What Even The Biggest Fans Of Sam Elliott Don’t Know About His Life Story
For 50 years, actor Sam Elliott has graced the big screen and the silver screen, portraying the quintessential western cowboy. His iconic mustache, deep voice, and natural talent have made him a memorable actor with nearly 100 film and tv credits to his name, as well as two Golden Globe nominations.
Off-screen, Elliott's personal life is just as interesting as his acting career. Elliott has created quite the life for himself as one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood. See what led him to where he is today.
Elliott's Father Didn't Support His Acting Dreams
Born in Sacramento, California in 1944, Sam Elliott knew that he wanted to become an actor from the time he was nine-years-old. His father Henry, who worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, did not support Elliott's dreams.
But his boyhood dreams grew even bigger, and around the time he was 18-years-old, Elliott was ready and committed to pursuing his passion for acting. His father never came around, and also never saw the success that Elliott would go on to enjoy.
Henry Elliott Died When Sam Was a Young Man
Just as Elliot was enrolling in college and making plans to become an actor, his father Henry suffered a heart attack and tragically passed away. Elliott was saddened that he wouldn't have the opportunity to show his father how successful he could become.
Elliott recalled, "He died thinking, 'Man, this kid is going to go down the wrong path.'" But Elliott knew the talent he had inside him and took the leap anyway.
Elliott Received Glowing Reviews for His First Role
Although he knew that he wanted to become an actor, Elliott enrolled at the University of Oregon. He last just two terms before dropping out, and then switching to Clark College in nearby Vancouver, Washington. There, he played his first starring role in a local production of Guys and Dolls.
He was elated when a local newspaper reviewed the play and remarked that Elliott looked and sounded like a professional actor. This was the confirmation and encouragement he needed to take the next steps.
Elliott Worked Construction While Auditioning For Roles
While many actors turn to waiting tables in order to make ends meet as they're starting out, Elliott went a different route. To pay the rent while he auditioned for roles around Hollywood, Elliott worked as a construction worker.
The strong work ethic that his father instilled in him drove him to work hard at his blue-collar job while also following his passion. Elliott said of his father, "He had a work ethic that I've fashioned mine after, and I think him for that every day."
Still A Struggling Actor, Elliott Joined the Army National Guard
It's incredible how many turns Elliot's life has taken him. While still struggling to land acting roles, he enlisted in the California Army National Guard. Making the best of the situation, Elliott attributes his discipline and leadership skills to his time spent serving.
At the time, Elliott had no idea that his hard work and perseverance would soon pay off, and lead him to earn nearly 100 film credits and become one of the most iconic actors in cowboy and soldier roles.
Gaining Traction in Hollywood
Of course, starting out, Elliott's first roles weren't big. He was cast as a one-episode character named Jack in the TV series The Felony Squad. However, producers were impressed by his performance in the episode "Kiss Me, Kill You" and he was asked to return for two more episodes.
Earl on, however, it was clear that Elliott was well-suited to Westerns, with his deep voice and full mustache. His first film role was right around the corner...
His First Film: Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
On the bright side, Elliott's first film was an Oscar-winner. On the downside, the character he played wasn't even given a name. Elliott appeared in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid for his first feature film role, but played the character named "Card Player #2".
The role he was cast wasn't big enough to leave an impression on anyone in Hollywood, but it got his foot in the door. There was much more in store for Elliott.
Elliott Paid his Dues and Began Working as an Actor Full-Time
Elliott didn't become a Hollywood star overnight. He paid his dues with small roles and worked tirelessly to build up his acting portfolio. By the 1970s, Elliott was able to quit his construction job and work full-time as an actor.
He landed roles in The Challenge and Assault on the Wayne, but unfortunately, both films skipped the theater and went straight to television. Finally, in 1972, Elliott played a role in the horror film Frogs, which made it to the big screen.
His Best Performances Were On TV Shows
Elliott's acting roles became more consistent and from 1970-1971 he was tapped for a recurring role on the TV show Mission Impossible as Doug Robert. From there, Elliott was cast in Gunsmoke and the Mod Squad and played Evel Knievel in the made for TV biopic of the same name.
By the late '70s, Elliott had made a name for himself in Hollywood. Other roles include the starring role as Rick Carlson in Lifeguard (1976) and Sam Damon in Once an Eagle.
