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Jack ElamAmerican film actor
Date of Birth: 13.11.1920
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Jack Elam
Jack Elam was an American film actor known for his roles in western and gangster films. He was born on November 13, 1920, in Miami, Arizona, USA. Elam's mother died when he was only four years old, and he was raised by his relatives in a less than friendly environment. He later moved back in with his father, older sister Mildred, and stepmother. As a child, Elam worked in the cotton fields and joined the Boy Scouts, where he unfortunately lost sight in his left eye in an accident. He attended Miami High School and Phoenix Union High School, graduating in the late 1930s.
After high school, Elam enrolled at Santa Monica Junior College in California and eventually started working as an accountant in Hollywood. One of his clients was the famous film producer Samuel Goldwyn. In 1949, Elam made his debut as a film actor in the exploitation film "She Shoulda Said No!". He then went on to primarily play negative characters in western and gangster films. In 1961, he portrayed the slightly deranged Avery in an episode of the TV series "The Twilight Zone" called "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?".
In 1963, Elam had the rare opportunity to play a "good guy," Federal Marshal J.D. Smith, in the western TV series "The Dakotas," which lasted only 19 episodes. He also played the egocentric friend of John Wayne's character in Howard Hawks' melodrama "Rio Lobo" in 1970. Elam began to transition into comedic roles after earning his first comedic role in the western film "Support Your Local Sheriff!" with James Garner.
Throughout his career, Elam appeared in various TV series and films, including "The Lone Ranger," "The A-Team," "The Waltons," "Dynasty," "Simon & Simon," "Mr. Lucky," "The Untouchables," "Rawhide," "The Mod Squad," "Tales of Wells Fargo," and "Death Valley Days." He also appeared in films such as "The Aurora Encounter" in 1986, where he played the character Charlie alongside Mickey Hayes, a boy with a rare genetic disorder called progeria. Elam maintained a close friendship with Hayes throughout his life.
Some of Elam's later films include "Uninvited," "The A-Team," "Suburban Commando," and TV movies such as "Bonanza: The Return," "Bonanza: Under Attack," and "Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?". In 1944, Elam was honored with induction into the Hall of Great Western Performers.
Jack Elam passed away on October 20, 2003, in Ashland, Oregon, due to heart failure. He was married twice and had two daughters, Jerry and Jasmine, and a son named Scott.
The Stages of Jack Elam's Acting Career:
Elam humorously referred to five stages of his acting career:- "Who is Jack Elam?"
- "I need Jack Elam."
- "I need someone who looks like Jack Elam."
- "I need a young Jack Elam."
- "Who is Jack Elam?"
