Sam Elliott is one of the Hollywood few stars who is an icon on and off screen. Born in 1944 in California, this 73-year-old star has starred in some of our best movies including the Gettysburg(1993), and The Big Lebowski(1998), We Were Soldiers(2002). One of his top movies was The Hero, which was released in 2017.
Sam’s success did not come easy as he worked diligently and persistently to chase his dreams. However, there is more to his success than just the deep voice and mustache he has worn for decades. Here is the entire untold story of Sam Elliott that will change your perspective about him.
Getting Encouragement
After graduating from David Douglas High School in Portland, Oregon, Sam attended the Clark College in Vancouver, Washington for a two-year program.
While at Clark College, he starred as the lead in a small production called Guys and Dolls and this was the start of his acting career. He was further encouraged to pursue his dream by a journalist in the audience who wrote a raving review on his performance.
Finding The Money
Before a star makes it to Hollywood, they usually experience financial constraints. This was no different for Sam Elliott. In order to pay his bills, he took on construction work, which he did on a part-time basis.
This way, he was still making money while auditioning for roles.
An Outdoors Kid
Elliott was born in Sacramento in 1944. Thought Elliott spent the greater part of his childhood in Oregon. His father, Henry, was an employee at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
At the age of 9, Sam knew he wanted to pursue acting as a career despite enjoying time outdoors with his father. However, his father did not support Sam’s dream of becoming an actor, believing it wasn’t a good career path. This would negatively impact their relationship.
Unacceptable And Unaccepted
Sam was just 18 years old when he lost his father due to a heart attack. When he died, Sam was not yet successful and did not get the chance to prove him wrong.
However, this did not change Sam’s mind. If anything, he said it became a motivating factor in his career.
Other Work
Alongside construction, he also took a role as a military man in the California National Guard (CALARNG). Sam says that joining the military helped him enhance his discipline and leadership skills.
He also credits it for enabling him to have a deeper self-understanding.
TV Debut
Sam’s big screen debut was when he played Dan Kenyon in an episode of The Crystal Maze.
This was for the American legal drama Judd for the Defense, which took place in 1969.
Not Camera Shy
In 1968, Elliott got his first role in front of the camera, which he believed will ultimately lead to better things in the future. In the TV show The Felony Squad, he played the role of ‘’Jack” in one episode.
The producers were impressed, and he was then cast for two roles in 1968 and 1969.
Gathering No Moss
Soon, Sam Elliott got the opportunity to play a minor role in a big movie. He played the character of “card player #2” in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Although it was a modest role, he knew it would lead to much greater things. Fascinatingly enough, he played alongside his future wife Katharine Ross, who was the female lead in the movie.
Flying Below The Radar
During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Sam continued to feature in small roles in TV shows. He made appearances in episodes of shows like, Land of the Giants, Bracken’s World, The F.B.I, and Lancer.
He finally made a name for himself when he stared as Richie Robinson in The Games.
Turning Heads
Appearances in television gave Sam his first few acting jobs where directors started to notice him.
In 1970’s, he was given more significant roles and appeared in TV series like Mission Impossible, Mission, Once an Eagle and Aspen. In 1974, his TV career started to blossom when he played the lead character in Evel Knievel.
Finding Love
Although Elliott had not yet found his big break, he met the love of his life. In 1978 he met Katharine Ross while the two were filming the movie The Legacy.
Despite acting in the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the two never met prior to this project. They had undeniable attraction and started dating.
A Leading Lady
As mentioned earlier, both Katharine and Sam were in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Katharine was the leading lady and dubbed one of the most beautiful ladies of Hollywood.
Sam admitted that he was too shy and nervous to talk to her when she was the leading lady, and he was a mere extra.
A Ladies Man
Although not an award-winning movie, The Legacy garnered a lot of attention for Elliott. It is in this movie that he showed his bare bottom, and this garnered a lot of attention from women, including Katharine Ross.
Apparently, a scene guide gave him the highest rank of 3 stars from the “Bare Facts” nudity scenes guide.
Reflecting On Their Moment
Elliott also did not hesitate to let the world know how he felt about the movie The Legacy.
