Jack Elam

Jack Elam

Acting
Born 1920-11-13 - Died 2003-10-20Miami, 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.

Movies (116)

Once Upon a Time in the West
8.3

Once Upon a Time in the West

1968Movie8.3
High Noon
7.7

High Noon

1952Movie7.7
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
7.2

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

1973Movie7.2
The Cannonball Run
6.1

The Cannonball Run

1981Movie6.1
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
7.0

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

1957Movie7.0
Hannie Caulder
6.2

Hannie Caulder

1971Movie6.2
Kansas City Confidential
7.0

Kansas City Confidential

1952Movie7.0
The Far Country
6.9

The Far Country

1954Movie6.9
Cannonball Run II
5.4

Cannonball Run II

1984Movie5.4
The Night of the Grizzly
5.9

The Night of the Grizzly

1966Movie5.9
Cattle Queen of Montana
5.7

Cattle Queen of Montana

1954Movie5.7
Jubal
6.9

Jubal

1956Movie6.9
Rio Lobo
6.5

Rio Lobo

1970Movie6.5
The Norseman
3.4

The Norseman

1978Movie3.4
The Villain
5.7

The Villain

1979Movie5.7
Pocketful of Miracles
7.3

Pocketful of Miracles

1961Movie7.3
Vera Cruz
6.7

Vera Cruz

1954Movie6.7
The Comancheros
6.7

The Comancheros

1961Movie6.7
Support Your Local Sheriff!
6.9

Support Your Local Sheriff!

1969Movie6.9
Kiss Me Deadly
7.2

Kiss Me Deadly

1955Movie7.2
The Wild Country
6.0

The Wild Country

1970Movie6.0
Suburban Commando
4.7

Suburban Commando

1991Movie4.7
Artists and Models
6.7

Artists and Models

1955Movie6.7
The Man from Laramie
7.2

The Man from Laramie

1955Movie7.2
The Way West
6.1

The Way West

1967Movie6.1
The Last Sunset
6.8

The Last Sunset

1961Movie6.8
Wichita
6.3

Wichita

1955Movie6.3
Pardners
6.7

Pardners

1956Movie6.7
Ride Clear of Diablo
6.1

Ride Clear of Diablo

1954Movie6.1
The Last Challenge
6.3

The Last Challenge

1967Movie6.3
Firecreek
6.2

Firecreek

1968Movie6.2
Count the Hours!
5.3

Count the Hours!

1953Movie5.3
Lacy and the Mississippi Queen
3.5

Lacy and the Mississippi Queen

1978Movie3.5
Night Passage
6.5

Night Passage

1957Movie6.5
Rancho Notorious
6.5

Rancho Notorious

1952Movie6.5
Ride, Vaquero!
6.1

Ride, Vaquero!

1953Movie6.1
4 for Texas
5.1

4 for Texas

1963Movie5.1
Cat Ballou
10.0

Cat Ballou

1971Movie10.0
The Gun Runners
6.1

The Gun Runners

1958Movie6.1
Man Without a Star
6.4

Man Without a Star

1955Movie6.4
The Rare Breed
6.2

The Rare Breed

1966Movie6.2
Baby Face Nelson
5.6

Baby Face Nelson

1957Movie5.6
Hot Lead & Cold Feet
5.9

Hot Lead & Cold Feet

1978Movie5.9
Moonfleet
6.5

Moonfleet

1955Movie6.5
Creature from Black Lake
5.2

Creature from Black Lake

1976Movie5.2
Edge of Eternity
6.7

Edge of Eternity

1959Movie6.7
Princess of the Nile
7.3

Princess of the Nile

1954Movie7.3
Support Your Local Gunfighter
6.6

Support Your Local Gunfighter

1971Movie6.6
Sartana Does Not Forgive
6.4

Sartana Does Not Forgive

1968Movie6.4
Kismet
5.6

Kismet

1955Movie5.6
Grayeagle
5.9

Grayeagle

1977Movie5.9
Jinxed!
4.5

Jinxed!

