Earl Holliman
Earl Holliman | |
---|---|
Born | Henry Earl Holliman[1] September 11, 1928 Delhi, Louisiana, U.S. |
Education | Pasadena Playhouse University of California, Los Angeles |
Occupation(s) | Actor, activist, singer |
Years active | 1952–2000 Partner: Anthony George |
Henry Earl Holliman (born September 11, 1928) is an American actor,
Early life and education
Holliman was born on September 11, 1928, in Delhi, Louisiana.[1] His biological father William A. Frost was a farmer.[2] His mother Mary Smith[3] was living in poverty with several other children[4] and gave him up for adoption at birth, while her other children were sent to orphanages until she could take them all back, which she did.[1] Earl was the seventh of ten children overall[2] and, in later years, he was able to reconnect and establish relationships with them.[4] He was adopted a week after his birth by Henry Holliman,[5] a traveling oilfield worker, and his wife Velma,[6] a waitress, who then gave him the name Henry Earl Holliman.[1] He was so frail in his infancy that one doctor predicted he would not live long enough to see childhood, but when Velma's sister provided him with a generous dose of castor oil shortly after, the ingredients proved to heal him tremendously and helped save his life.[7] Although his upbringing and family history have strong ties to Louisiana, during his teenage years he and his family lived in Kerrville, Texas, for a time[8] as well as some parts of Arkansas[9] (which he once stated made him out to be a "red-blooded Ark-La-Texan"[9]).
Holliman's early years were normal until Henry died when he was 13.[10] Earl credited Henry and Velma with providing him with so much love and encouragement [11] that despite their own poverty[7] they helped him in terms of looking deep within himself to discover his self-confidence in converting his dreams into reality.[2] In addition, when he began his career in films, Velma was so supportive of him that she once even went to a theatre in Louisiana an hour before it opened just so she could be the first attendee present. She wanted to see him in his first major film appearance and to work with the theatre manager, show columnist, and a friend of the family to go through a vast set of stills for that particular movie so she could begin the composition of an album for him reflecting the start of his professional career as an actor.[12]
Holliman saved money from his positions as an usher at the
Holliman returned home, worked in the oilfields in his spare time,[10] washed dishes at various restaurants,[13] and after some attendance at Louisiana Avenue, Fair Park, and Byrd High School in Shreveport, completed his public education at Oil City High School in Oil City, graduating with high honors[10] in 1946; while a student there, he also played right tackle on the school football team[11] and served as senior-class president.[13] After rejecting a scholarship to Louisiana State University,[10] he re-enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.[10] Interested in acting, he was cast as the lead in several Norfolk Navy Theatre productions.[17] When he left the Navy for good, he studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.[18] He also graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles.[19] During the time he studied acting at both the Playhouse and UCLA, he supplemented his income working as a file clerk for Blue Cross (later known as Blue Cross Blue Shield Association)[20] and with North American Aviation constructing airplanes.[13]
Career
Film
While at the Pasadena Playhouse, Holliman entered the Paramount lot by claiming he had an appointment with a studio barber. Eventually he became friendly with studio executives.[21] Holliman first got a small bit part opposite Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in Scared Stiff (1953). Next he was cast as a marine in The Girls of Pleasure Island (1953), for which he needed a G.I. haircut. Finally he saw the barber and ended up with a haircut (and bangs) that changed his life.[22]
After he gained popularity in his image following a change in hairstyle, he then followed with three more films released in 1953.
Holliman played a doomed helicopter crewman in the William Holden war drama The Bridges at Toko-Ri and a gangster's double-crossed thug in The Big Combo. He co-starred with Jack Palance in the crime drama I Died a Thousand Times (1955), a remake of High Sierra. He starred in The Rainmaker (1956), opposite Katharine Hepburn and Burt Lancaster, playing a rancher's timid son, who finally must defy his brother to gain self-respect, for which he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture;[23] he was cast in the role instead of Elvis Presley.[24] His role in Rainmaker brought him such praise that columnist Louella Parsons cited him being "as dedicated as though he were Marlon Brando and Anthony Perkins combined".[25]
He was the soft-spoken son-in-law of rancher Bick Benedict, played by
Television
Holliman became known to television audiences through his portrayal as Sundance in
In 1962, Claude Akins and he guest-starred as a pair of feuding brothers in "The Stubborn Stumbos" episode of Marilyn Maxwell's ABC drama series Bus Stop. In 1965, he guest-starred on 12 O'Clock High as Lt. Steiger, a pilot who learns to appreciate life after being assigned a dangerous mission and winning the lottery.[26] In 1967, Holliman guest-starred on Wayne Maunder's short-lived ABC military-Western series Custer. In 1970, Holliman starred in the TV movie Tribes as the antagonist Master Sergeant Frank DePayster, co-starring with Darren McGavin and Jan-Michael Vincent. In 1970 and 1971, Holliman made two appearances in the Western comedy series Alias Smith and Jones starring Pete Duel (né Deuel) and Ben Murphy.
