Cast & creator
Jack Elam
Best known for Bonanza, Bonanza, Bonanza
Colorful American character actor equally adept at vicious killers or grizzled sidekicks. As a child he worked in the cotton fields. He attended Santa Monica Junior College in California and subsequently became an accountant and, at one time, manager of the Bel Air Hotel. Elam got his first movie job by trading his accounting services for a role. In short time he became one of the most memorable supporting players in Hollywood, thanks not only to his near-demented screen persona but also to an out-of-kilter left eye, sightless from a childhood fight. He appeared with great aplomb in Westerns and gangster films alike, and in later years played to wonderful effect in comedic roles.
Also known as: William Scott Elam, William Scott "Jack" Elam, جک ایلام
116
film credits
97
television credits
213
1949–1997 · acting roles
6.4
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (213)
Showing 213 of 213 credits
Bonanza
Dodie Hoad
1959Bonanza
Honest John
1959Bonanza
Buford Buckalew
1959
Home Improvement
Hick Peterson
1991
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957Have Gun, Will Travel
Arnold Shaffner
1957
The Rifleman
Sim Groder
1958The Rifleman
Russell
1958
The Virginian
Harve Yost
1962
Four Star Playhouse
Vic
1952
The Twilight Zone
Avery
1959
Simon & Simon
1981
The Untouchables
Jug Alverson
1959The Untouchables
Nick Bravo
1959
Ben Casey
1961
Daniel Boone
Petch
1964
The Wild Wild West
Zack Slade
1965
Rawhide
Turkey Creek Jack Johnson
1959
Cheyenne
1955Cheyenne
Calhoun Durango
1955Cheyenne
Count Nicholas Potosi
1955
The Lone Ranger
Reno Lawrence
1949
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Hock Ellis
1956Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Little Jimmy Lehigh
1956Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Stage Driver Cass
1956
Lawman
1958Lawman
Herm Forrest
1958Lawman
Paul Henry
1958
The High Chaparral
Macklin
1967
Gunsmoke
Dolph Quince
1955Gunsmoke
Steed
1955Gunsmoke
Clint Dodie
1955Gunsmoke
Ben
1955Gunsmoke
Hector
1955Gunsmoke
Specter
1955Gunsmoke
Sam Band
1955Gunsmoke
Del Ordman
1955Gunsmoke
Jim Barrett
1955Gunsmoke
William Prange
1955Gunsmoke
Lucas Murdoch
1955Gunsmoke
Titus Spangler
1955Gunsmoke
Pierre Audubon
1955
Zorro
Gomez (uncredited)
1957
Laramie
Parson Hawks
1959
Eight Is Enough
1977
Bronco
1958
The Texan
1958The Texan
Luke Watson
1958
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Danny Boy
1957Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Perk Butler
1957
M Squad
Luke Morgan
1957
Sugarfoot
Toothy Thompson
1957
Studio 57
1954
Alias Smith and Jones
1971
Once Upon a Time in the West
Frank's Gunman
1968
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
The Rebel
Uncle Luce
1959
The Guns of Will Sonnett
Sam - Sheriff
1967
Tales of Wells Fargo
Chris
1957
Outlaws
1960
Lancer
1968
Tarzan
1966
How the West Was Won
Cully Madigan
1977
F Troop
1965
Screen Director's Playhouse
Shanks
1955
Cimarron Strip
1967
Mr. Lucky
Phil Bricker
1959
Tightrope
1959
The Restless Gun
Tony Molinor
1957The Restless Gun
Link Jerrod
1957
The Dakotas
Deputy J.D. Smith
1963
Grizzly Adams
Gus
1977
Mr. & Mrs. North
1952
The Wonderful World of Disney
Sheriff
1954
The Legend of Jesse James
Deacon Smith
1965
Target: The Corruptors!
1961
Nichols
Marcus A.F. Baxter
1971
Stagecoach West
Clell
1960
High Noon
Charlie - Drunk in Jail (uncredited)
1952
The Outcasts
1968
Hondo
1967
J.J. Starbuck
1987
The Cannonball Run
Doctor
1981
Cannonball Run II
Doc
1984
Frontier
Ness Fowler
1955
Father Murphy
1981
The Brian Keith Show
1972
Temple Houston
George Taggart
1963$weepstake$
1979
Lucky Luke
Axel Ericson
1992
Gunslinger
Clint Gannet
1961
National Velvet
Black Barr
1960
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Tom McLowery
1957
The Sacketts
Ira Bigelow
1979
Paradise
Skragg
1988
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
Alamosa Bill Kermit
1973
Rio Lobo
Phillips
1970
Black Beauty
Jonas McBride
1978
Suburban Commando
Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell
1991
Kiss Me Deadly
Charlie Max
1955
Hannie Caulder
Frank Clemens
1971
Support Your Local Sheriff!
