Jack Elam

Born

November 13, 1920

Died

October 20, 2003 (82 years old)

Known For

Acting

Place of Birth

Miami, Gila, Arizona, USA

IMDb

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

Once Upon a Time in the West
8.3

Once Upon a Time in the West

High Noon
7.7

High Noon

The Twilight Zone
8.4

The Twilight Zone

The Cannonball Run
6.1

The Cannonball Run

Home Improvement
7.4

Home Improvement

Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade

Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade

(archive footage)

7.3

2004

Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western

Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western

Self

0.0

1997

Bonanza: Under Attack

Bonanza: Under Attack

Buckshot

6.5

1995

Bonanza: The Return

Bonanza: The Return

Buckshot

6.5

1993

Uninvited

Uninvited

Grady

4.6

1993

Shadow Force

Shadow Force

Tommy

0.0

1992

Lucky Luke

Lucky Luke

Axel Ericson · (1 episode)

5.7

1992

Suburban Commando

Suburban Commando

Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell

4.7

1991

Home Improvement

Home Improvement

Hick Peterson · (1 episode)

7.4

1991

The Giant of Thunder Mountain

The Giant of Thunder Mountain

Hezekiah Crow

5.2

1990

Big Bad John

Big Bad John

Jake Calhoun

4.0

1990

Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?

Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?

Boone

3.0

1988

Paradise

Paradise

Skragg · (1 episode)

5.4

1988

Once Upon a Texas Train

Once Upon a Texas Train

Jason Fitch

5.4

1988

I Am Not a Freak

I Am Not a Freak

Self

5.0

1987

J.J. Starbuck

J.J. Starbuck

(1 episode)

5.0

1987

Hawken's Breed

Hawken's Breed

Tackett

3.5

1987

Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills

Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills

Squires

5.8

1986

Easy Street

Easy Street

(22 episodes)

5.7

1986

The Aurora Encounter

The Aurora Encounter

Charlie

4.3

1986

Detective in the House

(6 episodes)

5.0

1985

Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas

Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas

Scrooge

6.0

1984

Cannonball Run II

Cannonball Run II

Doc

5.4

1984

Lost

Lost

Mr. Newsom

4.8

1983

Sacred Ground

Sacred Ground

Lum Witcher

6.0

1983

Jinxed!

Jinxed!

Otto

4.5

1982

Skyward Christmas

Skyward Christmas

Clay Haller

0.0

1981

Simon & Simon

Simon & Simon

(1 episode)

6.7

1981

Father Murphy

Father Murphy

(2 episodes)

8.0

1981

Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.

Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.

Troscliar Boudreaux

4.5

1981

The Cannonball Run

The Cannonball Run

Doctor

6.1

1981

The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite

The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite

Seth Beaumont

3.0

1981

Struck by Lightning

Struck by Lightning

Frank · (10 episodes)

5.0

1979

The Villain

The Villain

Avery Simpson

5.7

1979

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again

Big Mac

6.4

1979

The Sacketts

The Sacketts

Ira Bigelow · (2 episodes)

7.7

1979

The Norseman

The Norseman

Death Dreamer

3.2

1978

Hot Lead & Cold Feet

Hot Lead & Cold Feet

Rattlesnake

5.9

1978

Lacy and the Mississippi Queen

Lacy and the Mississippi Queen

Willie Red Fire

1.0

1978

Black Beauty

Black Beauty

Jonas McBride · (5 episodes)

7.0

1978

Grayeagle

Grayeagle

Trapper Willis

5.6

1977

Eight Is Enough

Eight Is Enough

(3 episodes)

6.0

1977

Grizzly Adams

Grizzly Adams

(1 episode)

7.0

1977

How the West Was Won

How the West Was Won

Cully Madigan · (2 episodes)

6.9

1977

Pony Express Rider

Pony Express Rider

Crazy Charlie

5.0

1976

The Winds of Autumn

The Winds of Autumn

J. Pete Hankins

5.8

1976

The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe

The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe

Bitterroot

0.0

1976

Hawmps!

Hawmps!

