Jack Elam

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

HD

Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western

1997 ⭐ 7.0

HD

Bonanza: Under Attack

1995 ⭐ 6.7

HD

Bonanza: The Return

1993 ⭐ 6.5

HD

Shadow Force

1992 ⭐ 7.0

Career timeline

1997

Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western Notable

Self · 1997

⭐ 7.0

1995

Bonanza: Under Attack

Buckshot · 1995

⭐ 6.7

1993

Bonanza: The Return

Buckshot · 1993

⭐ 6.5

Uninvited

Grady · 1993

⭐ 4.4

1992

Shadow Force Notable

Tommy · 1992

⭐ 7.0

1991

Suburban Commando

Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell · 1991

⭐ 4.7

1990

The Giant of Thunder Mountain

Hezekiah Crow · 1990

⭐ 6.4

Big Bad John

Jake Calhoun · 1990

⭐ 5.0

1988

Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?

Boone · 1988

⭐ 4.6

Once Upon a Texas Train

Jason Fitch · 1988

⭐ 5.2

1987

I Am Not a Freak Notable

Self · 1987

⭐ 7.5

Hawken's Breed

Tackett · 1987

⭐ 4.0

1986

Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills

Squires · 1986

⭐ 6.6

The Aurora Encounter

Charlie · 1986

⭐ 5.0

1984

Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas Notable

Scrooge · 1984

⭐ 8.0

Cannonball Run II

Doc · 1984

⭐ 5.4

1983

Lost

Mr. Newsom · 1983

⭐ 5.1

Sacred Ground

Lum Witcher · 1983

⭐ 6.5

1982

Jinxed!

Otto · 1982

⭐ 4.6

1981

Skyward Christmas Notable

Clay Haller · 1981

⭐ 9.0

Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.

Troscliar Boudreaux · 1981

⭐ 5.1

The Cannonball Run

Doctor · 1981

⭐ 6.2

1979

The Villain

Avery Simpson · 1979

⭐ 5.7

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again

Big Mac · 1979

⭐ 6.5

1978

The Norseman

Death Dreamer · 1978

⭐ 3.4

Hot Lead & Cold Feet

Rattlesnake · 1978

⭐ 6.0

Lacy and the Mississippi Queen

Willie Red Fire · 1978

⭐ 4.0

1977

Grayeagle

Trapper Willis · 1977

⭐ 5.9

1976

Pony Express Rider

Crazy Charlie · 1976

⭐ 6.0

The Winds of Autumn

J. Pete Hankins · 1976

⭐ 6.0

The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe Notable

Bitterroot · 1976

⭐ 8.0

1974

A Knife for the Ladies

Jarrod (Sheriff) · 1974

⭐ 5.1

Sidekicks

Boss · 1974

⭐ 6.5

Shootout in a One-Dog Town Notable

Handy · 1974

⭐ 10.0

1973

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Notable

Alamosa Bill Kermit · 1973

⭐ 7.2

The Red Pony Notable

Granddad · 1973

⭐ 10.0

1972

The Daughters of Joshua Cabe

Bitterroot · 1972

⭐ 5.5

The Last Escape of Billy the Kid

Pat Garrett · 1972

Frequently appears with

James Garner

Self - Host

Tom Selleck

Self

Clint Eastwood

Self

Daniel Stern

Self

Sam Elliott

Self

Leonard Nimoy

Frank James

Ben Johnson

Bronc Evans

Richard Roundtree

Jacob

Dennis Farina

Charley Siringo

Full filmography

HD

Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western

1997 ⭐ 7.0

HD

Bonanza: Under Attack

1995 ⭐ 6.7

HD

Bonanza: The Return

1993 ⭐ 6.5

HD

Uninvited

1993 ⭐ 4.4

HD

Shadow Force

1992 ⭐ 7.0

HD

Suburban Commando

1991 ⭐ 4.7

HD

The Giant of Thunder Mountain

1990 ⭐ 6.4

HD

Big Bad John

1990 ⭐ 5.0

HD

Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?

1988 ⭐ 4.6

HD

Once Upon a Texas Train

1988 ⭐ 5.2

HD

I Am Not a Freak

1987 ⭐ 7.5

HD

Hawken's Breed

1987 ⭐ 4.0

HD

Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills

1986 ⭐ 6.6

HD

The Aurora Encounter

1986 ⭐ 5.0

HD

Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas

1984 ⭐ 8.0

HD

Cannonball Run II

1984 ⭐ 5.4

HD

Lost

1983 ⭐ 5.1

HD

Sacred Ground

1983 ⭐ 6.5

HD

Jinxed!

1982 ⭐ 4.6

HD

Skyward Christmas

1981 ⭐ 9.0