Jack Elam Dies

Ilikai · 10-23-2003, 01:37 AM

Actor Jack Elam Dies

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Jack Elam, a character actor and favorite Western villain who menaced good-guy cowboys with his crazy grin, wild eyes and remorseless gunslinging in films such as "Rawhide" and "Wichita," has died, a family friend said Tuesday.

Elam, who had been in declining health in recent years, died Monday afternoon at his home in Ashland, Oregon, of unspecified illness, according to longtime friend Al Hassan.

Most biographies list the actor as 86 years old, but Hassan said he was actually 84, having lied about his age as a youngster to get work.

"He was cantankerous in a great way, in a funny way," Hassan said. "He smoked, drank, all that stuff. He lived one of the best lives I've ever seen."

Elam worked as a Hollywood accountant in the 1940s and had bit parts, usually uncredited, in the films "Trailin' West" (1949), "Quicksand" (1950) and "One Way Street" (1950).

He helped arrange financing for the Robert Preston film "The Sundowners" in exchange for a larger role, as the husband of actress Cathy Downs. Then came a tough-guy part in 1951's "Rawhide," starring Tyrone Power, which helped make him a star.

Elam, born in Miami, Arizona, didn't always play the mean old hombre -- he also found himself cast as dirty old men and harmless drunks, sometimes with a humorous bent in comedies like "Support Your Local Sheriff" and "The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County."

The actor's own cockeye was the result of a childhood fight in Phoenix. The way he told it, a fellow Boy Scout stabbed him in the left eye with a pencil during a scrape at a troop meeting. He remained blind in that eye, which wandered lazily around its socket.

Elam continued working into his later years in such films as "Suburban Commando" (1991) and the TV reunion shows "Bonanza: The Return" (1993) and "Bonanza: Under Fire" (1995), his last screen credit.

But he complained about the modern villains that evolved in the 1970s, who had shades of psychological problems behind their bad behavior. "The heavy today is usually not my kind of guy," he said in the Los Angeles Times in 1977.

"In the old days, Rory Calhoun was the hero because he was the hero and I was the heavy because I was the heavy -- and nobody cared what my problem was. And I didn't either," he added. "I robbed the bank because I wanted the money ... I've played all kinds of weirdos but I've never done the quiet, sick type. I never had a problem -- other than the fact I was just bad."

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gracie · 10-23-2003, 02:09 AM

I'm sorry to hear about his passing. I knew he wasn't well, but still you hate to see the people you grew up watching pass away.

annray · 10-23-2003, 04:57 PM

Loved watching him in those cranky roles - he was great.

He will be missed.

eldee · 10-23-2003, 04:59 PM

Aw, I didn't know his name but recognized him immediately when I did a search. With the news about ReRun dying, I thought, "who will the other two be". He was a good character actor.

joeguy · 11-01-2003, 12:06 PM

man he was the best!!!!! the opening scene in "Once upon a time in the west" is he at his best just being him. Also remember him in "support your local sheriff" man was he funny in that. when I was playing D&D in antarctica, he was the model for one of my charectors. my dwarf fighter.

10-23-2003, 01:37 AM	#1
Ilikai Swinging in the hammock Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Taking a long vacation in the tropics Posts: 6,539	Jack Elam Dies Actor Jack Elam Dies LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Jack Elam, a character actor and favorite Western villain who menaced good-guy cowboys with his crazy grin, wild eyes and remorseless gunslinging in films such as "Rawhide" and "Wichita," has died, a family friend said Tuesday. Elam, who had been in declining health in recent years, died Monday afternoon at his home in Ashland, Oregon, of unspecified illness, according to longtime friend Al Hassan. Most biographies list the actor as 86 years old, but Hassan said he was actually 84, having lied about his age as a youngster to get work. "He was cantankerous in a great way, in a funny way," Hassan said. "He smoked, drank, all that stuff. He lived one of the best lives I've ever seen." Elam worked as a Hollywood accountant in the 1940s and had bit parts, usually uncredited, in the films "Trailin' West" (1949), "Quicksand" (1950) and "One Way Street" (1950). He helped arrange financing for the Robert Preston film "The Sundowners" in exchange for a larger role, as the husband of actress Cathy Downs. Then came a tough-guy part in 1951's "Rawhide," starring Tyrone Power, which helped make him a star. Elam, born in Miami, Arizona, didn't always play the mean old hombre -- he also found himself cast as dirty old men and harmless drunks, sometimes with a humorous bent in comedies like "Support Your Local Sheriff" and "The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County." The actor's own cockeye was the result of a childhood fight in Phoenix. The way he told it, a fellow Boy Scout stabbed him in the left eye with a pencil during a scrape at a troop meeting. He remained blind in that eye, which wandered lazily around its socket. Elam continued working into his later years in such films as "Suburban Commando" (1991) and the TV reunion shows "Bonanza: The Return" (1993) and "Bonanza: Under Fire" (1995), his last screen credit. But he complained about the modern villains that evolved in the 1970s, who had shades of psychological problems behind their bad behavior. "The heavy today is usually not my kind of guy," he said in the Los Angeles Times in 1977. "In the old days, Rory Calhoun was the hero because he was the hero and I was the heavy because I was the heavy -- and nobody cared what my problem was. And I didn't either," he added. "I robbed the bank because I wanted the money ... I've played all kinds of weirdos but I've never done the quiet, sick type. I never had a problem -- other than the fact I was just bad." __________________ Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" -- Steve Parker Help feed a dog or cat http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/c...s/CTDSites.woa

10-23-2003, 02:09 AM	#2
gracie a jumble of useless facts Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Third Star On The Right Age: 58 Posts: 1,142	I'm sorry to hear about his passing. I knew he wasn't well, but still you hate to see the people you grew up watching pass away. __________________ There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home. -Ken Olsen

10-23-2003, 04:57 PM	#3
annray FORT Fan Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Age: 58 Posts: 211	Loved watching him in those cranky roles - he was great. He will be missed. __________________ AMR

10-23-2003, 04:59 PM	#4
eldee FORT Fogey Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 7,545	Aw, I didn't know his name but recognized him immediately when I did a search. With the news about ReRun dying, I thought, "who will the other two be". He was a good character actor.

11-01-2003, 12:06 PM	#5
joeguy FORT Fogey Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: just above the horizon, but below the ozone Posts: 3,748	man he was the best!!!!! the opening scene in "Once upon a time in the west" is he at his best just being him. Also remember him in "support your local sheriff" man was he funny in that. when I was playing D&D in antarctica, he was the model for one of my charectors. my dwarf fighter.