From 1974 to 1978, he portrayed Sergeant Bill Crowley opposite Angie Dickinson in the Police Woman series. He co-starred in all 91 episodes of the hit series (which he later remarked changed his life),[27] playing the police department superior of undercover officer Pepper Anderson. He later took part in The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast comedy roast of co-star Dickinson on August 2, 1977.
Holliman continued to appear in television guest roles throughout the 1970s to 1990s. He shared a starring role in the CBS movie Country Gold (a made for television remake of
He was an occasional celebrity on the $25,000 and $100,000 Pyramid game shows between 1983 and 1991. In 1991 and 1994, Holliman had two guest-star roles on
Music
From 1958 to 1963, Holliman found a brief but successful career as a singer, and had a record deal with such notable recording studios as
Stage
After Wide Country ended its run in April 1963, Holliman spent the next two months traveling the country in the acclaimed musical
From September 15 to October 14, 1981, he starred in a stage production of
Personal life
In 1960, he lived in
During the late 1970s, he served as the national honorary chairman for the
He is a
Holliman supported the re-election of
Holliman is known for his work as an animal rights activist, including serving for more than 25 years as president of Actors and Others for Animals.[50] He is well known for nursing animals on his own property, at one point feeding roughly 500 pigeons in a day, as well as healing a wounded dove and a blind opossum inside his home.[28]
For many years, he was one of many in the film community to help organize meals during the Christmas season for the less fortunate at the Los Angeles Mission.[51]
Holliman has been a longtime resident of
Holliman has never been married and was seemingly
Awards and nominations
In addition to his Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture for The Rainmaker, he also earned a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Television Series" for his performance alongside Delta Burke in the short-lived 1992 sitcom Delta.[23]
For his contributions to the television industry, Holliman has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6901 Hollywood Blvd.[56]
Filmography
Conflation with Anthony Earl Numkena
For several years, various sources erroneously reported that Earl Holliman's original name was Anthony Earl Numkena.[57][58][59] In fact, Numkena was a child actor, born in 1942, who appeared in the film Pony Soldier (1952).[60] Holliman is not in the film even though some sources claim he is.[61]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4422-4274-6. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Veteran Holliman returns to TV". Quad-City Times. October 5, 1991. p. 2B – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mother Of Actor Earl Holliman Dies In Delhi". The Monroe News-Star. January 25, 1973. p. 3C. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ The Shreveport Times November 23, 1941, Page 2.
- ^ "Velma Holliman Bellotte Obituary". Los Angeles Times. February 5, 1985. p. 6 Part II.
- ^ a b Inman, Julia (November 8, 1970). "Holliman's Luck Has Held Up After Bad Start". The Indianapolis Star. p. 2. Retrieved January 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Arcadia". Kerrville Daily Times. January 13, 1988. p. 14A – via newspapers.com.
- ^ The Shreveport Times. p. 14-A. Retrieved January 21, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e Martin, Bob (March 4, 1973). "Earl Holliman: actor with desire for variety". Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. p. Tele Vues 1. Retrieved August 7, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Close-Up: Actor Earl Holliman". Box Office Mojo.
- ^ "Mrs Guy Bellotte Follows Earl Holliman's Career". The Shreveport Times. March 25, 1954. p. 14-A – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e Alexander, Pericles (November 30, 1952). "On With The Show: Haircut Puts Local Theatre Usher in Films". The Shreveport Times. p. 14-A. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- ^ "Profile: Earl Holliman". The Bemidji Pioneer. August 5, 1977. p. 25. Retrieved May 12, 2019 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
- ^ Martin, Bob (March 4, 1973). "Earl Holliman: actor with desire for variety". Independent Press-Telegram. p. Tele-vues 1. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ The Shreveport Times. October 25, 1957. Page 1-C.
- ^ a b "Earl Holliman". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on June 3, 2011.
