Jack Elam
William Scott "Jack" Elam (November 13, 1920[1] – October 20, 2003) was an American film and television actor best known for his numerous roles as villains in Western films, and later in his career, comedies (sometimes spoofing his villainous image). His most distinguishing physical quality was his misaligned eye. Before his career in acting, he took several jobs in finance and served two years in the United States Navy during World War II.
Jack Elam | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | William Scott Elam November 13, 1920 Miami, Arizona, U.S. |
| Died | October 20, 2003 (aged 82) Ashland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Years active | 1944–1991 |
| Spouse(s) | Jean L Hodgert (1937–1961; her death) 1 daughter, 1 son Margaret Jennison (1961–1991; his death) 1 daughter |
| Children | 3 |
Elam played in 73 movies and made appearances in 41 television series. Some of his more memorable performances were in Once Upon a Time in the West, High Noon, Support Your Local Sheriff!, and on the anthology series The Twilight Zone, and on the series Gunsmoke.
References and notes
- ↑ Other sources cite 1916 and 1918. The year 1920 is stated on both his birth and death certificates. Arizona Certificate of Live Birth for William Scott Elam Archived 2020-10-01 at the Wayback Machine
Further reading
- Mahar, Ted (October 4, 1998). "A Sampling of Elam's Movies". The Oregonian: L10.
- 1920 United States Census, Arizona, Gila County, Miami
- 1924 September 7; Arizona Original Certificate of Death for Alice Amelia Kerby Elam
- 1930 United States Census, Arizona, Gila County, Miami