Bad Jack Cutter

4.3

1976

Creature from Black Lake

Creature from Black Lake

Joe Canton

5.2

1976

Huckleberry Finn

Huckleberry Finn

King

6.0

1975

A Knife for the Ladies

A Knife for the Ladies

Jarrod (Sheriff)

4.9

1974

Sidekicks

Sidekicks

Boss

6.0

1974

Shootout in a One-Dog Town

Shootout in a One-Dog Town

Handy

0.0

1974

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

Alamosa Bill Kermit

7.2

1973

The Red Pony

The Red Pony

Granddad

0.0

1973

Kung Fu

Kung Fu

Marcus Taylor · (1 episode)

7.6

1972

The Brian Keith Show

The Brian Keith Show

(1 episode)

5.0

1972

The Daughters of Joshua Cabe

The Daughters of Joshua Cabe

Bitterroot

5.2

1972

The Last Escape of Billy the Kid

The Last Escape of Billy the Kid

Pat Garrett

0.0

1972

Hannie Caulder

Hannie Caulder

Frank Clemens

6.2

1971

The Last Rebel

The Last Rebel

Matt

2.0

1971

Nichols

Nichols

Marcus A.F. Baxter · (1 episode)

5.0

1971

Cat Ballou

Cat Ballou

Kid Sheleen

0.0

1971

Support Your Local Gunfighter

Support Your Local Gunfighter

Jug May

6.6

1971

Alias Smith and Jones

Alias Smith and Jones

(1 episode)

6.9

1971

The Wild Country

The Wild Country

Thompson

6.0

1970

Plimpton! Shoot-Out at Rio Lobo

Plimpton! Shoot-Out at Rio Lobo

Self

0.0

1970

Dirty Dingus Magee

Dirty Dingus Magee

John Wesley Hardin

4.7

1970

Rio Lobo

Rio Lobo

Phillips

6.4

1970

The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County

The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County

Kittrick

6.3

1970

The Over the Hill Gang

The Over the Hill Gang

Sheriff Clyde Barnes

5.6

1969

Support Your Local Sheriff!

Support Your Local Sheriff!

Jake

7.0

1969

Ride a Northbound Horse

Ride a Northbound Horse

Sheriff

0.0

1969

Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West

Frank's Gunman

8.3

1968

Sartana Does Not Forgive

Sartana Does Not Forgive

Slim Kovacs

6.1

1968

Lancer

Lancer

(1 episode)

4.7

1968

The Outcasts

The Outcasts

(1 episode)

5.3

1968

Never a Dull Moment

Never a Dull Moment

Ace Williams

6.2

1968

Firecreek

Firecreek

Norman

6.4

1968

The Last Challenge

The Last Challenge

Ernest Scarnes

6.3

1967

The High Chaparral

The High Chaparral

Macklin · (1 episode)

6.5

1967

Hondo

Hondo

(1 episode)

6.5

1967

The Guns of Will Sonnett

The Guns of Will Sonnett

Sam - Sheriff · (1 episode)

6.2

1967

Cimarron Strip

Cimarron Strip

(1 episode)

5.0

1967

The Way West

The Way West

Preacher Weatherby

6.0

1967

Tarzan

Tarzan

(1 episode)

6.7

1966

The Night of the Grizzly

The Night of the Grizzly

Hank

5.7

1966

The Rare Breed

The Rare Breed

Deke Simons

6.0

1966

F Troop

F Troop

(1 episode)

6.2

1965

The Legend of Jesse James

The Legend of Jesse James

Deacon Smith · (1 episode)

4.8

1965

Daniel Boone

Daniel Boone

Petch · (1 episode)

6.9

1964

4 for Texas

4 for Texas

Dobie

5.1

1963

Temple Houston

Temple Houston

George Taggart · (26 episodes)

5.7

1963

The Dakotas

The Dakotas

Deputy J.D. Smith · (19 episodes)

5.7

1963

The Virginian

The Virginian

Harve Yost · (1 episode)

6.5

1962

Pocketful of Miracles

Pocketful of Miracles

Cheesecake

7.3

1961

The Comancheros

The Comancheros

Horseface (Comanchero)

6.7

1961

Ben Casey

Ben Casey

(1 episode)

5.6

1961

Target: The Corruptors!

