
movieNever a Dull Moment
1968
Ace Williams
movieFirecreek
1968
Norman
tvThe High Chaparral
1967
Macklin
tvThe Guns of Will Sonnett
1967
Sam - Sheriff
movieThe Last Challenge
1967
Ernest Scarnes
movieThe Way West
1967
Preacher Weatherby
movieThe Rare Breed
1966
Deke Simons
tvThe Wild Wild West
1965
Zack Slade
tvThe Legend of Jesse James
1965
Deacon Smith
tvDaniel Boone
1964
Petch
movie4 for Texas
1963
Dobie
tvTemple Houston
1963
George Taggart
tvThe Dakotas
1963
Deputy J.D. Smith
tvThe Virginian
1962
Harve Yost
moviePocketful of Miracles
1961
Cheesecake
movieThe Comancheros
1961
Horseface (Comanchero)
movieThe Last Sunset
1961
Ed Hobbs
tvGunslinger
1961
Clint Gannet
tvNational Velvet
1960
Black Barr
movieThe Slowest Gun in the West
1960
Ike Dalton
movieEdge of Eternity
1959
Bill Ward
tvMr. Lucky
1959
Phil Bricker
tvThe Untouchables
1959
Jug Alverson / Nick Bravo
tvThe Rebel
1959
Uncle Luce
tvLaramie
1959
Parson Hawks
tvBonanza
1959
Dodie Hoad / Honest John / Buford Buckalew
tvRawhide
1959
Turkey Creek Jack Johnson
tvLawman
1958
Herm Forrest / Paul Henry
tvThe Rifleman
1958
Sim Groder / Russell
tvThe Texan
1958
Luke Watson
movieThe Gun Runners
1958
Arnold
movieBaby Face Nelson
1957
Fatso Nagel
tvZorro
1957
Gomez (uncredited)
tvThe Restless Gun
1957
Tony Molinor / Link Jerrod
tvM Squad
1957
Luke Morgan
tvSugarfoot
1957
Toothy Thompson
tvHave Gun, Will Travel
1957
Arnold Shaffner
movieNight Passage
1957
Shotgun
movieGunfight at the O.K. Corral
1957
Tom McLowery
movieLure of the Swamp
1957
Henry Bliss
tvDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
Hock Ellis / Little Jimmy Lehigh / Stage Driver Cass
movieThunder Over Arizona
1956
Slats Callahan
movieJubal
1956
McCoy
movieKismet
1955
Hasan-Ben
tvFrontier
1955
Ness Fowler
tvCheyenne
1955
Calhoun Durango / Count Nicholas Potosi
tvGunsmoke
1955
Dolph Quince / Clint Dodie / Steed / Ben / Hector / Specter / Del Ordman / Sam Band / Jim Barrett / William Prange / Lucas Murdoch / Titus Spangler / Pierre Audubon
movieThe Man from Laramie
1955
Chris Boldt
movieMoonfleet
1955
Damen
movieKiss Me Deadly
1955
Charlie Max
movieMan Without a Star
1955
Knife Murderer (uncredited)
movieJubilee Trail
1954
Whitey
movieThe Far Country
1954
Frank Newberry
movieRide Clear of Diablo
1954
Tim Lowerie
movieGun Belt
1953
Rusty Kolloway
movieRide, Vaquero!
1953
Barton
movieCount the Hours!
1953
Max Verne
movieKansas City Confidential
1952
Pete Harris
movieThe Ring
1952
Harry Jackson
movieMy Man and I
1952
Celestino Garcia
movieLure of the Wilderness
1952
Dave Longden
movieHigh Noon
1952
Charlie - Drunk in Jail (uncredited)
movieThe Battle at Apache Pass
1952
Mescal Jack
movieRancho Notorious
1952
Mort Geary
tvSchlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Lee Dineen / Halleck
movieRawhide
1951
Tevis
movieBird of Paradise
1951
The Trader
movieHigh Lonesome
1950
Smiling Man
movieOne Way Street
1950
Arnie (uncredited)
movieThe Sundowners
1950
Earl Boyce
movieKey to the City
1950
Councilman (uncredited)
tvThe Lone Ranger
1949
Reno Lawrence
movieWild Weed
1949
Raymond - Henchman