Jake
1969
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Lee Dineen
1951Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Halleck
1951
The Comancheros
Horseface (Comanchero)
1961
The Man from Laramie
Chris Boldt
1955
The Villain
Avery Simpson
1979
Man Without a Star
Knife Murderer (uncredited)
1955
Vera Cruz
Tex
1954
The Far Country
Frank Newberry
1954
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
Big Mac
1979
The Way West
Preacher Weatherby
1967Detective in the House
1985
Artists and Models
Ivan
1955
Support Your Local Gunfighter
Jug May
1971
Jubal
McCoy
1956
4 for Texas
Dobie
1963
The Last Challenge
Ernest Scarnes
1967
Hot Lead & Cold Feet
Rattlesnake
1978
Easy Street
1986
Ride Clear of Diablo
Tim Lowerie
1954
Once Upon a Texas Train
Jason Fitch
1988
Pocketful of Miracles
Cheesecake
1961
The Rare Breed
Deke Simons
1966
Bonanza: The Return
Buckshot
1993
Night Passage
Shotgun
1957
The Last Sunset
Ed Hobbs
1961
Cattle Queen of Montana
Yost
1954
Never a Dull Moment
Ace Williams
1968
Rancho Notorious
Mort Geary
1952
Kansas City Confidential
Pete Harris
1952
The Battle at Apache Pass
Mescal Jack
1952
Bonanza: Under Attack
Buckshot
1995
Key to the City
Councilman (uncredited)
1950
A Ticket to Tomahawk
Fargo
1950
Firecreek
Norman
1968
American Guerrilla in the Philippines
The Speaker
1950
The Night of the Grizzly
Hank
1966
Struck by Lightning
Frank
1979
Baby Face Nelson
Fatso Nagel
1957
My Man and I
Celestino Garcia
1952
The Giant of Thunder Mountain
Hezekiah Crow
1990
Edge of Eternity
Bill Ward
1959
Ride, Vaquero!
Barton
1953
Pardners
Pete
1956
Creature from Black Lake
Joe Canton
1976
Princess of the Nile
Basra
1954
Soggy Bottom, U.S.A.
Troscliar Boudreaux
1981
The Wild Country
Thompson
1970
Moonfleet
Damen
1955
Dirty Dingus Magee
John Wesley Hardin
1970
Shootout in a One-Dog Town
Handy
1974
The Norseman
Death Dreamer
1978
Rawhide
Tevis
1951
Kismet
Hasan-Ben
1955
The Daughters of Joshua Cabe
Bitterroot
1972
One Way Street
Arnie (uncredited)
1950
Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas
Scrooge
1984
Wichita
Al
1955
Sidekicks
Boss
1974
The Gun Runners
Arnold
1958
Kung Fu
Marcus Taylor
1972
The Sundowners
Earl Boyce
1950
The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
Kittrick
1970
Lure of the Wilderness
Dave Longden
1952
Lacy and the Mississippi Queen
Willie Red Fire
1978
Tarzan's Hidden Jungle
Burger
1955
Grayeagle
Trapper Willis
1977
Bird of Paradise
The Trader
1951
Huckleberry Finn
King
1978
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe
Bitterroot
1976
Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills
Squires
1986
Count the Hours!
Max Verne
1953
Lost
Mr. Newsom
1983
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
Boone
1988
Dragoon Wells Massacre
Tioga
1957
Appointment in Honduras
Castro
1953
The Over the Hill Gang
Sheriff Clyde Barnes
1969
Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western
Self
1997
Jubilee Trail
Whitey
1954
The Slowest Gun in the West
Ike Dalton
1960
Plimpton! Shoot-Out at Rio Lobo
Self
1970
Pony Express Rider
Crazy Charlie
1976
Ride a Northbound Horse
Sheriff
1969
The Red Pony
Granddad
1973
The Winds of Autumn
J. Pete Hankins
1976
The Moonlighter
Slim
1953
Gun Belt
Rusty Kolloway
1953
A Knife for the Ladies
Jarrod (Sheriff)
1974
The Girl in Lovers Lane
Jesse
1960
Lure of the Swamp
Henry Bliss
1957
Hawken's Breed
Tackett
1987
I Am Not a Freak
Self
1987
The Bushwhackers
Cree
1951
Jinxed!
Otto
1982
The Last Escape of Billy the Kid
Pat Garrett
1972
The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite
Seth Beaumont
1981
Sartana Does Not Forgive
Slim Kovacs
1968
Sacred Ground
Lum Witcher
1983
Shadow Force
Tommy
1992
High Lonesome
Smiling Man
1950
Hawmps!
Bad Jack Cutter
1976
The Ring
Harry Jackson
1952
Montana Territory
Gimp
1952
The Aurora Encounter
Charlie
1986
Wild Weed
Raymond - Henchman
1949
The Last Rebel
Matt
1971
Skyward Christmas
Clay Haller
1981
Finders Keepers
Eddie
1952
Thunder Over Arizona
Slats Callahan
1956
Cat Ballou
Kid Sheleen
1971
Big Bad John
Jake Calhoun
1990
Uninvited
Grady
1993