Target: The Corruptors!

(1 episode)

3.5

1961

The Last Sunset

The Last Sunset

Ed Hobbs

6.8

1961

Stagecoach West

Stagecoach West

Clell · (1 episode)

6.0

1960

Outlaws

Outlaws

(1 episode)

6.2

1960

National Velvet

National Velvet

Black Barr · (1 episode)

7.5

1960

The Girl in Lovers Lane

The Girl in Lovers Lane

Jesse

2.8

1960

The Slowest Gun in the West

The Slowest Gun in the West

Ike Dalton

2.0

1960

Edge of Eternity

Edge of Eternity

Bill Ward

6.6

1959

Mr. Lucky

Mr. Lucky

Phil Bricker · (1 episode)

6.4

1959

The Untouchables

The Untouchables

Jug Alverson · (1 episode)

7.9

1959

The Untouchables

The Untouchables

Nick Bravo · (1 episode)

7.9

1959

The Rebel

The Rebel

Uncle Luce · (1 episode)

5.1

1959

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

Avery · (1 episode)

8.4

1959

Bonanza

Bonanza

Dodie Hoad · (1 episode)

7.5

1959

Bonanza

Bonanza

Honest John · (1 episode)

7.5

1959

Bonanza

Bonanza

Buford Buckalew · (1 episode)

7.5

1959

Tightrope

Tightrope

(1 episode)

5.5

1959

Rawhide

Rawhide

Turkey Creek Jack Johnson · (1 episode)

7.2

1959

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

(1 episode)

5.8

1958

Lawman

Lawman

(3 episodes)

5.6

1958

Lawman

Lawman

Herm Forrest · (1 episode)

5.6

1958

Lawman

Lawman

Paul Henry · (1 episode)

5.6

1958

The Rifleman

The Rifleman

(5 episodes)

7.0

1958

The Texan

The Texan

(2 episodes)

5.0

1958

The Texan

The Texan

Luke Watson · (1 episode)

5.0

1958

Bronco

Bronco

(2 episodes)

5.2

1958

The Gun Runners

The Gun Runners

Arnold

6.0

1958

Baby Face Nelson

Baby Face Nelson

Fatso Nagel

5.6

1957

Zorro

Zorro

Gomez (uncredited) · (3 episodes)

7.5

1957

The Restless Gun

The Restless Gun

Tony Molinor · (1 episode)

3.7

1957

M Squad

M Squad

Luke Morgan · (1 episode)

5.2

1957

Sugarfoot

Sugarfoot

Toothy Thompson · (2 episodes)

4.8

1957

Have Gun, Will Travel

Have Gun, Will Travel

(1 episode)

7.4

1957

Have Gun, Will Travel

Have Gun, Will Travel

Arnold Shaffner · (1 episode)

7.4

1957

Dragoon Wells Massacre

Dragoon Wells Massacre

Tioga

6.9

1957

Night Passage

Night Passage

Shotgun

6.4

1957

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Danny Boy · (1 episode)

6.2

1957

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Perk Butler · (1 episode)

6.2

1957

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

Tom McLowery

7.0

1957

Lure of the Swamp

Lure of the Swamp

Henry Bliss

6.5

1957

Tales of Wells Fargo

Tales of Wells Fargo

Chris · (1 episode)

6.3

1957

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

Hock Ellis · (1 episode)

5.5

1956

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

Little Jimmy Lehigh · (1 episode)

5.5

1956

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

Stage Driver Cass · (1 episode)

5.5

1956

Thunder Over Arizona

Thunder Over Arizona

Slats Callahan

6.0

1956

Pardners

Pardners

Pete

6.7

1956

Jubal

Jubal

McCoy

6.8

1956

The Silent Partner

The Silent Partner

Shanks

6.0

1955

Artists and Models

Artists and Models

Ivan

6.7

1955

Kismet

Kismet

Hasan-Ben

5.0

1955

Screen Director's Playhouse

Screen Director's Playhouse

Shanks · (1 episode)

