Sam Elliott The Untold Story Behind The Voice And The Icon
Hollywood is no stranger to icons who dazzle both on AND off screen. Sam Elliot, has also captivated audiences with his voice for decades too. The 73 year old actor has starred in some of the most beloved films of the past twenty years. Where did all this success come from? Until now, many significant facts about his life have been kept a secret, but this is the untold story of Sam Elliott.
Getting Encouragement
After graduating from David Douglas High School in Portland, Oregon, Sam Elliott attended Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, where he pursued a two-year program. While enrolled, he had the opportunity to appear in a small production of Guys and Dolls. A local reporter in attendance penned a glowing review of Elliott’s performance. This initial encouragement convinced Elliott to pursue a career in acting.
Getting Encouragement
Finding The Money
Money is no issue for Hollywood’s elite, but what about the up-and-coming actors who haven’t gotten their big break yet? Before he hit it big, Elliott worked part-time in construction to help pay the bills between auditions.
Finding The Money
An Outdoors Kid
Born in Sacramento, California in 1944, Elliott moved to Oregon as a young child. His father worked in wildlife conservation for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This inspired a great love of nature in Elliott, but it never deterred him from his dream of being an actor. Elliott’s father’s disapproval of his son’s career choice would eventually strain their relationship.
An Outdoors Kid
Unacceptable And Unaccepted
When he was only eighteen, Sam Elliott’s father died of a heart-attack. Though he had never approved of Elliott as an actor, his death motivated Elliott to work even harder to achieve his dream. In an interview, Elliott said, “He died thinking, ‘Man, this kid is going to go down the wrong path’, and I think on some levels that was either hard on me or made me more focused in my resolve to have a career.”
Unacceptable And Unaccepted
Military Work
Down on his luck, Elliott enlisted in the military, serving in the California National Guard, where he learned the truth depths of himself and his determination. He learned the skills necessary to work hard, lead others, and achieve his dreams. He also learned the life of a military man, which would help him greatly in future roles as a military figure.
Other Work
TV Debut
In 1969, Elliott made his television debut with his role of Dan Kenyon in the episode, The Crystal Maze, from the legal drama, Judd for the Defense.
TV Debut
Not Camera Shy
Elliott was thankful for every role he got, slowly building himself up to bigger and bigger parts. In 1968, he had a solo appearance as Jack in an episode of The Felony Squad. He made such a positive impression, the producers cast him again that same year and again in 1969.
Not Camera Shy
Gathering No Moss
Thanks to his success on television, Elliott got his chance at the silver screen. His first role, Card Player #2, in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, might have been a lead, but it was a start. Little did Elliott know that his future wife was cast in the same movie, though in a much large role.
Gathering No Moss
Flying Below The Radar
In the 60’s and 70’s, Elliott appeared in such shows as Lancer, Land of the Giants, The F.B.I., and Bracken’s World. Finally, he landed a role as Richie Robinson in the film, The Games.
Flying Below The Radar
Turning Heads
Around the mid-70’s, Elliott started to get more and more attention. Each part was bigger and bigger. He started in appear in shows like Mission: Impossible, Once and Eagle, and Aspen, even playing the titular character in Evel Knievel.
Turning Heads
Finding Love
His big break came not from an award nomination or leading role, but in 1978 when he played Pete Danner in The Legacy, where he would meet Katharine Ross, his bride-to-be. It was reported that the two had an immediate connection.
Finding Love
A Leading Lady
Since her debut in Bitch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Katharine Ross was regarded as one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. No surprise Sam Elliott fell so hard for her! In 2015, he confessed that, “I didn’t dare try to talk to her then. She was the leading lady. I was a shadow on the wall, a glorified extra in a bar scene.”
A Leading Lady
A Ladies’ Man
Elliott garnered nationwide attention from female fans after his role in The Legacy, and Katharine Ross was no exception. Elliott’s shapely bottom makes an appearance, even being awarded “3 Stars” by the Bare Facts nudity guide, the highest score one can achieve. Baby likes back indeed!
