---
name: "Chelcie Ross"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/chelcie-ross"
fi1m_id: "chelcie-ross"
imdb_id: "nm0743304"
tmdb_id: 10486
wikidata_id: "Q5089830"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "26 October 1942"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-05T00:34:25.117054+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Chelcie Ross

## Identity

Chelcie Ross

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/chelcie-ross
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** chelcie-ross
- **IMDb ID:** nm0743304
- **TMDB ID:** 10486
- **Wikidata ID:** Q5089830
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelcie_Ross, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5089830, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0743304/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10486

Actor. Born 26 October 1942 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 26 October 1942, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- **Active:** 1986–2018
- **Also known as:** Chelcie Claude Ross 
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 80 (2), 1990s 77 (3), 2000s 68 (1), 2010s 79 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 72 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Thriller 4, Crime 3, Action 1, Action & Adventure 1, Comedy 1
- **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $589m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelcie_Ross, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5089830, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0743304/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10486

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Last Boy Scout*](https://film.one/film/the-last-boy-scout.md) (73)
- **Hulu:** [*Basic Instinct*](https://film.one/film/basic-instinct.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Chelcie Ross

> Chelcie Ross is particularly good at making authority seem ordinary. His sheriffs, captains and coaches belong in their surroundings, and we value the quiet credibility he brings to *A Simple Plan*, where an official can still feel like a neighbour.

As Sheriff Carl Jenkins in *A Simple Plan* (1998), Chelcie Ross gives authority a sympathetic face. This is a small-town official we can believe has a life beyond whatever the plot requires of him. Sam Raimi's patient direction makes such people matter, even when the crime story becomes predictable. We found the film painful because Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton make the damage done by greed feel personal. Ross helps make that small town credible without competing for their share of the story.

The sports films show several versions of this supporting presence. He is the defiant parent George Walker in *Hoosiers* (1986), then the wisecracking pitcher Eddie Harris in *Major League* (1989). In *Rudy* (1993), he plays coach Dan Devine, a more straightforward authority figure. His size and voice make that sort of casting understandable, though Harris allows for humour. The risk is that a film will ask him to do little beyond looking disapproving.

*Basic Instinct* (1992) makes more limited use of him as Captain Talcott, a police captain in the interrogation scene. Paul Verhoeven's thriller has enough suspense to survive its improbable plotting, and Sharon Stone is its strongest reason to stay. Ross fits the official surroundings without distracting from her. There is no need to pretend this is a film to choose chiefly for him. It illustrates the limitation of those authority parts: the audience can place the man quickly, then have little reason to look closer.

Raimi used him again in *Drag Me to Hell* (2009), part of a three-film collaboration that makes sense for an actor so believable in everyday roles. Later, the Coen brothers cast him as the trapper in the ‘The Mortal Remains’ segment of *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs* (2018). That part takes him away from the captains and coaches, though the supporting position remains. For a sense of what his unshowy acting can contribute, start with *A Simple Plan*.

## Biography

Chelcie Ross is an American character actor. Born Chelcie Claude Ross on 26 October 1942 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he was raised in New Jersey and graduated from Pemberton Township High School. He played baseball at Southwest Texas State University before serving as an officer in the United States Air Force in Vietnam, where he was awarded a Bronze Star. He later earned an MFA from the Dallas Theater Center.

Ross began his screen career in the 1970s and has appeared in numerous films and television series. He is known for roles including Captain Talcott in *Basic Instinct* (1992), Carl Jenkins in *A Simple Plan* (1998), and appearances in *The Untouchables* (1987), *Rudy* (1993), *Drag Me to Hell* (2009) and *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs* (2018). His television credits include *Grey's Anatomy*, *Prison Break* and *Chicago P.D.*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, chicagotribune.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

- *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs* (2018), Fi1m 79, as Trapper (segment "The Mortal Remains") — [page](https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-buster-scruggs.md)
- *Prison Break* (2005), Fi1m 68, as Bishop McMorrow — [page](https://film.one/tv/prison-break.md)
- *A Simple Plan* (1998), Fi1m 86, as Carl Jenkins — [page](https://film.one/film/a-simple-plan.md)
- *Basic Instinct* (1992), Fi1m 72, as Captain Talcott — [page](https://film.one/film/basic-instinct.md)
- *The Last Boy Scout* (1991), Fi1m 73, as Senator Baynard — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-boy-scout.md)
- *The Untouchables* (1987), Fi1m 81, as Reporter — [page](https://film.one/film/the-untouchables.md)
- *Hoosiers* (1986), Fi1m 79, as George Walker — [page](https://film.one/film/hoosiers.md)