Sam Elliott Met Katherine Ross While Filming The Legacy
Sam Elliott's first starring role in a film was The Legacy, released in 1978. This was an important film not only for Elliott's professional career, but his personal life too. It was on the set of The Legacy that Elliott met and fell in love with actress Katherine Ross. Ironically, they both had roles in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid but had never met.
While the film grossed $4 million, the critics were underwhelmed, with one commenting, "The Legacy doesn't remotely work in the way it was intended to."
Elliott Was Initially Too Shy To Talk To Katherine Ross
While many might think that Elliott carries the same confidence as the characters that he plays, it's quite the opposite in his personal life-- at least when it comes to dating. Elliott admitted that he was drawn to Katerine Ross, but he couldn't muster up the courage to walk up to her and talk to her on the set of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
"I didn't dare try to talk to her then." Elliott recalled, "She was the leading lady. I was a shadow on the wall, a glorified extra in a bar scene." As fate would have it, Elliott got his second chance on the set of The Legacy.
Elliott's Memorable Scene in The Legacy
The Legacy launched Elliott's career and personal life and marked plenty of first's for the up-and-coming actor. It was also his first nude scene! Fans of the film notably enjoyed Elliott baring it all, with one film critic referring to the scene as "The Bare Facts".
This also proved that Elliott would go to any length (in good taste) to become a successful actor. He also caught the eye of his costar that he was pining after.
Katherine Ross Loved The Whole Package
Soon, actress Katherine Ross was falling for Sam Elliott, and he was feeling it too. When asked what drew her to Elliot, his mustache? His voice? His manly demeanor? She responded, "Probably all that and more."
It was clear that the two actors had incredible chemistry on the set and things were heating up between the two of them. Ross admitted, "we were working together, and one thing led to another."
Ross Was Still Married At The Time
While there was clearly romance between Sam Elliott and Katherine Ross on the set of The Legacy, they couldn't do much about it, as Ross was already married to Gaetano Lisi. Elliott and Ross' attraction to each other was controversial and they had to tread carefully.
Then, a year after The Legacy was released, Ross divorced her fourth husband and Elliott and Ross started a relationship. Although he didn't have the courage to even talk to her just years before, Elliott was now with his dream leading lady.
Sam Elliott Always Stayed True To Himself
After Elliott bared it all in The Legacy, his female fanbase skyrocketed. Soon he was even labeled as a sex symbol. Once word spread about his relationship with Ross, the couple was featured on the cover of Playgirl, named "Hollywood's Sexiest Couple".
In the interview with the magazine, Elliott remarked that he didn't want to be labeled a sex symbol, stating, "There's a great stigma that goes with that tag. I want to be Sam Elliott." There's no doubt that Elliott has remained authentically himself throughout his career.
He Dropped A Role After He Became Sick
Elliott dodged a bad film in 1982. He was cast to play the role of Paul Marshall in the made for television film The Ambush Murders. Elliott's character was the lawyer of a black activist accused of murdering two white police officers. During filming, Elliott became so sick that he had to drop the film and focus on his health.
Actor James Brolin stepped in to play the role. It ended up being a good thing that Elliott didn't commit any more of his time to the film, as it turned out to be a major flop.
Elliott And Ross Married In 1984
Five years after the couple started dating, Elliott and Ross were married in 1984. They were madly in love and within a year's time, Ross gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter named Cleo Rose Elliott.
But the relationship wouldn't always go smoothly for the two Hollywood stars. Although he had a new wife and baby, Elliott's career was only getting busier, and he wasn't about to slow down now.
Their Marriage Wasn't Easy
While he didn't want to be labeled as a sex symbol, Elliott didn't shy away from the press. Fans were interested in Hollywood's hottest couple but Elliott didn't sugarcoat their romance. True to himself, the actor was always honest in his interviews.
Elliott commented on his new marriage, saying, "It is really hard, especially when one is working and the other is not. That said, she is a pretty stable girl who has been around the block, and she is thrilled I am working as much as I am." He wasn't ready to let go of his career or his woman.
His Agent Called During His Honeymoon, Asking Him To Audition
Elliott always sought to find balance, between his profession and his personal life at home. While he was on his honeymoon with Ross in Hawai'i, Elliott received a call from his agent, asking him to come back to California to audition for a role in Mask.
Although the role enticed him, Elliott knew he couldn't desert his bride on their honeymoon. Luckily, his agent was able to work around Elliott's schedule and have him audition at a later time. Playing Cher's biker boyfriend in Mask became one of Elliott's most memorable film roles.