A Ladies’ Man
Reflecting On Their Moment
Even if The Legacy wasn’t a major success, Elliott was happy to have been a part of it. He said, “Not a great film, but a legacy nonetheless for Katharine and me.”
Reflecting On Their Moment
Magnetic Attraction
While most people could imagine plenty of reasons to fall for Sam Elliott, everyone wanted to know what it was that made Katharine Ross fall in love. Ross said Elliott was a gentleman, charming, and that voice! She finished by saying, “Probably all that and more. We were working together, and one thing led to another. And here we are.”
Magnetic Attraction
Life Before Elliott
Ross was no stranger to relationships. Before Elliott, she’d been married four times. In fact, she was still married to her fourth husband, Gaetano Lisi, when she and Elliott met on the set of The Legacy. Ross and Lisi divorced in 1979.
Life Before Elliott
Being Himself
When the moment was finally right, the two opened up publicly about their relationship. Unsurprisingly, the media went into a frenzy over Hollywood’s hottest couple. In their 1976 Playgirl interview, Elliot famously said, “I don’t want to be known as a sex symbol. There’s a great stigma that goes with that tag. I want to be a Sam Elliott.”
Being Himself
Getting Replaced
Everyone has their ups and downs, and actors are no exception. When Elliott was starring in The Ambush Murder, where he played a white lawyer tasked with defending a black man wrongfully implicated in the murder of two white police officers, Elliott fell ill. He was so sick that the director eventually decided to recast James Brolin in the role.
Getting Replaced
Making It Official
From the moment they met, Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross were inseparable. When they finally decided to get married in 1984, the celebrity rags again went wild. Shortly after their wedding, the couple had their first and only child, a daughter named Cleo Rose. While everything started off rosy, the two would encounter a few thorns before long.
Making It Official
Wearing The Mask
Perhaps one of Elliott’s most memorable roles was in Mask, where he played Cher’s biker boyfriend. However, few people know that this iconic role almost didn’t happened. Elliott got a call from his agent, telling him about the audition, while on his honeymoon in Hawaii. While he initially refused to leave his new bride, Katharine eventually convinced him to go.
Wearing The Mask
Katharine’s Insistence
Elliott’s staunch insistence that he did not want to audition for Mask failed to convince Katharine. After he hung up on his agent, Katharine immediately called him back. She was able to convince her husband that this role represented a huge opportunity for him. Little did he know how right she was.
Katharine’s Insistence
A Fitting Role
Elliott received honors beyond prestigious acting roles. In 1998, he served as the Grand Marshal of the Calgary Stampede. Over 300,000 people witnessed him leading the parade.
A Fitting Role
The Cowboy
Following his smash success in Mask, Elliott started to receive offers from numerous directors. Thanks to his rugged “cowboy” look, he was cast in such films as The Quick and the Dead, Houston: The Legend of Texas, Tombstone, and You Know My Name. In 2007 he was even inducted into the National Cowboy Western Heritage Museum.
The Cowboy
His Father
Deeply touched by his father’s passing, Elliott claimed that much of his demeanor stemmed from his late father’s influence. In an interview with NPR, he said, “And I was with my dad and my – and his peers, who were all men’s men and outdoors men. All had incredible work ethics and were all good men. And they were really the ones I think that I learned what kind of a man I wanted to be when I grew up.”
His Father
Before The Voice
Known for his deep, rich voice, many would be surprised to learn that Sam Elliott wasn’t born with it. In the same NPR interview, Elliott confessed that, “It came with age. It just kept going down the older I got – can’t imagine it’s going to go much further.”
