Jack Elam
Acting
Born: 1920-11-13 in Miami, Gila, Arizona, USA
Biography
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
The Rifleman
Sim Groder
The Rifleman
Russell
Bonanza
Dodie Hoad
Bonanza
Honest John
Bonanza
Buford Buckalew
Lawman
Lawman
Herm Forrest
Lawman
Paul Henry
Home Improvement
Hick Peterson
The Twilight Zone
Avery
The Virginian
Harve Yost
Four Star Playhouse
Vic
Tales of Wells Fargo
Chris
The Wild Wild West
Zack Slade
Zorro
Gomez (uncredited)
Rawhide
Turkey Creek Jack Johnson
Simon & Simon
Cheyenne
Cheyenne
Calhoun Durango
Cheyenne
Count Nicholas Potosi
The Untouchables
Jug Alverson
The Untouchables
Nick Bravo
Have Gun, Will Travel
Have Gun, Will Travel
Arnold Shaffner
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Danny Boy
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Perk Butler
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Hock Ellis
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Little Jimmy Lehigh
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Stage Driver Cass
Daniel Boone
Petch
Gunsmoke
Dolph Quince
Gunsmoke
Clint Dodie
Gunsmoke
Steed
Gunsmoke
Ben
Gunsmoke
Hector
Gunsmoke
Specter
Gunsmoke
Del Ordman
Gunsmoke
Sam Band
Gunsmoke
Jim Barrett
Gunsmoke
William Prange