The Couple Made it Back in Time for the Audition
While Elliott didn't desert his new bride on their honeymoon, he explained to Ross what was going on. The film was important to him and Elliott didn't want to let the opportunity of the role in Mask pass him by. Luckily Ross, an actress herself, understood her new husband's desire for the role.
Ross herself called up Elliott's agent and said that the couple would be back to California in time for him to audition for the role. The Los Angeles Times called his performance in Mask, "compassionate" and equal to Cher's.
His Is Remembered Best For Playing Cowboys
Although he played a biker in the film Mask, Elliott was already being typecast as a cowboy. He was such a natural fit on screen playing roles in The Quick and the Dead, You Know My Name and Tombstone. It wasn't hard for moviegoers to imagine Elliott as a real-life character in the wild west.
In fact, Elliott was even inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 2007, located in Oklahoma City.
Elliott Pays Homage to His Father Through His Roles
The work ethic that Elliott's father instilled in him proved to be strong. As of June 2018, Elliott racked up 99 film and television credits throughout his acting career. If his father was still around, there's a good reason to believe he'd be proud of his son's hard-earned success.
The characters that Elliott has played in his career also reflect the men he grew up around. He describes his father and male role models as "all men's men and outdoorsmen". It's clear that Elliott has a great deal of admiration and respect for his late father.
He Says His Voice Keeps Getting Deeper
While Elliott's voice has always been deep and recognizable, some have noticed that its tone has hardened a bit from his earlier years as an actor. Elliott agrees and attributes it to getting older, saying his voice has gotten deeper and more rugged over the years.
His fans are still loving it, and his costar on The Ranch, Ashton Kutcher, says that he likes Elliott's voice so much, he thinks the actor should narrate anything and everything.
Sam Shares His Secret To Success
Once the ball got rolling on Sam Elliott's career, there was no stopping it. He's played an incredible amount of roles over the last 50 years, both on television and film. His performances have led to him being a top actor in Hollywood, earning the respect of fellow actors.
So what's the secret to his success? Elliott said, "be careful about what kind of work you do," explaining that he believes being selective in the roles he chooses has allowed him to maintain a steady flow of meaningful work.
He Turned Down The Role Of Brad Wesley In Road House
Here's proof in the pudding. Elliott was offered the role of antagonist Brad Wesley in the film Road House. However, Elliott decided that he wasn't interested. Producers kept calling him, but he still refused. Eventually, he agreed to be apart of the film if he took a different role.
So, Elliott played Wade Garrett while Ben Gazarra played the part of Wesley. In the end, it was Elliott's performance that shined as the character of Garrett, while Gazarra's performance as Wesley was more or less forgettable.
He Made a Cameo in The Big Lebowski
Do you remember Sam Elliott's cameo in the bowling alley scene of The Big Lebowski? Elliott plays the part of "the stranger" in the film. The actor believed he was being called upon to play a certain role that seemed like a good fit for him.
Years later, after the film was released, Elliott looked at the script and realized that the writers in fact, wanted exactly him for the role. They noted in the script, "the voice-over sounds not unlike Sam Elliott," and "a drugstore cowboy, looking not unlike Sam Elliott".
Working With Jeff Bridges and Rod Lurie Again
After seeing the chemistry between actors Jeff Bridges and Sam Elliott on the set of The Big Lebowski, director and screenwriter Rob Lurie wanted to cast the two of them together in a different project. Bridges on board for The Contender and so producers offered Elliott a co-starring role in the film.
Elliott was happy to accept, as the role in the political thriller film was offset from the typical cowboy character he often portrayed.
A Scary Situation at Home
While his career was steady and successful, things at home became complicated for Elliott. In a terrible incident, Elliott and Ross' 26-year-old daughter Cleo grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed her mother with them, while threatening to kill her.
Cleo's actions forced the couple to obtain a restraining order from their daughter. They remained together while distancing themselves from their daughter, making every effort to keep their marriage strong.
They Made Amends
Thankfully, since then, the family of three has mended their relationship and everyone is back on good terms. The temporary restraining order expired without the couple seeking to extend it.
Cleo got her life together and is living in Malibu, working on becoming a musician. Although she hasn't had her big break yet, if Cleo has the same work ethic as her father, she won't stop until she finds success.
