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John Hillerman

John Hillerman

16 movies on Netflix

Biography

John Hillerman was an American actor who built a long career in theater, film, and television. Born in Denison, Texas, he served in the Air Force before a theatrical group in Fort Worth sparked his interest in acting. He then moved to New York City and trained at the American Theatre Wing, spending twelve years in professional theater. His film debut came in They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970), and Peter Bogdanovich later cast him in The Last Picture Show (1971), What's Up, Doc? (1972), and Paper Moon (1973). He appeared in Chinatown (1974) and Blazing Saddles (1974). On television, he was best known as Jonathan Higgins on Magnum, P.I. from 1980 to 1988, earning five Golden Globe nominations and a 1981 win, plus four Emmy nominations and a 1987 win. He retired from acting in 1999 and died in 2017.

84years old at death

  • Born Denison
  • Died Houston
  • Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
  • John Benedict Hillerman (birth name)

Movie Career

Films
16
Career span
14 years1970 to 1984

Genres

First and latest

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  1. A role that slipped away

    In 1984 Hillerman remembered auditioning for a part in First Family, the 1980 film with Buck Henry and Bob Newhart. He wanted it badly, and if he had landed it he would have said no to Higgins.

  2. Getting ready for a role

    Hillerman picked up Higgins's educated English accent, known as Received Pronunciation, by hearing a recording of Laurence Olivier recite Hamlet. He named Higgins his favorite part.

  3. A change of course

    Hillerman spent four years in the United States Air Force, serving in maintenance with a B-36 wing of the Strategic Air Command and rising to Staff Sergeant. While stationed there, he joined a theatrical group in Fort Worth and became interested in acting.

  4. Early training

    After leaving the service in 1957, Hillerman went to New York City for study at the American Theatre Wing. He then spent twelve years in professional theater, appearing in productions such as Henry IV, Part 2 and The Great God Brown.

  5. First role

    Hillerman's first film part came in They Call Me Mister Tibbs!, a 1970 release, where he played a reporter but went uncredited.

John Hillerman movies on Netflix

Best known for

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

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  1. Chinatown1974 Drama, Mystery, Thrilleras Yelburton

    IMDb rating 8.1380K votes

  2. Paper Moon1973 Comedy, Crime, Dramaas Deputy Hardin / Jess Hardin

    IMDb rating 8.158K votes

  3. Blazing Saddles1974as Howard Johnson

    IMDb rating 7.7167K votes

  4. Audrey Rose1977as Scott Velle

    IMDb rating 5.87.5K votes

  5. High Plains Drifter1973as Bootmaker

    IMDb rating 7.474K votes

  6. What's Up, Doc?1972as Hotel Manager

    IMDb rating 7.630K votes

  7. The Last Picture Show1971as English teacher

    IMDb rating 8.058K votes

  8. At Long Last Love1975as Rodney James

    IMDb rating 5.41.5K votes

Most often with

Peter Bogdanovich directed four of these films. Madeline Kahn appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Madeline Kahn, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Madeline KahnRandy Quaid, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Randy QuaidRyan O'Neal, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Ryan O'NealBurton Gilliam, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Burton GilliamLiam Dunn, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Liam DunnJames Hong, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with James HongPeter BogdanovichDirector, 4 filmsSee the 4 films by Peter Bogdanovich

Films together

Box office

What John Hillerman's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$314 million

10 of the 16 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 16 films: 10 worldwide figure; 5 us gross only; 1 figure not found.

  • 10Worldwide figure
  • 5US gross only
  • 1Figure not found

Top grosser

Blazing Saddles1974as Howard Johnson$120 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 98% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    Blazing Saddles1974as Howard Johnson
    $120M38.0% of the total
  2. 2
    What's Up, Doc?1972as Hotel Manager
    $66M21.0% of the total
  3. 3
    Paper Moon1973as Deputy Hardin / Jess Hardin
    $31M9.8% of the total
  4. 4
    Chinatown1974as Yelburton
    $30M9.5% of the total
  5. 5
    The Last Picture Show1971as English teacher
    $29M9.3% of the total
  6. 6
    High Plains Drifter1973as Bootmaker
    $16M5.0% of the total
  7. 7
    Up the Creek1984as Dean Burch
    $12M3.7% of the total
  8. 8
    Skyjacked1972as Air flight controller
    $6.5M2.1% of the total
The Thief Who Came to Dinner (1973), $3.4 millionAt Long Last Love (1975), $1.5 million

$4.9 millionfrom the other 2 films with a worldwide figure, 2% of the total

Awards

One award and honor, one of them major.

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John Hillerman's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Emmy Awards
1987Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesMagnum, P.I.Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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