--- name: "Jack Elam" canonical: "https://film.one/person/jack-elam" fi1m_id: "jack-elam" imdb_id: "nm0001181" tmdb_id: 4965 wikidata_id: "Q500155" roles: ["Actor"] born: "13 November 1920" died: "20 October 2003" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 70 average_as: "actor" average_over: 6 updated: "2026-10-04T18:40:17.439153+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." --- # Jack Elam ## Identity Jack Elam - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jack-elam - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** jack-elam - **IMDb ID:** nm0001181 - **TMDB ID:** 4965 - **Wikidata ID:** Q500155 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Elam, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q500155, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001181/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4965 Actor. Born 13 November 1920 in Miami, Gila, Arizona, USA. Died 20 October 2003. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 13 November 1920, Miami, Gila, Arizona, USA - **Died:** 20 October 2003 - **Active:** 1955–1984 - **Also known as:** William Scott Elam, William Scott "Jack" Elam, جک ایلام - **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 6 acting, 1 other - **Frequently works with:** [Dean Martin](https://film.one/person/dean-martin.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 6 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 82 (4), 1960s 91 (1), 1980s 42 (2) - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 2 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 3, Action 2, Drama 2, Western 2, Crime 1, Family 1 - **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $138m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Elam, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q500155, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001181/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4965 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Man from Laramie*](https://film.one/film/the-man-from-laramie.md) (82) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Jack Elam > Jack Elam made Western heavies memorable through gravelly speech and precise physical business. We like him most when he lets a dangerous man become faintly ridiculous, as he does for Sergio Leone. In *Once Upon a Time in the West* (1968), Jack Elam has a fly to deal with, and Sergio Leone gives him time to deal with it. The trapping of that fly is a small job granted an absurd amount of attention. We laughed because Elam lets the gunman's concentration become ridiculous without making him seem safe. The wordless passage gives his physical timing room to work. Nothing about it suggests an actor impatient to get to his lines. He had been supplying Westerns and crime films with disagreeable men since the early 1950s, with *Rawhide* (1951) helping establish him as a heavy. The bony, stubbled face and gravelly voice made him easy to cast that way. What matters is the precision: a small part gets a definite character, rather than merely a threatening appearance. There is relish in the nastiness, but also an understanding that a henchman need not take over the film. *Kiss Me Deadly* (1955), directed by Robert Aldrich, gives us the earlier crime-film Elam. We recommend this harsh, inventive thriller despite its tangled plotting, but Ralph Meeker's Mike Hammer is the unnerving centre. For an actor so often valued for brief appearances, the attention a director gives him matters. Leone's extended opening offers the more revealing introduction to Elam's skill, because we get time to watch the comic business develop. The turn towards comedy in the late 1960s makes sense beside that opening. *Support Your Local Sheriff* (1969), with Elam as Jake, marked that shift, while the Western spoofs he made with director Burt Kennedy softened his villainous image. We prefer the comedy when some of the old threat remains. Nor did the comic work end the dramatic parts: *Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid* (1973) gave him Alamosa Bill Kermit. The limitation is easy to see: so recognisable a heavy can tell us too much about a character before the scene has begun. Leone uses that