
Jack Elam
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.
70Credits40 TV · 30 films
1949–1995Years activefirst to latest
10.0 Highest ratedThe Red Pony
7.4 Average ratingacross 70 titles
Top TV shows 40best Jack Elam shows
- 1
National VelvetBlack Barr · 1 ep · 1960 - 2
The Twilight ZoneAvery · 1 ep · 1959 - 3
Father Murphy2 eps · 1981 - 4
Studio 571 ep · 1954 - 5
The UntouchablesJug Alverson · 1 ep · 1959 - 6
The Wonderful World of DisneySheriff · 2 eps · 1954 - 7
Kung FuMarcus Taylor · 1 ep · 1972 - 8
The SackettsIra Bigelow · 2 eps · 1979 - 9
The Wild Wild WestZack Slade · 1 ep · 1965 - 10
ZorroGomez (uncredited) · 3 eps · 1957 - 11
BonanzaDodie Hoad · 1 ep · 1959 - 12
FrontierNess Fowler · 2 eps · 1955 - 13
Home ImprovementHick Peterson · 1 ep · 1991 - 14
Have Gun, Will Travel1 ep · 1957 - 15
RawhideTurkey Creek Jack Johnson · 1 ep · 1959 - 16
Schlitz Playhouse of StarsLee Dineen · 1 ep · 1951 - 17
The RiflemanSim Groder · 4 eps · 1958 - 18
Tales of Wells FargoChris · 1 ep · 1957 - 19
Daniel BoonePetch · 1 ep · 1964 - 20
Alias Smith and Jones1 ep · 1971 - 21
Screen Director's PlayhouseShanks · 1 ep · 1955 - 22
Grizzly AdamsGus · 1 ep · 1977 - 23
Black BeautyJonas McBride · 5 eps · 1978 - 24
How the West Was WonCully Madigan · 2 eps · 1977 - 25
Hondo1 ep · 1967 - 26
Tarzan1 ep · 1966 - 27Four Star PlayhouseVic · 1 ep · 1952
- 28
Richard Diamond, Private DetectiveDanny Boy · 1 ep · 1957 - 29
The Lone RangerReno Lawrence · 1 ep · 1949 - 30
Easy Street22 eps · 1986 - 31
The High ChaparralMacklin · 1 ep · 1967 - 32
Simon & Simon1 ep · 1981 - 33
GunsmokeDolph Quince · 1 ep · 1955 - 34
LaramieParson Hawks · 1 ep · 1959 - 35
Outlaws1 ep · 1960 - 36
Mr. LuckyPhil Bricker · 1 ep · 1959 - 37
Stagecoach WestClell · 1 ep · 1960 - 38
The DakotasDeputy J.D. Smith · 19 eps · 1963 - 39Detective in the House6 eps · 1985
- 40
The Outcasts1 ep · 1968
Top movies 30best Jack Elam movies
- 1
The Red PonyGranddad · 1973 - 2
Ride a Northbound HorseSheriff · 1969 - 3
Shootout in a One-Dog TownHandy · 1974 - 4
Cat BallouKid Sheleen · 1971 - 5
Finders KeepersEddie · 1952 - 6
Skyward ChristmasClay Haller · 1981 - 7
Once Upon a Time in the WestFrank's Gunman · 1968 · Drama - 8
The New Daughters of Joshua CabeBitterroot · 1976 - 9
Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll ChristmasScrooge · 1984 - 10
High NoonCharlie - Drunk in Jail (uncredited) · 1952 - 11
Pocketful of MiraclesCheesecake · 1961 - 12
Princess of the NileBasra · 1954 - 13
Pat Garrett & Billy the KidAlamosa Bill Kermit · 1973 - 14
Kiss Me DeadlyCharlie Max · 1955 - 15
The Man from LaramieChris Boldt · 1955 - 16
Dragoon Wells MassacreTioga · 1957 - 17
Kansas City ConfidentialPete Harris · 1952 - 18
Gunfight at the O.K. CorralTom McLowery · 1957 - 19
Support Your Local Sheriff!Jake · 1969 - 20
My Man and ICelestino Garcia · 1952 - 21
Montana TerritoryGimp · 1952 - 22
Shadow ForceTommy · 1992 - 23
Lure of the SwampHenry Bliss · 1957 - 24
The Far CountryFrank Newberry · 1954 - 25
JubalMcCoy · 1956 - 26
The Last SunsetEd Hobbs · 1961 - 27
The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico CountyKittrick · 1970 - 28
RawhideTevis · 1951 - 29
Bonanza: Under AttackBuckshot · 1995 - 30
PardnersPete · 1956