Before The Voice
Choosing His Roles
His earlier days of fighting for roles were behind him—now Elliott had his pick of roles. He said, “I’m picky, very picky. I wanted to be an actor since I was nine years old and I figured that was only one way to ever have any longevity and that’s to be careful about what kind of work you do. You can work for money, do a lot of whatever comes your way and not have any kind of a yardstick to measure quality by, and people, you know you’ll make a lot of money if you’re lucky, and people will get fed up and sick of seeing you and that’s it onto the next one.”
Choosing His Roles
Everything For The Part
After he’d chosen a role, Elliott gave it his all. In everything he did, Elliott dedicated himself. “I’ll do anything. I’ll shave my head for the right job. I’m partial to my facial hair, I guess, but I also enjoy doing something where I look totally different, which is kind of the reason why I’ve always worn long hair. I can really change my look radically by getting rid of it.”
Everything For The Part
Turning Down And turning Up
When Elliott was approached by the casting director for the film Road House, he was offered the role of Brad Wesley, which he initially turned down. When he was approached again, they offered him the role of Wade Garett. Elliott readily accepted.
Turning Down And Turning Up
Road House
Road House, released in 1989, only further boosted Elliott’s popularity. His portrayal of a James Dalton’s mentor, played by Patrick Swayze, garnered much admiration from fans.
Road House
The Big Lebowski
Though his role as “The Stranger” in The Big Lebowski wasn’t one of his largest, it remains one of his most popular. It was actually written for Elliott—no one else could have played it. “As I opened up and read, you know – a couple of pages in, and it’s talking about this voice-over. And it said literally on the page, the voice-over sounded not unlike Sam Elliott, and then later on when he appears in the bowling alley, here’s this guy dressed like a drugstore cowboy, looking not unlike Sam Elliott. So I guess they wrote it for me. They certainly wrote it with me in mind.”
The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski Spin-Off
Because of the film’s cult status and lingering success, rumors have long circulated of a Big Lebowski spin-off. When asked if he’d ever reprise his role as “The Stranger,” Elliott said, “I keep hearing rumors he’s going to do one. I hope he does. And I hope they call me. Whether the Stranger’s going to be part of it or not, I have no idea. But it would be in good hands with John, if he was running the show.”
The Big Lebowski Spin-Off
His Name In The Script
There was never a doubt in anyone’s mind—Elliott was made to the “The Stranger” in The Big Lebowski. “Well, they gave me a script. I read the script, and it says in the script, ‘There’s this Western voiceover, and ‘Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds’ is playing in the background, and the voiceover sounds not unlike Sam Elliott.’ This is in the pages! So I read a little further on, and then this character appears, and it says, ‘And here’s The Stranger, looking not unlike Sam Elliott.’ So it was, like, that was the pitch: ‘Let’s put his name in the script. Maybe he’ll bite for it.’”
His Name In The Script
Working With Jeff Bridges
Thanks to his popularity in The Big Lebowski, Elliott was eventually offered the role of Kermit Newman in the Contender. The film’s director, Rod Lurie, loved Elliott’s energy as he worked alongside Jeff Bridges, and as soon as he finished the script, he sent it to Elliott for him to consider.
Working With Jeff Bridges
Trouble At Home
In 2011, scandal rocked the Elliott household. Rumors of a fight between mother and daughter began to circulate. Katharine, now 71, claimed her 21 year old daughter Cleo tried to stab with a pair of scissors while shouting, “I want to kill you.” The police were eventually involved.
Trouble At Home
Missing Judgement Day
When the family’s day in court finally arrived, mother and daughter were both no shows. The judge ruled the case invalid and tossed it out. Cleo has since reconciled with her mother. She now lives in California and works as a musician.
Missing Judgement Day
Quite A ‘Stach
While it would be unfair to choose just one of Elliott’s many accomplishments as his most impactful, there is one that stands out from the rest. His mustache came to define his look, becoming an iconic part of his persona. It was even inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame, alongside other film and television stars such as Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck.
Quite A ‘Stach
Other Awards
Elliott has received many honors over the course of his career. In addition to being nominated twice for both a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, Elliott has won five Western Heritage Awards, a Newport Beach Film Festival Award, a Golden Boot, a Critics’ Choice Award, and a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award.