expectation well, allowing the funny business without asking us to forget the gunman. Start with Leone's opening, and resist the temptation to count Elam's minutes on screen. ## Biography Jack Elam (born William Scott Elam, 13 November 1920 – 20 October 2003) was an American film and television actor. He appeared in numerous Westerns and gangster films, often as a villain, and later took comedic roles. He was born in Miami, Arizona, and died in Ashland, Oregon. Before acting, Elam worked as an accountant and hotel manager. He made his screen debut in 1949 and became known for supporting parts in films including *High Noon* (1952), *Kiss Me Deadly* (1955), *Gunfight at the O.K. Corral* (1957) and *Once Upon a Time in the West* (1968), in which he played one of Frank's gunmen. He also appeared in television series such as *Bonanza* and *The Twilight Zone*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) ### Performed in (6) — the average rests on these - *Cannonball Run II* (1984), Fi1m 35, as Doc — [page](https://film.one/film/cannonball-run-ii.md) - *The Cannonball Run* (1981), Fi1m 50, as Doctor — [page](https://film.one/film/the-cannonball-run.md) - *Once Upon a Time in the West* (1968), Fi1m 91, as Frank's Gunman — [page](https://film.one/film/once-upon-a-time-in-the-west.md) - *Artists and Models* (1955), Fi1m 72, as Ivan — [page](https://film.one/film/artists-and-models.md) - *Kiss Me Deadly* (1955), Fi1m 87, as Charlie Max — [page](https://film.one/film/kiss-me-deadly.md) - *The Man from Laramie* (1955), Fi1m 82, as Chris Boldt — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-from-laramie.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *High Noon* (1952), Fi1m 88, as Charlie - Drunk in Jail (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/high-noon.md) ## Complete filmography (183) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Bonanza: Under Attack* (1995), as Buckshot - *Bonanza: The Return* (1993), as Buckshot - *Uninvited* (1993), as Grady - *Shadow Force* (1992), as Tommy - *Lucky Luke* (1992), series, as Axel Ericson - *Suburban Commando* (1991), as Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell - *Home Improvement* (1991), series, as Hick Peterson - *The Giant of Thunder Mountain* (1990), as Hezekiah Crow - *Big Bad John* (1990), as Jake Calhoun - *Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?* (1988), as Boone - *Paradise* (1988), series, as Skragg - *Once Upon a Texas Train* (1988), as Jason Fitch - *J.J. Starbuck* (1987), series, Actor - *Hawken's Breed* (1987), as Tackett - *Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills* (1986), as Squires - *Easy Street* (1986), series, Actor - *The Aurora Encounter* (1986), as Charlie - *Detective in the House* (1985), series, Actor - *Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas* (1984), as Scrooge - *Cannonball Run II* (1984), as Doc — Fi1m 35, [page](https://film.one/film/cannonball-run-ii.md) - *Lost* (1983), as Mr. Newsom - *Sacred Ground* (1983), as Lum Witcher - *Jinxed!* (1982), as Otto - *Skyward Christmas* (1981), as Clay Haller - *Simon & Simon* (1981), series, Actor - *Father Murphy* (1981), series, Actor - *Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.* (1981), as Troscliar Boudreaux - *The Cannonball Run* (1981), as Doctor — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/the-cannonball-run.md) - *The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite* (1981), as Seth Beaumont - *Struck by Lightning* (1979), series, as Frank - *The Villain* (1979), as Avery Simpson - *The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again* (1979), as Big Mac - *The Sacketts* (1979), series, as Ira Bigelow - *$weepstake$* (1979), series, Actor - *The Norseman* (1978), as Death Dreamer - *Hot Lead & Cold Feet* (1978), as Rattlesnake - *Lacy and the Mississippi Queen* (1978), as Willie Red Fire - *Huckleberry Finn* (1978), as King - *Black Beauty* (1978), series, as Jonas McBride - *Grayeagle* (1977), as Trapper Willis - *Eight Is Enough* (1977), series, Actor - *Grizzly Adams* (1977), series, as Gus - *How the West Was Won* (1977), series, as Cully Madigan - *Pony Express Rider* (1976), as Crazy Charlie - *The Winds of Autumn* (1976), as J. Pete Hankins - *The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe* (1976), as Bitterroot - *Hawmps!