- ^ Holleran, Scott (March 8, 2006). "Close-Up: Actor Earl Holliman". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-4766-2856-1.
- ^ Earl Holliman Interview. Skip E. Lowe Looks at Hollywood. August 22, 2000 – via YouTube.
- ^ "The Twilight Zone Podcast: Earl Holliman Interview". The Twilight Zone Podcast. January 21, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "Earl Holliman: An Oscar In His Future?". San Francisco Examiner. March 31, 1957. Retrieved January 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Earl Holliman". Golden Globe Awards. Archived from the original on January 20, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-8131-5928-7. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ Parsons, Louella (March 1957). "Louella Parsons in Hollywood". Modern Screen. p. 14. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
I NOMINATE FOR STARDOM, EARL HOLLIMAN: With his angular face, high cheek bones, and fiercely determined eyes, he doesn't look like an actor. But as Burt Lancaster, Katharine Hepburn, and Wendell Corey can tell you, they had to do their tip-top best to keep this young man from stealing The Rainmaker from them. I've seldom seen a finer supporting performance from a newcomer. While he is not a product of the Actors Studio, Earl is just as dedicated as though he were Marlon Brando and Tony Perkins combined.
- ^ Title credits
- ^ Lee, Luaine (September 16, 1991). "PS Holliman glad to be back". The San Bernardino Sun. p. D-1. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Actor_sincere_about_animals". Calgary Herald. December 28, 1991. pp. B13 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Earl Holliman Discography – USA". 45cat.com.
- ^ "Monday-Friday Daytime Schedule". Burlington Daily Times News. May 29, 1976. p. 19. Retrieved May 12, 2019 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
- ^ a b Earl's Ledger – The Official Earl Holliman Fan Club Magazine, page 3, Audrey's Letter Shop, Los Angeles, CA, Vol. 1, August 1963
- ^ Avondale Playhouse Collection, Manuscript and Visual Collections Department, Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, 1963–64 Production Year.
- ^ "'Tender Trap' Playing At Dobbs Ferry" (PDF). North Westchester Times New Castle Tribune. September 5, 1963. p. 12. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-3133-0306-7. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
- ^ "San Bernardino Sun 24 February 1973 — California Digital Newspaper Collection".
- ^ "Around the State: San Antonio". Texas Monthly: 96. September 1981 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Around the State: San Antonio". Texas Monthly: 70. April 1980 – via Google Books.
- ^ Gilliam, Steve. "Steve Gilliam (resume)". Trinity.edu. Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-5216-2610-1. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ "Chatter". People. June 13, 1977. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-6293-3028-0. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ Hopper, Hedda. "Hollywood and Vine: Earl Holliman Captivated by Paree". The Shreveport Times. p. 10-C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Celebrity Involvement". Toys for Tots Foundation.
- ^ "Theater asks toys". San Antonio Express-News. December 16, 1977. p. 3-W. Retrieved January 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Assembly, California. Legislature (March 18, 1976). "Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 149". California Legislature – via Google Books.
- ^ "Potpourri: Vegetarian Spring Vacations". Vegetarian Times (125): 60. January 1988 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Advertisement: Say NO to furs — they Did". Vegetarian Times: 23. January 1989 – via Google Books.
- ^ Motion Picture Magazine, Issue 549, November 1956. Page 27.
- ^ Interview, Billy Graham Ministries, I Believe...The Religious Faiths of 29 Stars, 1960
- ^ Fraser, Nora (October 2002). "Earl Holliman: Actors & Others' Head Honcho Has A Huge Heart for Animals". The Pet Press. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ "On Skid Row, a Glut of Goodwill". Los Angeles Times. December 2, 1987. p. 1; Part V – via newspapers.com.
- ISBN 9780595098248.
- ^ Harrity, Christopher; Ring, Trudy (April 23, 2015). "Breaking the Gay Code in the Movies". The Advocate.
- ^ Redelings, Lowell E. (October 13, 1961). "Mark Damon Signed for 2 Italian Films". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. p. 7. Retrieved January 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ISBN 978-1-6814-9147-9.
- ^ "Earl Holliman". Los Angeles Times Hollywood Star Walk. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ^ "Earl Holliman". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on June 3, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- ^ "Movies". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- ^ "Earl Holliman". Filmbug. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ^ "Pony Soldier". The Charlotte Observer. March 22, 1953. Retrieved January 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Pony Soldier". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
External links
- Earl Holliman at IMDb