Favorite Cowboy
America's favorite cowboy is Sam Elliott. He's a masculine, tall man who's had a highly successful career where he's done a host of roles throughout his career. He's played military roles, beer commercials, and done an outstanding performance in "A Star is Born". It's easy to see why he's such a versatile actor.
A lot of people don't know that Elliott was in the military before he fulfilled his dream and became an actor. This point in time would change him entirely, from his perspective to his traits.
Passion For Nature
Elliott was born in the capital of California, Sacramento in 1944. He had to relocate to Oregon as a child because his father's job was at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In his father's footsteps, Elliot grew passionate about nature. Although he wouldn't think of himself as a Californa native.
Texas Heart
“I’m a sixth-generation Texan, even though I was born in California,” he said to Parade Magazine. His parents both came from Texas.
Elliott's family history goes far back in Texas. His heritage is as far back as the Texas Revolution in the 1800s. Even more striking than his heritage is his career in acting.
Successful Career In Acting
Elliot's spent decades acting. He's been in really successful and outstanding roles and movies even into his 70s -- the actor is 75.
If Elliott's acting is to your taste then you're in for quite a treat. There are things coming up about the actor's life that not a lot of people know.
Courage To Act
In his teenage years, Elliott attended David Douglas High School, Portland, Oregon. He graduated from high school and then decided he would pursue his studies.
Elliott enrolled at Park College, Vancouver, Washington. Here, he wanted to come out with a two-year degree. But this is where he fell in love with acting.
First Appearance In Theater
While he attended Park College, he decided to be in a humble production called "Guys and Dolls." A reporter stumbled upon the play and gave it a review.
To Elliott's surprise, the reporter gave him an amazing review. This is what sparked his passion for acting. But Elliott needed a real job to sustain his dream.
Proper Job
When you think of an actor or actress struggling to make ends meet, what side-job comes to mind? A lot of people think of waiting tables since with negotiable hours they can plan their work around their auditions.
Elliot didn't see himself waiting tables. He really didn't feel it suited a guy like him.
Construction
Elliott didn't want to have to run to a customer at the snap of their fingers. He couldn't work at a bar or a restaurant. He wanted something with more substance.
Elliott felt that he gravitated more towards jobs with real "experience". He found a part-time job working in the world of construction. Elliott still didn't give up on his dream, but someone else wanted him to.
Father Didn't Like Acting
Elliot and his father grew distant when his father tried putting his foot down and stopping Elliott's dreams. Elliot ignored his father's discouragement. He just wished he would change his mind and support him.
What Elliot couldn't foresee was an event that would shatter his life and make him lose all sense of hope.
Tragedy
Elliott's father abruptly suffered a fatal heart attack when he turned 18. Elliott felt regretful that he would never be able to tell his father how he felt.
Without being able to fix their relationship, Elliott was lost in grief. And he was left with a mark that would never leave him.
His Dad Never Got to See Him Succeed
Elliott was very upset that his father never got the opportunity to see his son achieve his dream of becoming a successful actor.
But before he stepped in front of the cameras, he took another ambitious real-life role that would have made his father very proud.
He Joined the Military
Elliott enlisted in the military and served with the California National Guard. There he learned about the meaning of hard work and leadership.
His time in the military also prepared him for future military-based acting roles. But what exactly did he do in the military?
The Military Made Him a Man
Elliott was a member of the California Air National Guard’s 163rd Airlift Wings out of Channel Islands. While he was there, he grew up and became and adult.
In 2002, the National Guard Association honored him with the Spirit of America Award. But he never lost sight of his main objective.
He Made His TV Debut in the 60s
Elliott landed his first television role in the 1960s series, “Judd, for the Defense.”
He played Dan Kenyon in an episode titled “The Crystal Maze.” But this was the first of many roles that were to come.
He Made an Impression on TV Producers
In 1968, Elliott played Jack in an episode of “The Felony Squad.” The show’s producers absolutely loved him.
He made such a strong impression on them that they asked him to return later that same year and once in 1969. But the small screen wasn’t able to contain his huge talent.
He Was on "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"
His success on television paved the way for him to work on a film. His first movie was “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” where he played card player number two.
Eventually, he went on to land bigger and better roles.
His Dream Was Not a Mission Impossible
By the mid-70s, Elliott had landed a lead role on “Mission Impossible,” “Once an Eagle,” and the mini-series, “Aspen.”
He also got to play Evel Knievel in a film based on the stunt performer’s life. But one role didn’t sit well with him.
He Was an Unhappy Lifeguard
Elliott landed a role in the 1976 film, “Lifeguard,” but he didn’t really like the way the production company promoted the film.
So, during the promotional tour, he didn’t hold back.
He and His Character Were Both Questioned
“Lifeguard” was a film about Rick Carlson, a 32-year-old Southern California lifeguard played by Elliott. In the film, Carlson starts to question his life goals when he receives an invitation to his 15-year high school reunion.
But what happened after the film made him question whether he had made the right career choice.
The Studio Sold the Film in a Bad Way
During the tour, he talked candidly about his discomfort over the way Paramount Pictures had sold the film. “We all took Lifeguard very seriously when we were making it,” he told Cinephiled.
“But Paramount sold the film in a very specific way. Their catchphrase was ‘Every girl’s summer dream’ and they used this artwork of me in my Speed.” At that point, he was done with the studio, but not with Hollywood.
He Met the Love of His Life
He vowed to never work for Paramount again after that. Then in 1978, his life changed during the film “The Legacy.”
That’s when Elliott met his future wife, Katharine Ross. But it wasn’t the first time they had met.
She Barely Knew He Existed
They had worked on “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” but Elliott was just slightly higher than an extra and she was one of the stars, so she barely even knew he existed.
But she got to know him better in “The Legacy,” and she definitely liked what she saw.
She Was Still Married When They Met
Ross had been married four times and was still married to her fourth husband, Gaetano Lisi when she met Elliott. And by 1979, she divorced Lisi and that’s when things really took off between her and Elliott.
But the actor couldn't have predicted a major setback that was lurking around, waiting to ruin his career... temporarily.
He Got Very Sick and Couldn’t Perform
Elliott had landed the role of a white lawyer who had to defend a black man wrongfully accused of the murder of two white cops in the film, “The Ambush Murder.”
But Elliott got very sick, so the director replaced him with James Brolin. Fortunately, he got a second chance, but he almost blew it.
He Almost Turned Down a Role With Cher
Elliott and Ross got married in 1984. He would become her fifth and final husband. And while on their honeymoon in Hawaii, he got a call from his agent to audition for the film “Masks.”
He was going to play Cher’s biker boyfriend, but he said no way. Luckily for him and his career, his new wife wasn’t about to let him pass up this opportunity.
His Wife Saved His Hollywood Career
As soon as Elliott hung up on his agent, Ross called him back and told him her husband would be there.
It took a bit of convincing, but she got Elliott to agree and the film turned out to be a huge stepping stone for what is now a highly successful Hollywood career.