Western Movie Villain Jack Elam Dies

Yahoo News ^ | 10/22/03 | Anthony Breznican - AP

[NormsRevenge]

LOS ANGELES - 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, Ore., 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 (news) 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 (news), which helped make him a star.

Elam, born in Miami, Ariz., 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."

[bandleader]

He was GREAT!"Rawhide"shows on AMC frequently.He is still trying to get his hands on Susan Hayward!!

[Blue Screen of Death]

And here I was thinking that he'd been dead for the last thirty years!

Your comment reminds me of an interview I read once where Jack Elam listed the four stages of an actors life:

First, who is Jack Elam.
Second, get me Jack Elam.
Third, get me a Jack Elam.
Fourth, who is Jack Elam.

[50sDad]

Poster reminds me of the Clinton Esquire cover!

[The UnVeiled Lady]

Hannie Caulder was a great movie. Jack was one of those charactor actors that you see and say "WHO IS THAT GUY"

I finally learned his name years ago and he was a favorite of mine!

[DAPFE8900]

BINGO he was hillarious in cannonball run!

[50sDad]

Deputy Elam to Sheriff James Garner: "You hit that fellow from behind!"
Sheriff Garner, proudly: "Just as hard as I could!"

A fellow could get to like it in Austrailia. They got everything out there!

[Antoninus II]

Drunken proctologist. Remember when he slapped his finger on someones upper lip saying that was the only instrument he needed?

[Uncle Hal]

I did not realize who he was. He is in the crossword puzzles a lot.

[vetvetdoug]

Jack Elam was one of the classic western bad guys. He was also good as a comedic foil. I am getting old.......he was wonderful.

[PISANO]

Train Robbers"

It was "TOUGH GUYS"...........1986. One of my favorites because getting old is "TOUGH".

[N. Theknow]

Swifty Morgan impersonator

[vetvetdoug]

Ben Johnson was another classic. He was my hero in the John Ford movies because he was a former Confederate in the USA Cavalry. I met him while he was working on the movie, The Last Picture Show, in Archer City, Texas. He was easy to talk to and very gracious. Ben was also a real cowboy and horseman.

[Jonah Hex]

OK, but I like my line better. I could imagine a woman's reaction to meeting Dr. Elam, MD OB-GYN, for the first time.

(smile)

[wardaddy]

Farnsworth was another real Cowboy I believe.

They don't make them like that anymore.

[N. Theknow]

I remember that interview also. Always a favorite actor of mine.

The dumbfounded look on his face was priceless when he and James Garner were "fishing" with dynamite in Support Your Local Sheriff" and they were talking about splitting any gold they found.

[carton253]

So funny...

[okie01]

He was great in "Once Upon A Time In The West"

The opening scene of "Once Upon A Time In The West" was the first thing I thought of, too.

[nothingnew]

Didn't he also play "Toothy Thompson" on some TV show..."Sugarfoot" maybe?

FMCDH

[F-117A]

As Kirk Douglas said to Burt Landcaster in the "Train Robbers" (I think that was the name), "Gettin old is hell ain't it!"

I believe you are thinking of Tough Guys.

[bedolido]

I believe you are thinking of Tough Guys.

Yes thanks. All I remember is the train ride to the border.