Jack Elam

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

211

Gender

Male

Birthday

1920-11-13

Day of death

2003-10-20 (82 years old)

Place of Birth

Miami, Gila, Arizona, USA

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

  • Bonanza

    Bonanza

  • Bonanza

    Bonanza

  • Bonanza

    Bonanza

  • Home Improvement

    Home Improvement

  • Four Star Playhouse

    Four Star Playhouse

  • The Twilight Zone

    The Twilight Zone

  • Have Gun, Will Travel

    Have Gun, Will Travel

  • Have Gun, Will Travel

    Have Gun, Will Travel

  • Cheyenne

    Cheyenne

  • Cheyenne

    Cheyenne

  • The Rifleman

    The Rifleman

  • The Rifleman

    The Rifleman

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

    Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

    Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

    Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

  • The Wild Wild West

    The Wild Wild West

  • Zorro

    Zorro

  • The Lone Ranger

    The Lone Ranger

  • The Untouchables

    The Untouchables

  • The Untouchables

    The Untouchables

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Daniel Boone

    Daniel Boone

  • Rawhide

    Rawhide

  • Simon & Simon

    Simon & Simon

  • The High Chaparral

    The High Chaparral

  • The Rebel

    The Rebel

  • Lawman

    Lawman

  • Lawman

    Lawman

  • Lawman

    Lawman

  • Ben Casey

    Ben Casey

  • Eight Is Enough

    Eight Is Enough

  • Laramie

    Laramie

  • Once Upon a Time in the West

    Once Upon a Time in the West

  • Tales of Wells Fargo

    Tales of Wells Fargo

  • The Texan

    The Texan

  • The Texan

    The Texan

  • Sugarfoot

    Sugarfoot

  • Alias Smith and Jones

    Alias Smith and Jones

  • How the West Was Won

    How the West Was Won

  • Tarzan

    Tarzan

  • The Guns of Will Sonnett

    The Guns of Will Sonnett

  • Lancer

    Lancer

  • Bronco

    Bronco

  • Sartana Does Not Forgive

    Sartana Does Not Forgive

  • Richard Diamond, Private Detective

    Richard Diamond, Private Detective

  • Richard Diamond, Private Detective

    Richard Diamond, Private Detective

  • High Noon

    High Noon

  • M Squad

    M Squad

  • F Troop

    F Troop

  • Vera Cruz

    Vera Cruz

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

    Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

  • Night Passage

    Night Passage

  • The Comancheros

    The Comancheros

  • Lucky Luke

    Lucky Luke

  • Sacred Ground

    Sacred Ground

  • Outlaws

    Outlaws

  • Cimarron Strip

    Cimarron Strip

  • Mr. Lucky

    Mr. Lucky

  • Jubal

    Jubal

  • A Knife for the Ladies

    A Knife for the Ladies

  • The Villain

    The Villain

  • Hondo

    Hondo

  • Montana Territory

    Montana Territory

  • The Way West

    The Way West

  • Shadow Force

    Shadow Force

  • The Restless Gun

    The Restless Gun

  • The Restless Gun

    The Restless Gun

  • Mr. & Mrs. North

    Mr. & Mrs. North

  • Cat Ballou

    Cat Ballou

  • Nichols

    Nichols

  • Screen Director's Playhouse

    Screen Director's Playhouse

  • The Last Escape of Billy the Kid

    The Last Escape of Billy the Kid

  • The Cannonball Run

    The Cannonball Run

  • Rio Lobo

    Rio Lobo

  • The Battle at Apache Pass

    The Battle at Apache Pass

  • Wichita

    Wichita

  • High Lonesome

    High Lonesome

  • Grizzly Adams

    Grizzly Adams

  • Support Your Local Sheriff!

    Support Your Local Sheriff!

  • Wild Weed

    Wild Weed

  • Jinxed!

    Jinxed!

  • Moonfleet

    Moonfleet

  • Tightrope

    Tightrope

  • American Guerrilla in the Philippines

    American Guerrilla in the Philippines

  • Jubilee Trail

    Jubilee Trail

  • The Rare Breed

    The Rare Breed

  • Stagecoach West

    Stagecoach West

  • Uninvited

    Uninvited

  • Cannonball Run II

    Cannonball Run II

  • The Bushwhackers

    The Bushwhackers

  • The Man from Laramie

    The Man from Laramie

  • The Sacketts

    The Sacketts

  • Target: The Corruptors!

    Target: The Corruptors!

  • The Norseman

    The Norseman

  • The Dakotas

    The Dakotas

  • The Last Sunset

    The Last Sunset

  • J.J. Starbuck

    J.J. Starbuck

  • Sidekicks

    Sidekicks

  • The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again

    The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again

  • Hawmps!

    Hawmps!

