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Sam Elliott

Acting Born Aug 9, 1944 Sacramento, California, USA 122 credits

Biography

Samuel Pack Elliott is an American actor born on August 9, 1944, in Sacramento, California. Known for his rangy physique, thick horseshoe mustache, and a deep, resonant voice characterized by a Western twang, Elliott has cultivated a distinct screen presence. These physical and vocal attributes have contributed to his iconic image as a cowboy or rancher, a persona that has frequently defined his casting throughout his professional career. As of the current records, he is 81 years old. His professional identity is firmly established within the industry as a performer whose specific aesthetic qualities align with traditional Western character archetypes.

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Career

Career overview

Sam Elliott has maintained a prolific career in the entertainment industry, accumulating 118 known credits as an actor. His work spans both television and film, where his consistent ability to portray rugged, Western-themed characters has made him a recognizable figure to audiences. Throughout his tenure in the industry, he has leveraged his unique vocal delivery and physical stature to secure roles that emphasize his established screen persona. His career is marked by a sustained presence in the field, reflecting a long-standing commitment to his craft as a performer. By specializing in roles that lean into his natural attributes, Elliott has built a substantial body of work that spans over a century of individual project credits. His professional trajectory demonstrates a clear alignment between his personal characteristics and the specific types of roles for which he is most frequently cast. This focus has allowed him to remain a consistent and identifiable presence in film and television productions, contributing to his status as a veteran actor with an extensive portfolio of performances.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

The Gettysburg AddressThe Coen Brothers - An American Story
Landman
National Memorial Day Concert
1883MacGruber
Lady and the TrampThe Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the BigfootI Am Patrick Swayze
A Star Is BornThe Road to Stardom: The Making of A Star Is Born
AudubonThe Hero
The RanchRock DogLimbo
The Late Show with Stephen ColbertGrace and FrankieThe Good DinosaurGrandmaDigging for Fire
Variety Studio: Actors on ActorsOff Camera with Sam JonesDraft Day
Milius
The Company You Keep
The Big BangNovember Christmas
JustifiedMarmaduke
Parks and RecreationUp in the AirDid You Hear About the Morgans?
Ghost RiderThe Golden CompassSpirit of Vengeance: Making Ghost Rider
BarnyardThe AlibiAvenger
American Dad!Robot ChickenRobot ChickenThank You for Smoking
HulkOff the Map
We Were SoldiersThe Making of 'Tombstone'
Pretty When You Cry
The ContenderFail Safe
Family GuyFamily GuyYou Know My Name
The Big LebowskiThe Hi-Lo Country
Rough RidersDog WatchBig Guns Talk: The Story of the Western
Woman Undone
The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the SkyThe Final CutBuffalo GirlsBlue River
The Desperate Trail
TombstoneGettysburgFugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert
RushConagherConagher · ProducerConagher · Teleplay