Other Awards
In His Blood
While the reason certain actors are drawn to certain roles might forever remain a mystery, it is not hard to imagine why Elliott found himself playing so many cowboys. Elliott’s family has their origins in the Old West. “I have a heritage from the West. My family had a relative in the Alamo. I’ve got history to Texas… It is because of that I always hearken to [western roles], that family heritage.”
In His Blood
Not Just An Actor
While his credentials as an actor are considerable, Elliott is a man of many talents. Whether producing, writing, or singing, Elliott gave it his all. He often tried to marry his passions, like when he played “Ben the Cow” in the film Barnyard, in which he sings, “I Won’t Back Down.”
Not Just An Actor
Never Giving Up Hope
Katharine Ross didn’t have the easiest time with relationships. Four failed marriages left her wondering if she’d ever find true love. But with Sam Elliott, everything was different. The couple has been together for thirty three bliss-filled years. “We have a common sensibility, but we also work at being together,” Sam explained. “You work past the s**t; you don’t walk away from it. That’s how relationships last.”
Never Giving Up Hope
Not The Usual Hollywood Couple
While divorce and infidelity might be fairly commonplace in Hollywood, Elliott and Ross appear to buck the trend. Elliott explained his success in an interview with NPR: “The two things that I wanted in my life were to have a movie career and to be married, to have a family. And it’s an embarrassment of riches that I’ve got both.”
Not The Usual Hollywood Couple
In Its Richest Form
Love isn’t the only domain where Elliott has been lucky. Thanks to high-paying roles and lucrative endorsements, Elliott’s net worth is well over $16 million. But he isn’t the only breadwinner in the family: Ross is worth an estimated $5 million.
In Its Richest Form
Hollywood Advantage
Elliott benefited from his being part of the “studio system.” While working for Fox Studios, Elliott enjoyed a close friendship with the tem responsible for script checking before they were sent out to casting directors. Because of his inside advantage, Elliott got first pick on roles that excited him, approaching the directors personally to ask for an audition.
Hollywood Advantage
Smokey Bear
An uptick in forest fires spurred the U. S. Forest Service to create a campaign to raise awareness about fire safety. They worked with the American Ad Council in search of a voice over actor. They wanted their message to be sound, friendly, inviting, and most importantly, informative. Who better for the job than Sam Elliott?
Smokey Bear
Critical Of Himself
You’d think that public adoration and financial success would lead to a general sense of ease and a positive image of self-worth. But sometimes the opposite can be true. In an interview with IMDB, Elliott said that, “I think I might have been a more interesting actor, had more of a career earlier on if I had more formal preparation. When I see something ten years later that I was in I think, ‘Boy, would I love to do that over.’”
Critical Of Himself
Taking The Shots
Ever wonder how much celebrities worry about their reputation? Elliott was careful not to put his name on anything he wasn’t proud of. If something on set was wrong, Elliott made sure to speak up, even if the problem was with a screenwriter or even a director. He said, “I’d rather be a pain in the a** and make better art, than roll over for it.”
Taking The Shots
A Role Model
It’s not simply the way Sam Elliott speaks or holds himself that conveys his unique, cowboy character. It goes much deeper than that. Elliott said, “I think it has something to do with integrity and a man’s word and honor and all that kind of stuff––values, morality, all that kind of stuff that everybody looks kind of down their nose at.”
A Role Model
His Father’s Influence
Even without ever having received his father’s approval, Elliott claims that his acting persona was inspired by him, as if his legacy were guiding Elliott in everything he did. “I wanted him to be proud of me. That’s the worst part of it. When you don’t think your dad’s proud of you – I knew he was in other areas. You know, I could catch more trout than he or any of his friends. He was proud of that… I don’t think he got the theater arts.”
