Jack Elam

Elam, who had been in declining health in recent years, died Nov 20, 2003 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. Actor Jack Elam - He had a leer and a scowl that seemed etched into his rugged, weather-beaten face. His eye, which had been blinded as a child, looked off in another direction making him look even more menacing but perfect for his career as a villain in movies, mostly in westerns. He was born in Miami, Arizona on November 13, 1916. As a child he worked in the cotton fields. He attended Santa Monica (California) Junior College. Unlike many of his fellow actors, he began a career in accounting as a motion picture auditor and tax consultant to Sam Goldwyn. 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. Jack was noted for playing western mean old hombres but he also found himself cast as harmless drunks and dirty old men. He did some humorous comedies like The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County , Support Your Local Sheriff with James Gardner, and a crazy doctor in The Cannonball Run with Burt Reynolds and Farrah Fawcett. 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. Merchants Association of Miami Arizona P.O. Box 815, Miami AZ 85539-0801 MAMA@MiamiAZ.org

Ron Ruble Copyright (c) 2003