Full filmography

  • The Gettysburg Address (2025) as Ward Hill Lamon (voice)
  • The Coen Brothers - An American Story (2025) as Self
  • Landman (2024) as Thomas 'T.L.' Norris
  • National Memorial Day Concert (2023) as Self
  • 1883 (2021) as Shea Brennan
  • MacGruber (2021) as Perry MacGruber
  • Lady and the Tramp (2019) as Trusty (voice)
  • The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2019) as Calvin Barr
  • I Am Patrick Swayze (2019) as Self
  • A Star Is Born (2018) as Bobby Maine
  • The Road to Stardom: The Making of A Star Is Born (2018) as Self
  • Audubon (2017) as Narrator (voice)
  • The Hero (2017) as Lee Hayden
  • The Ranch (2016) as Beau
  • Rock Dog (2016) as Fleetwood Yak (voice)
  • Limbo (2016) as The Dog (voice)
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self
  • Grace and Frankie (2015) as Phil
  • The Good Dinosaur (2015) as Butch (voice)
  • Grandma (2015) as Karl
  • Digging for Fire (2015) as Pop Pop
  • I'll See You in My Dreams (2015) as Bill
  • A Tale of Two Cities (2015) as Narrator (voice)
  • A Tale of Two Cities: Part 2 (2015) as Narrator (voice)
  • Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (2014) as Self
  • Off Camera with Sam Jones (2014) as Self
  • Draft Day (2014) as Coach Moore
  • Milius (2013) as Self
  • The Company You Keep (2012) as Mac McLeod
  • The Big Bang (2011) as Simon Kestral
  • November Christmas (2011) as Jess Sanford
  • Justified (2010) as Avery Markham
  • Marmaduke (2010) as Chupadogra (voice)
  • Parks and Recreation (2009) as Ron Dunn
  • Up in the Air (2009) as Maynard Finch
  • Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009) as Clay Wheeler
  • Ghost Rider (2007) as Carter Slade / Phantom Rider
  • The Golden Compass (2007) as Lee Scoresby
  • Spirit of Vengeance: Making Ghost Rider (2007) as Self
  • Barnyard (2006) as Ben (voice)
  • The Alibi (2006) as The Mormon
  • Avenger (2006) as Calvin Dexter
  • American Dad! (2005) as Big John Tanner (voice)
  • Robot Chicken (2005) as White Wine Narrator / Skito / Reporter (voice)
  • Robot Chicken (2005) as Sam Elliott / Commissioner Gordon (voice)
  • Thank You for Smoking (2005) as Lorne Lutch
  • Hulk (2003) as Ross
  • Off the Map (2003) as Charley
  • We Were Soldiers (2002) as Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley
  • The Making of 'Tombstone' (2002) as Self
  • Pretty When You Cry (2001) as Detective Lukas Black
  • The Contender (2000) as Kermit Newman
  • Fail Safe (2000) as Congressman Raskob
  • Family Guy (1999) as Sam Elliott (voice)
  • Family Guy (1999) as Wild Wild West (voice)
  • You Know My Name (1999) as Bill Tilghman
  • The Big Lebowski (1998) as The Stranger
  • The Hi-Lo Country (1998) as Jim Ed Love
  • Rough Riders (1997) as Capt. Bucky O'Neil
  • Dog Watch (1997) as Charlie Falon
  • Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western (1997) as Self
  • Woman Undone (1996) as Ross Bishop
  • The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky (1995) as Bill Bell
  • The Final Cut (1995) as John Pierce
  • Buffalo Girls (1995) as Wild Bill Hickok
  • Blue River (1995) as Henry Howland
  • The Desperate Trail (1994) as Marshall Bill Speakes
  • Tombstone (1993) as Virgil Earp
  • Gettysburg (1993) as Brig. Gen. John Buford
  • Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert (1993) as Lyn Cutter
  • Rush (1991) as Dodd
  • Conagher (1991) as Conn Conagher
  • Conagher (1991) Producer
  • Conagher (1991) Teleplay
  • Sibling Rivalry (1990) as Charles Turner, Jr.
  • Road House (1989) as Wade Garrett
  • Prancer (1989) as John Riggs
  • Shakedown (1988) as Richie Marks
  • The World's Greatest Stunts: A Tribute to Hollywood Stuntmen (1988) as Self
  • The Quick and the Dead (1987) as Con Villian
  • Fatal Beauty (1987) as Mike Marshak
  • Houston: The Legend of Texas (1986) as Sam Houston
  • The Blue Lightning (1986) as Harry Wingate
  • Mask (1985) as Gar
  • A Death in California (1985) as D. Jordan Williams
  • I Will Fight No More Forever (1985) as Captain Wood
  • The Yellow Rose (1983) as Chance McKenzie
  • Travis McGee (1983) as Travis McGee
  • The Shadow Riders (1982) as Dal Traven
  • Murder in Texas (1981) as Dr. John Hill
  • Wild Times (1980) as Hugh Cardiff
  • The Sacketts (1979) as Tell Sacket
  • The Legacy (1978) as Pete Danner
  • Aspen (1977) as Tom Keating
  • Once an Eagle (1976) as Sam Damon
  • Lifeguard (1976) as Rick Carlson
  • Police Woman (1974) as Michael Gregory
  • The Manhunter (1974)
  • Evel Knievel (1974) as Evel Knievel
  • Hawkins (1973) as Luther Wilkes
  • The Blue Knight (1973) as Detective Charlie Bronski
  • Doc Elliot (1973)
  • The Blue Knight (1973) as Detective Charlie Bronski
  • The Streets of San Francisco (1972) as Ken Johnson
  • Frogs (1972) as Pickett Smith
  • Molly and Lawless John (1972) as Johnny Lawler
  • Assault on the Wayne (1971) as Ens. William 'Bill' Sandover
  • The Challenge (1970) as Bryant
  • The Games (1970) as Richie Robinson
  • Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) as Card Player #2
  • Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Jack Houston
  • The Mod Squad (1968)
  • Land of the Giants (1968) as Martin Reed
  • Lancer (1968)
  • Mannix (1967)
  • The Way West (1967) as Missouri Townsman (uncredited)
  • Mission: Impossible (1966) as Doug Robert
  • Felony Squad (1966)
  • The F.B.I. (1965) as SAC Kendall Lisbon
  • Gunsmoke (1955) as Cory Soames
  • Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
  • Grendel as The Dragon