His Father’s Influence
Working With Netflix
Elliott remains active in Hollywood. He recently made several guest appearances in the Netflix original series Grace and Frankie, playing Jane Fonda’s former lover. From there he moved to a starring role in the streaming service’s comedy The Ranch.
Working With Netflix
In Love With Jane Fonda
In an example of life imitating art, Elliott and Fonda have gone on record about their feelings for the other. Though these have been present for years, nothing ever came of them. The two were already with someone else when these revelations came to light.
In Love With Jane Fonda
Sam Elliott Speaks
Elliott was the first to open up about his feelings when he said, “I had never worked with Jane. I knew her from back in the days when she was with Ted Turner (her third husband). I didn’t know her personally … only loved her from afar over the course of her career. [In Klute] she was so beautiful, and Jane’s a beautiful woman today, inside and out.”
Sam Elliott Speaks
Jane Fonda Speaks
When Fonda heard what Elliott had said, she was naturally surprised. She said, “‘Klute’? Who wouldn’t have had a crush on me back then? I want him to have a crush on me now. He said he had a crush on me in ‘Klute.’ Well, I had a crush on him in ‘Lifeguard.’”
Jane Fonda Speaks
Coming Back To Hollywood
Elliott and his wife remain active in Hollywood, most recently starring alongside the other in the 2017 film The Hero. Elliott currently plays in the Netflix original series The Ranch with Ashton Kutcher.
Coming Back To Hollywood
His Favorite Role
With such a reputation and so many offers to choose one, you would think picking a role would constitute a difficult decision. In his interview with BUILD, Elliott said, “I think what I remember most about films are the people rather than the films themselves. I don’t think it will ever get any better than it was on this film [The Hero]. You know, this was on all sides of the camera, it was labor of love for a lot of people.”
His Favorite Role
One For One
When Elliott appeared in The Hero, it instantly became thought of as one of his best roles to date. He played the part of Lee Hayden to perfection, which is no surprise considering the director, Brett Hayley, wrote the part specifically for Elliott. Elliott said, “I was totally flattered that he [Haley] and Marc would take the time to write an entire screenplay for me. I’ve had a few parts written for me over the years, but I’ve never had a screenplay written for me.”
One For One
His Parents
When asked who some of the biggest influences in his life were, Elliott had a hard time answering. He said, “That’s very difficult to answer. But to be honest with you I think my parents made the biggest difference in my life…He [his father] was a man’s man, and that rubbed off on me. My mom has always been completely supportive of my work.”
His Parents
Loves Being A Cowboy
One would think that after so many reprisals, Elliott would grow tired of playing cowboys. But in an interview with DP/30, he said the opposite was true. “I just think that genre has always spoken to me. My family heritage comes from Texas for generations. I think there’s a real truth to westerns and a real simplicity to them that appeals to people. It’s pretty black and white.”
Loves Being A Cowboy
Money Isn’t His Priority
Even though with a reputation like his Elliott could garner enormous salaries, the money isn’t what motivates him. He told DP/30, “Don’t let that [money] be the number one priority because then that means you’ll do anything, for the right price… I hate that saying.”
Money Isn’t His Priority
Just One Flaw
Even though he loves her with all his heart, Elliott says his wife has one big shortcoming—she doesn’t “chase it,” meaning she doesn’t pursue the roles she wants vigorously enough.
Just One Flaw
Worked On Beef Ads For 8 Years
Due to the attraction of his rough, distinctive voice, Elliott worked for many years as a voice actor for commercials selling beef. He told The Guardian, “I did beef ads for about eight years because I love the people in that industry, and there are a lot of people who make their living in the beef world. Ranchers, primarily. Those ads pushed the numbers in the marketplace for beef up considerably … but when it got to the point where they kept asking for different takes, different cuts, different deals you can get involved with … I started to bristle at it.”