## Complete filmography (72)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Cowboy Drifter* (2022), as Mortician
- *Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber* (2022), series, as David Bonderman
- *Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber* (2022), as David Bonderman
- *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs* (2018), as Trapper (segment "The Mortal Remains") — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-buster-scruggs.md)
- *Imperfections* (2018), as Lil Pop
- *New Money* (2018), as Boyd Tisdale
- *Billions* (2016), series, as Robert Beaufort
- *Consumed* (2015), as Senator Bob McHenry
- *Chicago P.D.* (2014), series, as Robert Platt
- *Elementary* (2012), series, as Dudley Becket
- *Trouble with the Curve* (2012), as Smitty
- *At Any Price* (2012), as Byron
- *Scandal* (2012), series, as Harold Pierce
- *The Last Rites of Joe May* (2011), as Billy
- *Boss* (2011), series, as Royczyk
- *Fertile Ground* (2011), as Avery
- *The Dilemma* (2011), as Thomas Fern
- *The Strip* (2009), as Mr. Davis
- *Drag Me to Hell* (2009), as Leonard Dalton
- *Horsemen* (2009), as Police Chief Krupa
- *The Express* (2008), as Lew Andreas
- *Mad Men* (2007), series, as Connie — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-men.md)
- *A Little Thing Called Murder* (2006), as Ken Sr.
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, as Mr. Waadt — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md)
- *Prison Break* (2005), series, as Bishop McMorrow — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/prison-break.md)
- *Madison* (2005), as Roger Epperson
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Harper Avery — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Uncle Nino* (2003), as Stewart (uncredited)
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Henry Phillips (2003)
- *NCIS* (2003), series, as Joseph Hanlon — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/ncis.md)
- *Waking Up in Reno* (2002), as Fred Bush
- *CSI: Miami* (2002), series, as Wesley Habeck
- *The Majestic* (2001), as Avery Wyatt
- *Novocaine* (2001), as Mike
- *Snap Decision* (2001), as Det. John Collins
- *The Gift* (2000), as Kenneth King
- *Charming Billy* (1999), as Raymond Starkman
- *A Simple Plan* (1998), as Carl Jenkins — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/a-simple-plan.md)
- *Primary Colors* (1998), as Charlie Martin
- *My Best Friend's Wedding* (1997), as Priest (uncredited), Preist (uncredited)
- *King of the Hill* (1997), series, as Councilman Fred Ebberd (voice) (uncredited) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md)
- *Early Edition* (1996), series, as Nick Harper
- *Everybody Loves Raymond* (1996), series, as Reverend Stevens
- *Chain Reaction* (1996), as Ed Rafferty
- *Evil Has a Face* (1996), as McGarrell
- *Ri¢hie Ri¢h* (1994), as Ferguson
- *Against Their Will* (1994), as Warden Henley
- *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Tom Strickler
- *Christy* (1994), series, as Ben Pentland
- *Rudy* (1993), as Dan Devine
- *Amos & Andrew* (1993), as Deputy Earl
- *Basic Instinct* (1992), as Captain Talcott — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/basic-instinct.md)
- *The Burden of Proof* (1992), series, as Dr. Nate Crawley
- *The Last Boy Scout* (1991), as Senator Baynard — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-boy-scout.md)
- *Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey* (1991), as Colonel Oats
- *The Long Walk Home* (1990), as Martin
- *Rainbow Drive* (1990), as Tom Cutler
- *The Package* (1989), as Gen. Hopkins
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as George Yates
- *Major League* (1989), as Eddie Harris
- *Above the Law* (1988), as Nelson Fox
- *The Untouchables* (1987), as Reporter — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-untouchables.md)
- *Murder Ordained* (1987), as Detective
- *Hoosiers* (1986), as George Walker — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/hoosiers.md)
- *One More Saturday Night* (1986), as Mr Lundahl
- *The Last Leaf* (1983), as Constable
- *The Big Score* (1983), as Hoffa
- *The Children Nobody Wanted* (1981), as Ralph
- *Skokie* (1981), as Nazi
- *On the Right Track* (1981), as Customer
- *Dallas* (1978), series, as Dr. Wykoff
- *Keep My Grave Open* (1977), as Kevin

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/chelcie-ross