  • The Outcasts

    The Outcasts

  • Skyward Christmas

    Skyward Christmas

  • $weepstake$

    $weepstake$

  • The Moonlighter

    The Moonlighter

  • The Legend of Jesse James

    The Legend of Jesse James

  • Rawhide

    Rawhide

  • Father Murphy

    Father Murphy

  • Hannie Caulder

    Hannie Caulder

  • Temple Houston

    Temple Houston

  • Pardners

    Pardners

  • Pocketful of Miracles

    Pocketful of Miracles

  • Frontier

    Frontier

  • Cattle Queen of Montana

    Cattle Queen of Montana

  • Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

    Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

  • Support Your Local Gunfighter

    Support Your Local Gunfighter

  • 4 for Texas

    4 for Texas

  • Hot Lead & Cold Feet

    Hot Lead & Cold Feet

  • Firecreek

    Firecreek

  • National Velvet

    National Velvet

  • The Wonderful World of Disney

    The Wonderful World of Disney

  • The Brian Keith Show

    The Brian Keith Show

  • The Wild Country

    The Wild Country

  • Edge of Eternity

    Edge of Eternity

  • The Far Country

    The Far Country

  • Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

    Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

  • Dirty Dingus Magee

    Dirty Dingus Magee

  • Grayeagle

    Grayeagle

  • Bonanza: The Return

    Bonanza: The Return

  • A Ticket to Tomahawk

    A Ticket to Tomahawk

  • Ride Clear of Diablo

    Ride Clear of Diablo

  • Key to the City

    Key to the City

  • The Last Challenge

    The Last Challenge

  • The Gun Runners

    The Gun Runners

  • One Way Street

    One Way Street

  • The Winds of Autumn

    The Winds of Autumn

  • The Over the Hill Gang

    The Over the Hill Gang

  • Baby Face Nelson

    Baby Face Nelson

  • Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills

    Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills

  • Man Without a Star

    Man Without a Star

  • Hawken's Breed

    Hawken's Breed

  • The Night of the Grizzly

    The Night of the Grizzly

  • Big Bad John

    Big Bad John

  • Lacy and the Mississippi Queen

    Lacy and the Mississippi Queen

  • The Giant of Thunder Mountain

    The Giant of Thunder Mountain

  • Creature from Black Lake

    Creature from Black Lake

  • Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.

    Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.

  • Once Upon a Texas Train

    Once Upon a Texas Train

  • The Last Rebel

    The Last Rebel

  • Princess of the Nile

    Princess of the Nile

  • The Aurora Encounter

    The Aurora Encounter

  • Gunslinger

    Gunslinger

  • Tarzan's Hidden Jungle

    Tarzan's Hidden Jungle

  • The Slowest Gun in the West

    The Slowest Gun in the West

  • The Girl in Lovers Lane

    The Girl in Lovers Lane

  • Ride a Northbound Horse

    Ride a Northbound Horse

  • Plimpton! Shoot-Out at Rio Lobo

    Plimpton! Shoot-Out at Rio Lobo

  • Easy Street

    Easy Street

  • Paradise

    Paradise

  • The Daughters of Joshua Cabe

    The Daughters of Joshua Cabe

  • Artists and Models

    Artists and Models

  • Shootout in a One-Dog Town

    Shootout in a One-Dog Town

  • Thunder Over Arizona

    Thunder Over Arizona

  • Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western

    Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western

  • Suburban Commando

    Suburban Commando

  • Lure of the Wilderness

    Lure of the Wilderness

  • Kiss Me Deadly

    Kiss Me Deadly

  • The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County

    The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County

  • Dragoon Wells Massacre

    Dragoon Wells Massacre

  • Black Beauty

    Black Beauty

  • Bonanza: Under Attack

    Bonanza: Under Attack

  • The Red Pony

    The Red Pony

  • Pony Express Rider

    Pony Express Rider

  • Bird of Paradise

    Bird of Paradise

  • The Sundowners

    The Sundowners

  • Struck by Lightning

    Struck by Lightning

  • My Man and I

    My Man and I

  • Lure of the Swamp

    Lure of the Swamp

  • Kansas City Confidential

    Kansas City Confidential

  • Appointment in Honduras

    Appointment in Honduras

  • Rancho Notorious

    Rancho Notorious

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

    Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

    Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

  • The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite

    The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite

  • Kismet

    Kismet

  • Ride, Vaquero!

    Ride, Vaquero!

  • Gun Belt

    Gun Belt

  • Detective in the House

    Detective in the House

  • Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?

    Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?

  • Kung Fu

    Kung Fu

  • Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas

    Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas

  • Finders Keepers

    Finders Keepers

  • Count the Hours!

    Count the Hours!

  • Never a Dull Moment

    Never a Dull Moment

  • Lost

    Lost

  • The Ring

    The Ring

  • Huckleberry Finn

    Huckleberry Finn

  • The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe

    The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe

  • I Am Not a Freak

    I Am Not a Freak