Worked On Beef Ads For 8 Years
Technology Takes Over
Being part of any industry for more than fifty years—as Elliott has done in Hollywood—will allow you to witness monumental change. The biggest difference from when he got started, according to Elliott, is technology. “Changes that have been made in the technological world have revolutionized the movie business on almost every level. There are some constants that are never going to change. But from a technical standpoint, it’s a whole other world.”
Technology Takes Over
Living In The Moment
Elliott doesn’t believe in regret. Never one to look back, even to admire his own legacy, Elliott prefers to focus on the here and now and the people in his life. It’s about the people I’m working with at the time, and just going in and enjoying the process,” he told The Guardian in an interview. “It’s hard work, but it’s a creative, artistic process. And if you can’t enjoy that, then you’re going about it wrong.”
Living In The Moment
His VS His
Elliott’s famous facial hair has often been a topic of debate, notably raising the question of who wore it better: Tom Selleck or Sam Elliott. In Elliott’s opinion, it’s a toss-up. “I think it all depends on where we are at the time, you know? Right now I’ve got more of a mustache than Tom does, but I know he can grow one,” he explained to Vanity Fair. “I don’t think he’s ever grown his out the way I’ve grown mine out over the years.”
His VS His
‘A Star Is Born’
Elliott most recently worked on the film A Star is Born, directed by Bradley Cooper. Elliott only had positive things to say about his experience. “He [Cooper] is super intelligent, has an incredible work ethic. And Stefani [Lady Gaga] is equally incredible. She’s going to surprise a lot of people with her acting ability. It’s an amazing experience to be with them both.”
‘A Star Is Born’
South In The Mouth
While most directors scrambled to secure Elliott and his iconic voice, it wasn’t always right for every role. Elliott recounted an experience while working on the film Lifeguard. He said, “I did do a movie called Lifeguard back in 1976 with a director named Dan Petrie, who did a lot of incredible work. Every once in a while, he would tell me: ‘Let’s do it again, and this time, let’s be a little less south in the mouth.’ That’s always amused me.”
South In The Mouth
His Favorites
As a major star of westerns himself, Elliott has his own opinion about which films represent the genre’s best work. “The Searchers would be up there. Red River. Shane. There was a particular time in Hollywood where the western was the bread and butter for everybody in town,” he told The Guardian.
His Favorites
Pretending For A Living
Acting is a funny profession, and Elliott is well aware the oddity of making a living by pretending to be someone he isn’t. “We’re the great pretenders, some not so great probably, but that’s what we do. We pretend for a living.”
Pretending For A Living
Justified
Elliott has received many awards over the course of his career, like in 2015 when he won a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama for his role in FX’s Justified.
Justified
Discovering His Voice
You’d think Elliott would have known from an early age that his voice was going to be a big money maker, but the opposite is true. In an interview on Bloomberg TV, he was asked when he started to realize that his voice was unique, he said, “Not until I started getting paid for it, I guess.”
Discovering His Voice
Insuring His Voice
More than a few celebrities have insured any number of body parts, since their livelihoods depend on them. But when asked if he had ever thought of insuring his voice, Elliott simply said, “No.”
Insuring His Voice
A Man’s Man
The 2015 film I’ll See You in My Dreams garnered a lot of attention due to its female lead, who was over forty, a rarity in Hollywood. Elliott also appeared in the film, starring as the male lead. The film’s director, Brett Haley called him a real “man’s man.”
A Man’s Man
Ashton’s Take
After playing alongside Elliott in Netflix’s The Ranch, Ashton Kutcher told Jimmy Kimmel, “You want him to narrate your whole life as you’re going. Ashton is brushing his teeth right now.”
Ashton’s Take
Hollywood And Vietnam
Elliott isn’t one to shy away from unpopular opinions. When asked about Hollywood’s portrayal of the war in Vietnam, he said, “Any of these Vietnam vets that have been there and know the deal, they don’t feel that any Hollywood endeavor about the Vietnam era has ever gotten it right yet.”
