Jack Elam

Biography

Jack Elam was an American actor known for his distinctive roles in film and television, particularly as a villain. A graduate of Santa Monica Junior College, he initially worked as an accountant for several Hollywood stars after World War II. Due to health concerns related to his profession, friends encouraged him to pursue acting, where he quickly gained recognition for his menacing appearance and reliable performances. Throughout the 1950s, Elam established himself as a prominent character actor in westerns. In the 1960s, he began to showcase his comedic talents in productions like The Dakotas and Support Your Local Sheriff. He starred in the 1974 TV series The Texas Wheelers and appeared in the horror spoof Struck By Lightning in 1979. Elam enjoyed a successful career into the 1980s with roles in the Cannonball Run films and was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1993. He retired after his final role in Bonanza: Under Attack in 1995.