Jack Elam

Biography

Jack Elam was an American actor who started on screen in 1949 and became a dependable villain in Westerns and gangster pictures before switching to comedy. Born in Miami, Arizona, he worked in finance and put in two years of Navy service during World War II. His early credits include Rawhide (1951) and The Girl in Lovers Lane (1960), and he guested on Western shows such as Gunsmoke and Bonanza. Paramount handed him his first comic part in The Night of the Grizzly (1966), after which came The Way West (1967) and Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). Lighter roles followed in Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969), Rio Lobo (1970), and Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971). He played Doctor Nikolas Van Helsing in The Cannonball Run (1981) and its sequel Cannonball Run II (1984). In 1994 the National Cowboy Hall of Fame added him to its Hall of Great Western Performers.

82years old at death

Born November 13, 1920Miami
Died October 20, 2003Ashland
Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
Also credited as William Scott Elam and William Elam

Movie Career

Films: 50
Career span: 43 years1950 to 1993

Genres

Western62%, 31 films
Drama38%, 19 films
Comedy30%, 15 films
Romance22%, 11 films
Action14%, 7 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
In 1966, Paramount Pictures gave Elam his first comedic part. He played Hank in the Western The Night of the Grizzly, which starred Clint Walker.

Jack Elam movies on Netflix

Bonanza: The Return1993IMDb rating 5.9as Buckshot
Suburban Commando1991IMDb rating 4.7as Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell
Once Upon a Texas Train1988IMDb rating 5.7as Jason Fitch
Cannonball Run II1984IMDb rating 5.1as Doc
Jinxed!1982IMDb rating 4.7as Otto
Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.1981IMDb rating 5.4as Troscliar Boudreaux
The Cannonball Run1981IMDb rating 6.3as Doctor Nikolas Van Helsing
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again1979IMDb rating 6.0as Big Mac
The Villain1979IMDb rating 5.3as Avery Simpson
Hot Lead and Cold Feet1978IMDb rating 6.1as Rattlesnake
Creature from Black Lake1976IMDb rating 5.1as Joe Canton
Hawmps!1976IMDb rating 5.4as Bad Jack Cutter
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid1973IMDb rating 7.2as Alamosa Bill Kermit
Hannie Caulder1971IMDb rating 6.4as Frank Clemens
Support Your Local Gunfighter1971IMDb rating 6.8as Jug May
Rio Lobo1970IMDb rating 6.7as Phillips
Support Your Local Sheriff!1969IMDb rating 7.4as Jake
Firecreek1968IMDb rating 6.8as Norman
Once Upon a Time in the West1968IMDb rating 8.5as Snaky - Member of Frank's Gang
The Last Challenge1967IMDb rating 6.1as Ernest Scarnes
The Way West1967IMDb rating 6.2as Preacher Weatherby
The Night of the Grizzly1966IMDb rating 6.5as Hank
The Rare Breed1966IMDb rating 6.4as Simons
4 for Texas1963IMDb rating 5.5as Dobie
The Comancheros1961IMDb rating 6.8as Horseface (Comanchero)
The Last Sunset1961IMDb rating 6.7as Ed Hobbs
The Girl in Lovers Lane1960IMDb rating 3.2as Jesse
Edge of Eternity1959IMDb rating 6.5as Bill Ward
Baby Face Nelson1957IMDb rating 6.3as Fatso Nagel
Night Passage1957IMDb rating 6.6as Shotgun
Jubal1956IMDb rating 7.1as McCoy - Bar 8 Rider
Pardners1956IMDb rating 6.2as Pete
Artists and Models1955IMDb rating 6.4as Ivan
Kiss Me Deadly1955IMDb rating 7.5as Charlie Max
Moonfleet1955IMDb rating 6.6as Damen
The Man From Laramie1955IMDb rating 7.3as Chris Boldt
Wichita1955IMDb rating 6.9as Al
Cattle Queen of Montana1954IMDb rating 5.7as Yost
Ride Clear of Diablo1954IMDb rating 6.8as Tim Lowerie
The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1as Frank Newberry
Vera Cruz1954IMDb rating 7.0as Tex
Ride, Vaquero!1953IMDb rating 6.1as Barton
Kansas City Confidential1952IMDb rating 7.3as Pete Harris
Rancho Notorious1952IMDb rating 6.8as Mort Geary
The Battle at Apache Pass1952IMDb rating 6.4as Mescal Jack
Rawhide1951IMDb rating 7.1as Tevis
American Guerrilla in the Philippines1950IMDb rating 6.0as The Speaker
High Lonesome1950IMDb rating 5.4as Smiling Man
One Way Street1950IMDb rating 6.5as Arnie
The Sundowners1950IMDb rating 5.6as Earl Boyce

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Once Upon a Time in the West1968 Westernas Snaky - Member of Frank's Gang
IMDb rating 8.5388K votes
The Cannonball Run1981 Action, Comedy, Sportas Doctor Nikolas Van Helsing
IMDb rating 6.344K votes
Rio Lobo1970as Phillips
IMDb rating 6.715K votes
Support Your Local Sheriff!1969as Jake
IMDb rating 7.415K votes
Support Your Local Gunfighter1971as Jug May
IMDb rating 6.87.4K votes
Kansas City Confidential1952as Pete Harris
IMDb rating 7.39.3K votes
Suburban Commando1991as Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell
IMDb rating 4.712K votes
Hannie Caulder1971as Frank Clemens
IMDb rating 6.45.0K votes

Most often with

Burt Kennedy directed five of these films, Robert Aldrich four and Hal Needham three. Two actors appear in five of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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James Stewart

