Samuel Pack Elliott (born August 9, 1944) is an American actor. His rangy physique, thick horseshoe moustache, and deep, resonant voice (with a Western twang/drawl) match the iconic image of a cowboy or rancher, and he has often been cast in such roles.
August 9, 1944
Sacramento, California, USA
N/A
Acting
Samuel Pack Elliott, born on August 9, 1944, is a well-known American actor celebrated for his distinctive deep voice and extensive work in film and television. Over his impressive career, which has lasted for more than fifty years, Elliott has garnered numerous accolades, including a Screen Actors Guild Award and a National Board of Review Award. He received nominations for an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards.
Elliott was born in Sacramento, California, to Glynn Mamie Sparks, a former diving champion, and Henry Nelson Elliott, a predator-control specialist. His parents hailed from El Paso, Texas, and he has a lineage that includes a surgeon from the Battle of San Jacinto. At the age of 13, he moved with his family to Portland, Oregon, where he later graduated from David Douglas High School in 1962.
After high school, Elliott briefly attended the University of Oregon, majoring in English and psychology, before dropping out. He then enrolled at Clark College, where he got involved in theater and landed a role in a production of Guys and Dolls. Following his stint in college, he decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue acting, despite his father's initial reservations about a career in Hollywood.
Elliott began his acting career in the late 1960s with small roles in various television shows and films. His breakthrough came in 1976 with his leading role in the drama Lifeguard. He continued to make a name for himself through a series of roles in both film and television, including notable performances in Mask (1985), Gettysburg (1993), and the cult classic The Big Lebowski (1998).
In the 2000s, Elliott established himself further as a versatile character actor, with roles in films like We Were Soldiers (2002) and Ghost Rider (2007). He also made a significant impact on television, with appearances in shows like Justified (2015) and Grace and Frankie (2016). His role in the Netflix series The Ranch (2016-2020) showcased his ability to blend comedy with drama.
In 2018, Elliott starred alongside Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in Cooper's adaptation of A Star Is Born. His performance earned him critical acclaim and his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role.
In addition to his acting career, Elliott is known for his voice work in commercials and animated films. His deep, rich voice has been featured in campaigns for brands like Coors and Dodge, as well as in the animated film The Good Dinosaur (2015).
Elliott married actress Katharine Ross in 1984, and they have one daughter, Cleo, who pursues a career in music. The couple resides in Malibu, California, on a ranch they acquired in the 1970s. Additionally, Elliott has a property in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and inherited his childhood home after his mother's passing in 2012.
Throughout his extensive career, Sam Elliott has become a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, known for his iconic roles and deep, resonant voice. He continues to captivate audiences with his performances and is regarded as a quintessential figure of the American West.