1982Movie4.5
Bonanza: Under Attack
6.7

Bonanza: Under Attack

1995Movie6.7
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
6.4

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again

1979Movie6.4
Rawhide
6.8

Rawhide

1951Movie6.8
Once Upon a Texas Train
5.2

Once Upon a Texas Train

1988Movie5.2
One Way Street
5.3

One Way Street

1950Movie5.3
Jubilee Trail
5.2

Jubilee Trail

1954Movie5.2
The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
6.8

The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County

1970Movie6.8
Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills
6.6

Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills

1986Movie6.6
Dragoon Wells Massacre
7.2

Dragoon Wells Massacre

1957Movie7.2
Shootout in a One-Dog Town
10.0

Shootout in a One-Dog Town

1974Movie10.0
The Daughters of Joshua Cabe
5.5

The Daughters of Joshua Cabe

1972Movie5.5
Wild Weed
4.8

Wild Weed

1949Movie4.8
Bird of Paradise
6.2

Bird of Paradise

1951Movie6.2
Dirty Dingus Magee
4.7

Dirty Dingus Magee

1970Movie4.7
Gun Belt
6.4

Gun Belt

1953Movie6.4
Key to the City
6.5

Key to the City

1950Movie6.5
Sidekicks
6.5

Sidekicks

1974Movie6.5
My Man and I
7.0

My Man and I

1952Movie7.0
The Over the Hill Gang
5.8

The Over the Hill Gang

1969Movie5.8
American Guerrilla in the Philippines
5.5

American Guerrilla in the Philippines

1950Movie5.5
The Battle at Apache Pass
6.6

The Battle at Apache Pass

1952Movie6.6
Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western
7.0

Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western

1997Movie7.0
Tarzan's Hidden Jungle
5.3

Tarzan's Hidden Jungle

1955Movie5.3
A Ticket to Tomahawk
6.0

A Ticket to Tomahawk

1950Movie6.0
Appointment in Honduras
5.9

Appointment in Honduras

1953Movie5.9
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe
8.0

The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe

1976Movie8.0
The Sundowners
5.2

The Sundowners

1950Movie5.2
Hawken's Breed
4.0

Hawken's Breed

1987Movie4.0
Never a Dull Moment
6.2

Never a Dull Moment

1968Movie6.2
The Red Pony
10.0

The Red Pony

1973Movie10.0
The Moonlighter
6.0

The Moonlighter

1953Movie6.0
The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite
3.5

The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite

1981Movie3.5
The Bushwhackers
5.9

The Bushwhackers

1951Movie5.9
High Lonesome
5.5

High Lonesome

1950Movie5.5
The Ring
5.1

The Ring

1952Movie5.1
Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.
5.1

Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.

1981Movie5.1
Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas
8.0

Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas

1984Movie8.0
Huckleberry Finn
6.2

Huckleberry Finn

1978Movie6.2
The Giant of Thunder Mountain
6.4

The Giant of Thunder Mountain

1990Movie6.4
Lure of the Wilderness
6.1

Lure of the Wilderness

1952Movie6.1
The Last Rebel
4.0

The Last Rebel

1971Movie4.0
Pony Express Rider
6.0

Pony Express Rider

1976Movie6.0
Sacred Ground
6.5

Sacred Ground

1983Movie6.5
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
4.6

Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?

1988Movie4.6
Bonanza: The Return
6.5

Bonanza: The Return

1993Movie6.5
Ride a Northbound Horse
10.0

Ride a Northbound Horse

1969Movie10.0
Big Bad John
5.0

Big Bad John

1990Movie5.0
Thunder Over Arizona
6.3

Thunder Over Arizona

1956Movie6.3
Lost
5.1

Lost

1983Movie5.1
I Am Not a Freak
7.5

I Am Not a Freak

1987Movie7.5
Hawmps!
5.8

Hawmps!

1976Movie5.8
The Slowest Gun in the West
4.5

The Slowest Gun in the West

1960Movie4.5
A Knife for the Ladies
5.0

A Knife for the Ladies

1974Movie5.0
Lure of the Swamp
7.0

Lure of the Swamp

1957Movie7.0
Montana Territory
7.0

Montana Territory

1952Movie7.0
Skyward Christmas
9.0

Skyward Christmas

1981Movie9.0
Finders Keepers
10.0

Finders Keepers

1952Movie10.0
Plimpton! Shoot-Out at Rio Lobo

Plimpton! Shoot-Out at Rio Lobo

1970Movie
The Aurora Encounter
5.0

The Aurora Encounter

1986Movie5.0
The Winds of Autumn
6.0

The Winds of Autumn

1976Movie6.0
Uninvited
4.4

Uninvited

1993Movie4.4
The Girl in Lovers Lane
3.2

The Girl in Lovers Lane

1960Movie3.2
Shadow Force
7.0

Shadow Force

1992Movie7.0
The Last Escape of Billy the Kid

The Last Escape of Billy the Kid

1972Movie

TV Shows (70)