Hollywood And Vietnam
Talking About Death
Even though, nowadays, 73 isn’t considered that old, it still weighs more and more on Elliott’s mind. He said, “We’re all faced with it. The older I get, the more I’m dealing with it, that mortality thing. My wife [Katharine Ross] and I just went to a memorial service for an actor named Michael Parks. That’s just one more guy that’s gone. I’ve lost half a dozen friends this year already.”
Talking About Death
Women’s Image Awards
At the 17th Annual Women’s Image Award, which he attended with his wife, Elliott told Lauren Salaun of AfterBuzzTV, “I’m honored to be here, I’m here for a couple of reasons – I’m here to present an award and here to support the effort.”
Women’s Image Awards
Parity And Opportunity
During the interview, Salaun asked what changes the two would like to see in Hollywood. Elliott said, “Women in any level, regardless if it’s the creative aspect or production… there’s opportunity and parity. There are lots of great women out there. For a long time they’ve been given the short end of the stick.”
Parity And Opportunity
Parks And Recreation
In 2013, Elliott appeared in the hit Parks and Recreation, playing a character named Ron Dunn. He told AV Film about his reaction when he heard of the role: “God, the opportunity, when it came along, it was a no-brainer to do it, ’cause I’m a fan of the show. Even after nearly 50 years in this business, I still feel like I’m lucky every time I get a decent job, but an opportunity to work with people of that ilk… I mean, they’re really smart people, and they’re doing something to give you a laugh. It was a pleasure to be around those guys.”
Parks And Recreation
Wendell Berry And Sam Elliott
A huge fan of Wendell Berry’s writing, Elliott has said that he’d love to have dinner with him. When Berry heard, he was ecstatic. He said, “Well, my God, I’ll build a truck, and then I’ll drive the truck to ferry him to dinner at the table of his choosing. I would walk a very long mile to share a sleeve of Saltines with Sam, let alone a plate of steak.”
Wendell Berry And Sam Elliott
Why Movies
Actors have different motivations for getting involved in the industry. When asked what sparked his interest, Elliott said, “Going to too many movies when I was growing up, basically. I just got fascinated by it early on. And it wasn’t like I wanted to be a legitimate actor, a real actor. I wanted to make movies. Consequently, I didn’t study, really. I did some. I did a lot of stuff all the way through school. But I just got bit by wanting to do films, and I had tunnel vision about it.”
Why Movies
On The Set Of Gettysburg
With any big personalities, there’s bound to be conflict, and Elliott is no exception. Originally cast to play Robert E. Lee, Elliott ended up playing Brigadier General John Buford after an unnamed party said that they wouldn’t work in the film if Elliott got the part. Elliott said Buford was more interesting anyway.
On The Set Of Gettysburg
Clooney’s Eyes
Even celebrities can get star struck. While working on Up in the Air, Elliott claimed not to be able to stop starring at George Clooney’s eyes. “The one thing I remember of that was looking at [George] Clooney’s eyes. Clooney’s got a set of shark eyes, man. I mean, they’re deep and they’re dark. And it kind of disarmed me.”
Clooney’s Eyes
Meeting John Wayne
Like any fan of westerns, Elliott has a list of favorite actors from the genre, John Wayne being number one. Lucky for him, the two actually got to meet. Elliott explained, “I went and got John Wayne’s autograph. He was doing ‘The Shootist,’ his last film. I went in and talked with him for a few minutes. He didn’t know me from Adam but he knew I was an aspiring actor.”
Meeting John Wayne
Elliott As Thunderbolt Ross
In 2003, Elliott appeared in Hulk, playing Thunderbolt Ross, the titular character’s nemesis. With the release of The Incredible Hulk in2008, Elliott tried to reprise his role, but was unable to.
Elliott As Thunderbolt Ross
Robot Chicken
Elliott has been recognized for all sorts of roles, big and small. To date he is the only actor ever to be nominated for an Emmy as a guest performer from the show Robot Chicken. He was nominated in 2001.
Robot Chicken
