The physique, moustache and gruff speaking voice of American actor Sam Elliott suitable for Westerns and other action films.
He was born in Sacramento on August 9, 1944. He studied acting in Los Angeles, while doing construction work. He first appeared as a bit player in the 1969 western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and appeared in other films such as The Games, Frogs, and Molly and Lawless John. He was usually cast for his masculinity, with his early films requiring him in almost-nude, or nude, scenes.
In 1970, Elliott appeared in the television series Mission: Impossible, alongside Jim Graves, as Dr. Doug Robert. He has also made guest appearances in television series such as Felony Squad, Gunsmoke, Lancer and Hawaii Five-O. He also appeared in several television movies and miniseries, the first being Murder in Texas, aired in 1981, and A Death in California, aired in 1986.
In the 1990s, he appeared in films such as: Rush, released in 1991; Gettysburg, released in 1993; The Final Cut, released in 1995; and The Hi-Lo Country, released in 1998. He appeared in the television film Conagher, released in 1991, and won three Bronze Wranglers from the Western Heritage Awards. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe for the program. In 1995, he was nominated for another Golden Globe and an Emmy for the television movie Buffalo Girls.
In 2001, Elliott appeared in the political thriller The Contender, opposite Gary Oldman and Joan Allen. As part of the cast, he won an Alan J. Pakula Award. Elliott appeared in other films such as We Were Soldiers, released in 2002; Hulk, released in 2003; Off the Map, released the same year; Thank You for Smoking, released in 2006; and Ghost Rider, released in 2007.
Elliott has also done voice-over work for television commercials, such as those for Chevy, Union Pacific and, recently, the American Beef Council, taking over the late Robert Mitchum.