His Mustache Was Inducted Into The Hall of Fame
You can't talk about Sam Elliott without mentioning his mustache. He has one of the most famous mustaches in the world and was proven when he was inducted into the Mustache Hall of Fame (yes, there is such a thing).
Elliott was inducted in 2015, alongside the good company of Tom Selleck, Burt Reynolds, and Billy Dee Williams. We couldn't imagine Sam Elliott without his stache, nor do we want to.
Does He Really Have Cowboy Roots?
Can you think of anyone who has starred in more western films and TV shows than Sam Elliott? Although he was born in Sacramento and grew up in the Portland, Oregon area, Elliott is able to trace some roots back to cowboys.
The actor said that although he didn't grow up on a ranch, "my family had a relative in the Alamo." Once he hit it big, he also bought a seaside ranch in Malibu where he and Ross still live today.
He Contributed as a Writer and Producer on The Ranch
Cast as the father on the Netflix TV show The Ranch, Elliott also began working behind the camera as a writer and producer on the show. Although it was approved for a third season in July of 2017, the timing wasn't great.
News broke that actor Danny Masterson was accused of multiple sexual assault allegations, and Netflix decided that they needed to cut him from the show. His character only appeared in a few more episodes before going missing after a motorcycle accident and cut from the script.
Elliott and Ross' Marriage Has Survived It All
Although their marriage didn't start off easy; with Katharine Ross still in her fourth marriage and Elliott's career beginning to take off, they made it through the tough times and are still together today.
When asked how the couple makes their marriage so strong, Elliott replied, "We have a common sensibility, but we also work at being together." He also added that they face their problems head-on instead of avoiding them or allowing them to grow out of control.
Elliott Is Happy With Where Life Has Taken Him
While things didn't always come easy, Sam Elliott is more than content with the life he's lead, and where he's at now. "They two things that I wanted in my life were to have a movie career and to be married, to have a family."
Now with nearly 100 film and TV roles, a beautiful wife and a musically-talented daughter, Elliott has it all. He's living happily on his seaside Malibu ranch in what he calls, "an embarrassment of riches."
He Doesn't Want To Talk About His Millions
Elliott jokes that he lives in "an embarrassment or riches" for all his hard work. He may not want to mention it, but how much exactly is his net worth? Reportedly around $16 million.
Aside from making his money acting and producing, Elliott puts his legendary voice to use doing voice-over work for animation. He also owns three properties: his seaside Malibu Ranch, a home in Willamette Valley in Oregon, and his childhood home in northeast Portland, Oregon.
Sam Made Hollywood Work For Him
It's tough getting into Hollywood, and once Sam Elliott was there, he wanted to make sure that he stayed there. While working on a Hollywood lot under a long-term contract with a studio, Elliott learned that the building next to them was the law offices of FOX.
Elliott became friendly with the staff who worked there and was then able to get his hands on and read the new scripts that were approved. If he liked a certain role, he would pitch himself to the casting directors before the other actors even knew about it.
Sam Elliott... Is That You?
We mentioned that Elliott did a number of voice-over work to supplement his acting, but did you recognize him as the voice of Smokey the Bear? He began voicing the character in 2008 continuing on for ten years.
If anyone can convince us all that we need to pay better attention to the danger of wildfires, it's Sam Elliott. This is definitely one of the more surprising roles that he's taken on during his 50-year career.
If He Could Change One Thing, It Would Be This
Not only is Sam Elliott a hard worker, but he's also a perfectionist. While he never could have known how his life would play out, he wishes that he had formal training as an actor in his earlier days. That way, he might have landed a wider variety of roles.
He's admitted to going back and watching his performances, thinking about what he would have done differently. If he had been given formal training, he says, he "might have been a more interesting actor."
He Fights With The Writers Until They Get It Right
On the set, Sam Elliott has a reputation for being stubborn with the writers and producers, insisting that they make changes before he does the take. "I'd rather be a pain in the [expletive] and make better art," he says.
Elliott makes sure that the script is the best it can be before they film, even if it means rewriting entire passages himself right beforehand. Keeping his standards high has always been a theme in his acting career.
He Believes In The Morality Of Westerns
Elliott says that his respect for western stories has led him to become an icon of western film and TV. He relates to the hard-working mentality and morality of the characters in the scripts that he selects, often not seen in today's modern society.
When asked what attracts him to these types of roles, Elliott replied, "I think it has something to do with integrity and a man's word and honor and all that kind of stuff-- values, morality."