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.
1961
1952
1968
1966
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1952
1961
1981
1957
1969
1979
1956
1976
1991
1971
1984
1957
1968
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1953
1978
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1957
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1967
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1976
1966
1953
1952
1961
1978
1963
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1955
1971
1997
1957
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1951
1987
1969
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1974
1955
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1982
1981
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1967
1972
1971
1988
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1968
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1988
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1990
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1979
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1983
1992
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1990
1976
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1972
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1986
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1978
1981
1993
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1969
1956
1973
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1951
1977
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2004
1987
1952
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1983
1993
1995
1974
1984
1970
1976
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1975
1968
1955
1981
1971
1976
1970
1955
1965
1991
1981
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1957
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1977
1981
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1967
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1961
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1971
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1978
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1972
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