* (1976), as Bad Jack Cutter - *Creature from Black Lake* (1976), as Joe Canton - *A Knife for the Ladies* (1974), as Jarrod (Sheriff) - *Sidekicks* (1974), as Boss - *Shootout in a One-Dog Town* (1974), as Handy - *Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid* (1973), as Alamosa Bill Kermit - *The Red Pony* (1973), as Granddad - *Kung Fu* (1972), series, as Marcus Taylor - *The Brian Keith Show* (1972), series, Actor - *The Daughters of Joshua Cabe* (1972), as Bitterroot - *The Last Escape of Billy the Kid* (1972), as Pat Garrett - *Hannie Caulder* (1971), as Frank Clemens - *The Last Rebel* (1971), as Matt - *Nichols* (1971), series, as Marcus A.F. Baxter - *Cat Ballou* (1971), as Kid Sheleen - *Support Your Local Gunfighter* (1971), as Jug May - *Alias Smith and Jones* (1971), series, Actor - *The Wild Country* (1970), as Thompson - *Dirty Dingus Magee* (1970), as John Wesley Hardin - *Rio Lobo* (1970), as Phillips - *The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County* (1970), as Kittrick - *The Over the Hill Gang* (1969), as Sheriff Clyde Barnes - *Support Your Local Sheriff!* (1969), as Jake - *Ride a Northbound Horse* (1969), as Sheriff - *Once Upon a Time in the West* (1968), as Frank's Gunman — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/once-upon-a-time-in-the-west.md) - *Sartana Does Not Forgive* (1968), as Slim Kovacs - *Lancer* (1968), series, Actor - *The Outcasts* (1968), series, Actor - *Never a Dull Moment* (1968), as Ace Williams - *Firecreek* (1968), as Norman - *The High Chaparral* (1967), series, as Macklin - *The Guns of Will Sonnett* (1967), series, as Sam - Sheriff - *Hondo* (1967), series, Actor - *Cimarron Strip* (1967), series, Actor - *The Last Challenge* (1967), as Ernest Scarnes - *The Way West* (1967), as Preacher Weatherby - *Tarzan* (1966), series, Actor - *The Night of the Grizzly* (1966), as Hank - *The Rare Breed* (1966), as Deke Simons - *The Wild Wild West* (1965), series, as Zack Slade - *F Troop* (1965), series, Actor - *The Legend of Jesse James* (1965), series, as Deacon Smith - *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Petch - *4 for Texas* (1963), as Dobie - *Temple Houston* (1963), series, as George Taggart - *The Dakotas* (1963), series, as Deputy J.D. Smith - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Harve Yost - *Pocketful of Miracles* (1961), as Cheesecake - *The Comancheros* (1961), as Horseface (Comanchero) - *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor - *Target: The Corruptors!* (1961), series, Actor - *The Last Sunset* (1961), as Ed Hobbs - *Gunslinger* (1961), series, as Clint Gannet - *Stagecoach West* (1960), series, as Clell - *Outlaws* (1960), series, Actor - *National Velvet* (1960), series, as Black Barr - *The Girl in Lovers Lane* (1960), as Jesse - *The Slowest Gun in the West* (1960), as Ike Dalton - *Edge of Eternity* (1959), as Bill Ward - *Mr. Lucky* (1959), series, as Phil Bricker - *The Untouchables* (1959), series, as Jug Alverson, Nick Bravo - *The Rebel* (1959), series, as Uncle Luce - *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as Avery — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md) - *Laramie* (1959), series, as Parson Hawks - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Dodie Hoad, Honest John, Buford Buckalew - *Tightrope* (1959), series, Actor - *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Turkey Creek Jack Johnson - *Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse* (1958), series, Actor - *Lawman* (1958), series, as Herm Forrest, Paul Henry - *The Rifleman* (1958), series, as Sim Groder, Russell - *The Texan* (1958), series, as Luke Watson - *Bronco* (1958), series, Actor - *The Gun Runners* (1958), as Arnold - *Baby Face Nelson* (1957), as Fatso Nagel - *Zorro* (1957), series, as Gomez (uncredited) - *The Restless Gun* (1957), series, as Tony Molinor, Link Jerrod - *M Squad* (1957), series, as Luke Morgan - *Sugarfoot* (1957), series, as Toothy Thompson - *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, as Arnold Shaffner - *Dragoon Wells Massacre* (1957), as Tioga - *Night Passage* (1957), as Shotgun - *Richard Diamond, Private Detective* (1957), series, as Danny Boy, Perk Butler - *Gunfight at the O.K. Corral* (1957), as Tom McLowery - *Lure of the Swamp* (1957), as Henry Bliss - *Tales of Wells Fargo* (1957), series, as Chris - *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Hock Ellis, Little Jimmy Lehigh, Stage Driver Cass - *Thunder Over Arizona* (1956), as Slats Callahan - *Pardners* (1956), as Pete - *Jubal* (1956), as McCoy - *Artists and Models* (1955), as Ivan — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/artists-and-models.md) - *Kismet* (1955), as Hasan-Ben - *Screen Director's Playhouse* (1955), series, as Shanks - *Frontier* (1955), series, as Ness Fowler - *Cheyenne* (1955), series, as Calhoun Durango, Count Nicholas Potosi - *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Dolph Quince, Clint Dodie, Steed, Ben, Hector, Specter, Del Ordman, Sam Band, Jim Barrett, William Prange, Lucas Murdoch, Titus Spangler, Pierre Audubon - *The Man from Laramie* (1955), as Chris Boldt — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-from-laramie.md) - *Wichita* (1955), as Al - *Moonfleet* (1955), as Damen - *Kiss Me Deadly* (1955), as Charlie Max — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/kiss-me-deadly.md) - *Man Without a Star* (1955), as Knife Murderer (uncredited) - *Tarzan's Hidden Jungle* (1955), as Burger - *Vera Cruz* (1954), as Tex - *Cattle Queen of Montana* (1954), as Yost - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Sheriff - *Studio 57* (1954), series, Actor - *Princess of the Nile* (1954), as Basra - *Jubilee Trail* (1954), as Whitey - *The Far Country* (1954), as Frank Newberry - *Ride Clear of Diablo* (1954), as Tim Lowerie - *Appointment in Honduras* (1953), as Castro - *The Moonlighter* (1953), as Slim - *Gun Belt* (1953), as Rusty Kolloway - *Ride, Vaquero!* (1953), as Barton - *Count the Hours!* (1953), as Max Verne - *Kansas City Confidential* (1952), as Pete Harris - *Mr. & Mrs. North* (1952), series, Actor - *The Ring* (1952), as Harry Jackson - *Four Star Playhouse* (1952), series, as Vic - *My Man and I* (1952), as Celestino Garcia - *Lure of the Wilderness* (1952), as Dave Longden - *High Noon* (1952), as Charlie - Drunk in Jail (uncredited) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/high-noon.md) - *Montana Territory* (1952), as Gimp - *The Battle at Apache Pass* (1952), as Mescal Jack - *Rancho Notorious* (1952), as Mort Geary - *Finders Keepers* (1952), as Eddie - *The Bushwhackers* (1951), as Cree - *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Lee Dineen, Halleck - *Rawhide* (1951), as Tevis - *Bird of Paradise* (1951), as The Trader - *American Guerrilla in the Philippines* (1950), as The Speaker - *High Lonesome* (1950), as Smiling Man - *A Ticket to Tomahawk* (1950), as Fargo - *One Way Street* (1950), as Arnie (uncredited) - *The Sundowners* (1950), as Earl Boyce - *Key to the City* (1950), as Councilman (uncredited) - *The Lone Ranger* (1949), series, as Reno Lawrence - *Wild Weed* (1949), as Raymond - Henchman ## Gallery - ![Jack Elam](https://film.one/media/person/102520/gallery-6b678efd05c3.jpg) Jack Elam — Phil Karlson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Jack_Elam_in_Kansas_City_Confidential.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Photo of Gary Busey (standing), Mark Hamill and Jack Elam from the television program The Texas Wheelers.](https://film.one/media/person/102520/gallery-006c1a325e1e.jpg) Photo of Gary Busey (standing), Mark Hamill and Jack Elam from the television program The Texas Wheelers. — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Texas_Wheelers_cast.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Jack Elam](https://film.one/media/person/102520/gallery-ef9c9ae62e7f.jpg) Jack Elam — Image via TMDB - ![Jack Elam](https://film.one/media/person/102520/gallery-b7b4d0fe24ff.jpg) Jack Elam — Image via TMDB - ![Jack Elam](https://film.one/media/person/102520/gallery-3aafc4f2116f.jpg) Jack Elam — Image via TMDB - ![Jack Elam](https://film.one/media/person/102520/gallery-11c8eb68ce87.jpg) Jack Elam — Image via TMDB --- © 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/jack-elam