Although it did not rank so well, he was happy with the outcome as it created a legacy for him and Katharine.
Magnetic Attraction
When asked what made her fall for Sam, Katharine admitted that she was attracted to his distinctive voice, mustache, good looks, and straight-forward manner.
She was always open and honest about her thoughts.
Life Before Elliott
When Elliot came into her life, Katharine was still married to her fourth husband Gaetano Lisi.
She then got a divorce in 1979. It is then that she and Sam took their relationship further.
Being Himself
When their relationship was made public, the media was all over them, and they were even labeled “Hollywood’s Sexiest Couple” by Playgirl magazine.
During an interview with the magazine, Sam admitted that he wasn’t interested in being a sex symbol. He said that he doesn’t want the stigma attached to the label. He stated that he just wants to be himself.
Getting Replaced
Elliott had his bad days though. One such instance was when he was unable to film The Ambush Murderer.
The character was a lawyer who had to defend a black political activist wrongfully accused of killing two white policemen. Sam fell ill during the filming and was replaced with James Brolin.
Making It Official
In 1984, Sam and Katharine made their relationship official and finally tied the knot.
Later in the year, the couple had their first and only child, Cleo Rose. This seemed like a great first year of marriage.
Wearing The Mask
One of Sam’s biggest and most popular roles was in the film Mask where he played Cher’s biker boyfriend. However, he nearly missed this role.
He was contacted by his agent while in Hawaii on his honeymoon with Katharine. He declined to go back to California for the auditions, but Katharine did not agree with him.
Katharine’s Insistence
When Katharine heard that Sam had turned down the auditions, she called the agent to let him know that he would be going for the screen test.
Her insistence actually paid off as Mask became a hit and improved Elliott’s portfolio.
A Fitting Role
Throughout his career, Sam took on many roles but he was the perfect fit for grand marshal at the Calgary Stampede parade.
For his efforts, he attracted an impressive crowd of about 300,000 spectators!
The Cowboy
Sam’s rugged appeal not only made women love him but also got the men wanting to emulate him. It is also because of the cowboy looks that he received a variety of roles in multiple Western films.
He was cast for roles in Houston: The Legend of Texas(1986), The Quick and the Dead(1987), You Know My Name(1999), and Tombstone(1993). He was eventually inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 2007.
His Father
When asked where he got his work ethic and persona, Sam did not hesitate to credit his father. During his interview with NPR, Sam said that spending time with his dad and his friends, all outdoorsmen, really helped him.
He admits that they had good work ethics and this is where he got the idea of what kind of man he would love to be.
Before The Voice
While Elliott’s voice has been known as one of his best features, he didn’t always have this intriguing baritone.
When interviewed about it on NPR, he relayed that it simply came with age. According to him, his voice kept getting deeper.
Choosing His Roles
Sam discloses that he is picky about the roles offered to him and only goes for those that are right by him. He attributes his longevity to the fact that he chooses his own roles.
He has always wanted to be an actor and he figured that the way to keep it up was to be cautious about the work one does.
Everything For The Part
Although he was picky in his roles, you cannot deny the fact that Sam was very dedicated to the roles he chooses.
This includes shaving his head in order to get the right look. He has said that he will do just about anything for the job.
Turning Down And turning Up
We all know Sam from his supporting role of Wade Garrett in the film Road House. However, he was originally offered the role of Brad Wesley and turned down that role.
The casting director then offered him the role of Wade Garrett, to which he said yes.
Road House
When he got the chance to act in Road House, it was undoubtedly one of his best career decisions.
He became more popular and fans loved his role as a mentor to James Dalton.
The Big Lebowski
In the The Big Lebowski, which was written by the Coen brothers, Sam did not have a big role. But once again, he proved that it was not the size of the role that mattered but what you do with it. He took up the role of a stranger, which eventually became well-known.
It is obvious that the Coen brothers had Sam in mind when writing the script since when Elliott was going through the pages; he noticed it was written: “the voice-over sounds not unlike Sam Elliott.” His character was also described as “looking like a drugstore cowboy, looking not unlike Sam Elliott.”