Bonanza
7.5

Bonanza

1959Series7.5
The Rifleman
7.1

The Rifleman

1958Series7.1
Simon & Simon
6.7

Simon & Simon

1981Series6.7
The Wild Wild West
7.5

The Wild Wild West

1965Series7.5
Home Improvement
7.4

Home Improvement

1991Series7.4
The Twilight Zone
8.5

The Twilight Zone

1959Series8.5
The Virginian
6.5

The Virginian

1962Series6.5
Have Gun, Will Travel
7.3

Have Gun, Will Travel

1957Series7.3
Tales of Wells Fargo
7.2

Tales of Wells Fargo

1957Series7.2
The Untouchables
8.0

The Untouchables

1959Series8.0
Cheyenne
6.2

Cheyenne

1955Series6.2
Four Star Playhouse
6.8

Four Star Playhouse

1952Series6.8
Rawhide
7.2

Rawhide

1959Series7.2
Daniel Boone
7.0

Daniel Boone

1964Series7.0
The Lone Ranger
6.8

The Lone Ranger

1949Series6.8
Zorro
7.6

Zorro

1957Series7.6
Lawman
6.0

Lawman

1958Series6.0
Gunsmoke
6.7

Gunsmoke

1955Series6.7
Tarzan
6.9

Tarzan

1966Series6.9
The High Chaparral
6.8

The High Chaparral

1967Series6.8
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
6.2

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

1956Series6.2
Ben Casey
5.9

Ben Casey

1961Series5.9
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
6.8

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

1957Series6.8
The Rebel
5.1

The Rebel

1959Series5.1
Eight Is Enough
6.1

Eight Is Enough

1977Series6.1
Sugarfoot
5.1

Sugarfoot

1957Series5.1
Laramie
6.7

Laramie

1959Series6.7
The Texan
6.0

The Texan

1958Series6.0
Studio 57
7.5

Studio 57

1954Series7.5
Alias Smith and Jones
7.0

Alias Smith and Jones

1971Series7.0
Bronco
6.0

Bronco

1958Series6.0
The Guns of Will Sonnett
6.5

The Guns of Will Sonnett

1967Series6.5
Lancer
5.6

Lancer

1968Series5.6
Outlaws
6.7

Outlaws

1960Series6.7
M Squad
5.4

M Squad

1957Series5.4
Mr. Lucky
6.7

Mr. Lucky

1959Series6.7
How the West Was Won
7.0

How the West Was Won

1977Series7.0
F Troop
6.3

F Troop

1965Series6.3
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
6.3

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

1958Series6.3
Grizzly Adams
7.0

Grizzly Adams

1977Series7.0
Cimarron Strip
5.7

Cimarron Strip

1967Series5.7
Nichols
6.3

Nichols

1971Series6.3
The Restless Gun
4.4

The Restless Gun

1957Series4.4
Screen Director's Playhouse
7.0

Screen Director's Playhouse

1955Series7.0
Tightrope
6.3

Tightrope

1959Series6.3
Stagecoach West
6.7

Stagecoach West

1960Series6.7
National Velvet
8.6

National Velvet

1960Series8.6
The Wonderful World of Disney
7.9

The Wonderful World of Disney

1954Series7.9
$weepstake$

$weepstake$

1979Series
The Legend of Jesse James
5.8

The Legend of Jesse James

1965Series5.8
Mr. & Mrs. North
5.0

Mr. & Mrs. North

1952Series5.0
Hondo
6.9

Hondo

1967Series6.9
The Dakotas
6.5

The Dakotas

1963Series6.5
J.J. Starbuck
6.0

J.J. Starbuck

1987Series6.0
Father Murphy
8.1

Father Murphy

1981Series8.1
Easy Street
6.8

Easy Street

1986Series6.8
Lucky Luke
5.9

Lucky Luke

1992Series5.9
The Outcasts
6.5

The Outcasts

1968Series6.5
Frontier
7.5

Frontier

1955Series7.5
Temple Houston
6.0

Temple Houston

1963Series6.0
Gunslinger
6.3

Gunslinger

1961Series6.3
Target: The Corruptors!
5.7

Target: The Corruptors!

1961Series5.7
The Brian Keith Show
6.3

The Brian Keith Show

1972Series6.3
Paradise
6.0

Paradise

1988Series6.0
The Sacketts
7.6

The Sacketts

1979Series7.6
Struck by Lightning
6.5

Struck by Lightning

1979Series6.5
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

1951Series7.2
Black Beauty
7.0

Black Beauty

1978Series7.0
Detective in the House
6.5

Detective in the House

1985Series6.5
Kung Fu
7.7

Kung Fu

1972Series7.7