6.5

1955

Frontier

Frontier

Ness Fowler · (2 episodes)

5.0

1955

Cheyenne

Cheyenne

(2 episodes)

5.8

1955

Cheyenne

Cheyenne

Calhoun Durango · (1 episode)

5.8

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Dolph Quince · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Steed · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Clint Dodie · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Ben · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Hector · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Specter · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Sam Band · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Del Ordman · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Jim Barrett · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

William Prange · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Lucas Murdoch · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Titus Spangler · (1 episode)

6.6

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Pierre Audubon · (2 episodes)

6.6

1955

The Man from Laramie

The Man from Laramie

Chris Boldt

7.2

1955

Wichita

Wichita

Al

6.3

1955

Moonfleet

Moonfleet

Damen

6.5

1955

Kiss Me Deadly

Kiss Me Deadly

Charlie Max

7.2

1955

Man Without a Star

Man Without a Star

Knife Murderer (uncredited)

6.5

1955

Tarzan's Hidden Jungle

Tarzan's Hidden Jungle

Burger

4.9

1955

Vera Cruz

Vera Cruz

Tex

6.6

1954

Cattle Queen of Montana

Cattle Queen of Montana

Yost

5.6

1954

The Wonderful World of Disney

The Wonderful World of Disney

Sheriff · (2 episodes)

7.8

1954

Princess of the Nile

Princess of the Nile

Basra

7.1

1954

Jubilee Trail

Jubilee Trail

Whitey

4.8

1954

The Far Country

The Far Country

Frank Newberry

6.9

1954

Ride Clear of Diablo

Ride Clear of Diablo

Tim Lowerie

5.8

1954

Appointment in Honduras

Appointment in Honduras

Castro

5.7

1953

The Moonlighter

The Moonlighter

Slim

5.7

1953

Gun Belt

Gun Belt

Rusty Kolloway

6.3

1953

Ride, Vaquero!

Ride, Vaquero!

Barton

5.9

1953

Count the Hours!

Count the Hours!

Max Verne

5.5

1953

Kansas City Confidential

Kansas City Confidential

Pete Harris

7.1

1952

Mr. & Mrs. North

Mr. & Mrs. North

(1 episode)

4.3

1952

The Ring

The Ring

Harry Jackson

4.7

1952

Four Star Playhouse

Vic · (1 episode)

6.3

1952

My Man and I

My Man and I

Celestino Garcia

6.8

1952

Lure of the Wilderness

Lure of the Wilderness

Dave Longden

6.0

1952

High Noon

High Noon

Charlie - Drunk in Jail (uncredited)

7.7

1952

Montana Territory

Montana Territory

Gimp

0.0

1952

The Battle at Apache Pass

The Battle at Apache Pass

Mescal Jack

6.3

1952

Rancho Notorious

Rancho Notorious

Mort Geary

6.5

1952

Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers

Eddie

0.0

1952

The Bushwhackers

The Bushwhackers

Cree

5.1

1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Lee Dineen · (1 episode)

7.3

1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Halleck · (1 episode)

7.3

1951

Rawhide

Rawhide

Tevis

6.7

1951

Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise

The Trader

5.7

1951

American Guerrilla in the Philippines

American Guerrilla in the Philippines

The Speaker

5.5

1950

High Lonesome

High Lonesome

Smiling Man

5.1

1950

A Ticket to Tomahawk

A Ticket to Tomahawk

Fargo

5.8

1950

One Way Street

One Way Street

Arnie (uncredited)

5.2

1950

The Sundowners

The Sundowners

Earl Boyce

5.4

1950

Key to the City

Key to the City

Councilman (uncredited)

6.2

1950

The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger

Reno Lawrence · (1 episode)

6.7

1949

Wild Weed

Wild Weed

Raymond - Henchman

4.7

1949