The Big Lebowski Spin-Off
There were a lot of rumors that there will be a spin-off of The Big Lebowski.
When Sam Elliott was asked about the rumors and whether he would like to recast his character, all he said to say was that he hopes there will be and that they keep him updated about it.
His Name In The Script
As mentioned earlier, Elliott’s name was in the script of The Big Lebowski. With descriptions that mentioned him, it was clear that the character was written especially for him.
It’s like the scriptwriters tried their luck at getting him to accept the role by including his name in the script!
Working With Jeff Bridges
Sam’s role in the The Big Lebowski opened the opportunity for him to play Kermit Newman in The Contender. The director of the film, Rod Lurie, liked how Elliott and Jeff Bridges worked together.
When Bridges decided to join the film, Rod also sent Elliott a script. Luckily, he accepted the offer.
Trouble At Home
In 2011, there was a serious family drama that caught the attention of the media. It was reported that Elliott’s wife Katharine filed a restraining order against their daughter Cleo.
Katharine testified that her 21-year-old daughter stabbed her with a pair of scissors and made death threats. The 71-year-old mother filed a report and Cleo was ordered to stay 100 yards from her at all times.
Missing Judgement Day
When court day came, neither party showed up and the case was dismissed.
The two made amends and they are now working to build a strong and healthy relationship. Cleo is now a musician based in California.
Quite A ‘Stach
One thing that sets Sam Elliott apart from other actors in Hollywood is his mustache. Not everyone can pull it off for decades. It remains one of his iconic features and has played a major role in his success in the entertainment industry.
In fact, he has been inducted into the International Moustache Hall of Fame in 2015. Other mustache men who have received this great honor include Tom Selleck and Burt Reynolds.
Other Awards
Despite all the success landing roles he has had over the years, it did not stop there. Sam has been nominated for two primetime Emmy Awards and Two Golden Globe Awards.
He has also won five Western Heritage Awards, Critics Choice Television Award, Golden Boot Award, Newport Beach Film Festival Award, and Broadcast Film Critics Association Award. Impressive, to say the least.
In His Blood
When asked how he played the cowboy persona so well, Elliott admitted that he had a family heritage that traces to the old West.
They had relatives in Alamo and he believes this connection is what draws him to such roles.
Not Just An Actor
Sam Elliott is not just an incredible actor; he is talented in other areas too. He has been involved in things like writing, producing, and singing as well.
He sang the track, “I Won’t Back Down” in the animated film Barnyard where he plays the character of “Ben the Cow.”
Never Giving Up Hope
It took five marriages for Katharine Ross to find lasting love and it was her hope that made her give Sam Elliott a chance. No one would imagine she would find true love after her fourth divorce.
Although not many people thought their marriage would last, the two have been married for 33 years now. When asked what kept them together, Elliott noted that they share sensibilities and that they work well together.
Not The Usual Hollywood Couple
This is definitely not the usual Hollywood couple, which is known to have short-lived marriages. Sam and Katharine have surpassed this notion and have had a successful marriage.
Sam explains that his two main goals when he was starting out were to have a successful career and then a happy marriage and family.
In Its Richest Form
Elliott believes that he has been very fortunate in his life thanks to his amazing career and endorsements. Along with acting, he also owns properties and does voiceovers.
It is estimated that Elliott’s net worth is $16 million while his wife’s net worth is $5 million.
Hollywood Advantage
Sam made it to Hollywood while the “studio system” was still alive. When in Fox Studios, he got in good with the staff who allowed him to check new scripts even before the casting directors got them!
He would then approach the directors if he liked the script. Talk about a go-getter.
Smokey Bear
Most people didn’t know that Elliott’s remarkable voice got him voicing the character of “Smokey Bear’’ in 2008. This character was used to create awareness of wildfire dangers.
He was able to portray the voice of a talking bear and delivered the message in a friendly, reliable, and approachable manner.
Critical Of Himself
It is hard to believe that someone as successful as Sam Elliott would be critical of himself at one point. However, that’s not the case.
During an interview with IMDB, Sam lamented how he hadn’t had formal training in his career. He even said he would love to try old roles once again if given the chance.