Dean Martin

Charles Bronson

Kathleen Freeman

Ellen Corby

Harry MorganBurt KennedyDirector, 5 films

Robert AldrichDirector, 4 films

Hal NeedhamDirector, 3 films

Films together

James Stewart5 films together, 1954 to 1968
James Stewart's page
- Firecreek1968IMDb rating 6.8Elam as NormanStewart as Johnny Cobb
- The Rare Breed1966IMDb rating 6.4Elam as SimonsStewart as Sam Bulldog Burnett
- Night Passage1957IMDb rating 6.6Elam as ShotgunStewart as Grant McLaine
- The Man From Laramie1955IMDb rating 7.3Elam as Chris BoldtStewart as Will Lockhart
- The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1Elam as Frank NewberryStewart as Jeff Webster
Dean Martin5 films together, 1955 to 1984
Dean Martin's page
- Cannonball Run II1984IMDb rating 5.1Elam as DocMartin as Jamie Blake
- The Cannonball Run1981IMDb rating 6.3Elam as Doctor Nikolas Van HelsingMartin as Jamie Blake
- 4 for Texas1963IMDb rating 5.5Elam as DobieMartin as Joe Jarrett
- Pardners1956IMDb rating 6.2Elam as PeteMartin as Slim Mosely Jr. / Slim Mosely Sr.
- Artists and Models1955IMDb rating 6.4Elam as IvanMartin as Rick Todd
Charles Bronson4 films together, 1954 to 1968
Charles Bronson's page
- Once Upon a Time in the West1968IMDb rating 8.5Elam as Snaky - Member of Frank's GangBronson as Harmonica
- 4 for Texas1963IMDb rating 5.5Elam as DobieBronson as Matson
- Jubal1956IMDb rating 7.1Elam as McCoy - Bar 8 RiderBronson as Reb Haislipp
- Vera Cruz1954IMDb rating 7.0Elam as TexBronson as Pittsburgh
Kathleen Freeman4 films together, 1954 to 1971
Kathleen Freeman's page
- Support Your Local Gunfighter1971IMDb rating 6.8Elam as Jug MayFreeman as Mrs. Perkins
- Support Your Local Sheriff!1969IMDb rating 7.4Elam as JakeFreeman as Mrs. Danvers
- Artists and Models1955IMDb rating 6.4Elam as IvanFreeman as Mrs. Muldoon
- The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1Elam as Frank NewberryFreeman as Grits
Ellen Corby4 films together, 1957 to 1971
Ellen Corby's page
- Support Your Local Gunfighter1971IMDb rating 6.8Elam as Jug MayCorby as Abigail
- The Night of the Grizzly1966IMDb rating 6.5Elam as HankCorby as Hazel Squires
- 4 for Texas1963IMDb rating 5.5Elam as DobieCorby as Widow
- Night Passage1957IMDb rating 6.6Elam as ShotgunCorby as Mrs. Feeney
Harry Morgan4 films together, 1954 to 1979
Harry Morgan's page
- The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again1979IMDb rating 6.0Elam as Big MacMorgan as Maj. T.P. Gaskill
- Support Your Local Gunfighter1971IMDb rating 6.8Elam as Jug MayMorgan as Taylor
- Support Your Local Sheriff!1969IMDb rating 7.4Elam as JakeMorgan as Olly Perkins
- The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1Elam as Frank NewberryMorgan as Ketchum
Burt KennedyDirector, 5 films, 1969 to 1991
All films by Burt Kennedy
- Suburban Commando1991IMDb rating 4.7Elam as Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell
- Once Upon a Texas Train1988IMDb rating 5.7Elam as Jason Fitch
- Hannie Caulder1971IMDb rating 6.4Elam as Frank Clemens
- Support Your Local Gunfighter1971IMDb rating 6.8Elam as Jug May
- Support Your Local Sheriff!1969IMDb rating 7.4Elam as Jake
Robert AldrichDirector, 4 films, 1954 to 1963
All films by Robert Aldrich
- 4 for Texas1963IMDb rating 5.5Elam as Dobie
- The Last Sunset1961IMDb rating 6.7Elam as Ed Hobbs
- Kiss Me Deadly1955IMDb rating 7.5Elam as Charlie Max
- Vera Cruz1954IMDb rating 7.0Elam as Tex
Hal NeedhamDirector, 3 films, 1979 to 1984
All films by Hal Needham
- Cannonball Run II1984IMDb rating 5.1Elam as Doc
- The Cannonball Run1981IMDb rating 6.3Elam as Doctor Nikolas Van Helsing
- The Villain1979IMDb rating 5.3Elam as Avery Simpson
Also four films together3 more actors
- Dub TaylorOnce Upon a Texas Train (1988), Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. (1981), Creature from Black Lake (1976) and Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971)
- Edgar BuchananThe Comancheros (1961), Edge of Eternity (1959), Wichita (1955) and Rawhide (1951)
- Gene EvansOnce Upon a Texas Train (1988), Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971), Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) and Cattle Queen of Montana (1954)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Jack Elam's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$183 million

10 of the 50 films have a worldwide figure.

10Worldwide figure
9US gross only
2Never in cinemas
29Figure not found

Top grosser

The Cannonball Run1981Doctor Nikolas Van Helsing$72.2 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 99% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
The Cannonball Run1981as Doctor Nikolas Van Helsing
$72M39.4% of the total
2
Cannonball Run II1984as Doc
$56M30.7% of the total
3
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again1979as Big Mac
$21M11.4% of the total
4
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid1973as Alamosa Bill Kermit
$11M6.0% of the total
5
Suburban Commando1991as Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell
$8.0M4.4% of the total
6
Once Upon a Time in the West1968as Snaky - Member of Frank's Gang
$5.4M2.9% of the total
7
Artists and Models1955as Ivan
$3.8M2.1% of the total
8
The Comancheros1961as Horseface (Comanchero)
$3.5M1.9% of the total