Earl Holliman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Earl Holliman
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Holliman in 1962
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Henry Earl Holliman
September 11, 1928 Delhi, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Died | November 25, 2024 (aged 96) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Education | Pasadena Playhouse University of California, Los Angeles |
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| Years active | 1953–2000 |
| Spouse(s) | Craig Curtis |
Henry Earl Holliman (born September 11, 1928 – died November 25, 2024) was an American actor, animal-rights activist, and singer. He was famous for playing many different characters in movies, especially Westerns and dramas. These films were mostly from the 1950s and 1960s.
Earl Holliman won a Golden Globe Award for his role in the movie The Rainmaker (1956). He was also well-known for playing Sergeant Bill Crowley. This was on the TV police show Police Woman from 1974 to 1978.
Some of his other important movies include Forbidden Planet (1956) and Giant (1956). He also appeared in popular TV shows like The Twilight Zone and Murder, She Wrote. From 1958 to 1963, Holliman also had a singing career. Besides acting, he was a dedicated activist for animal rights. He was also an honorary chairman for Toys for Tots.
Contents
Growing Up and School
Early Life in Louisiana
Henry Earl Holliman was born on September 11, 1928, in Delhi, Louisiana. His birth mother gave him up for adoption when he was a baby. He was adopted by Henry and Velma Holliman, who gave him his name. His adoptive parents loved and encouraged him very much.
When Earl was 13, his adoptive father, Henry, passed away. Earl always said that his parents helped him believe in himself. They taught him to follow his dreams. His mother, Velma, was very supportive of his acting career. She even went to a movie theater an hour early to be the first one there. She wanted to see his first big movie and start an album of his career.
Earl saved money from different jobs. He worked as an usher at a theater and delivered newspapers. He also helped a magician. With this money, he left Louisiana for Hollywood. His first try at finding acting work was not successful.
He soon returned to Louisiana. His mother had remarried, and Earl did not get along with his new stepfather. So, he lied about his age and joined the United States Navy during World War II. He was sent to a Navy school in Los Angeles. In his free time, he visited the Hollywood Canteen. There, he talked to famous stars who supported the soldiers. The Navy later found out his real age and he was discharged.
Finishing School and Acting Studies
After leaving the Navy, Earl returned home. He worked in oilfields and washed dishes. He finished high school at Oil City High School in 1946. He graduated with high honors. He was also on the football team and was senior-class president.
He decided not to go to Louisiana State University. Instead, he joined the Navy again. He was stationed in Virginia. He became interested in acting and performed in Navy theater plays. After leaving the Navy for good, he studied acting. He went to the Pasadena Playhouse and the University of California, Los Angeles. While studying, he worked to earn money. He was a file clerk and helped build airplanes.
Acting Career
Film Roles and Awards
Earl Holliman started his film career at Paramount Pictures. He got a small part in Scared Stiff (1953). He then played a marine in The Girls of Pleasure Island (1953). A new haircut for this role helped change his look and career.
He appeared in many films. These include Broken Lance (1954) and The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954). He also starred in Forbidden Planet (1956) and Giant (1956). In Giant, he played the quiet son-in-law of a rancher.
Holliman won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture for The Rainmaker (1956). In this movie, he played a shy rancher's son. He had to stand up to his brother to gain self-respect. He was chosen for this role over Elvis Presley.
He often played roles in Western movies. He was Wyatt Earp's deputy in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He also played the brother of John Wayne in The Sons of Katie Elder.
Television Appearances
Earl Holliman became well-known on television. He played Sundance in Hotel de Paree from 1959 to 1960. He also starred as Mitch Guthrie in Wide Country. This show was about modern rodeo performers.
He appeared in the very first episode of The Twilight Zone in 1959. This episode was called "Where Is Everybody?"
From 1974 to 1978, he played Sergeant Bill Crowley. This was opposite Angie Dickinson in the popular Police Woman series. He was in all 91 episodes of the show. He played the police boss of undercover officer Pepper Anderson. He later said this show changed his life.
Holliman continued to appear in TV shows through the 1970s to 1990s. He was a regular guest on The Hollywood Squares. He was known for tricking contestants with his answers. One of his most famous roles was in the miniseries The Thorn Birds. He also returned for the Gunsmoke reunion movie in 1987.
He had guest roles on Murder, She Wrote. From 1991 to 1992, he played Detective Matthew Durning on the CBS sitcom P.S. I Luv U. Later in his career, he had a recurring role as Fred Duffy. This was the father of the main character on Caroline in the City. He also starred in the TV series Night Man from 1997 to 1999.
Singing Career
From 1958 to 1963, Earl Holliman also had a successful singing career. He signed record deals with companies like Capitol Records and HiFi. Some of his songs included "A Teenager Sings the Blues" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". He also sang "I'm in the Mood for Love". In 1976, he performed on The John Davidson Show.
Stage Performances
After his TV show Wide Country ended in 1963, Holliman toured the country. He starred as Curly McLain in the musical Oklahoma! He also appeared in other plays. These included Sunday in New York and The Country Girl.
In 1968, he starred in Camino Real in Los Angeles. The play's writer, Tennessee Williams, loved Earl's performance. He said it was one of the best he had ever seen. In 1973, Earl played Mitch in a new production of A Streetcar Named Desire.
From 1981 to 1987, he owned a theater in San Antonio, Texas. It was called the Fiesta Dinner Playhouse. He sometimes performed in plays there himself. These included Mister Roberts and Arsenic and Old Lace.
Personal Life and Activism
Life in California
In 1960, Earl Holliman lived in Paris, France, for a time. He quickly learned the French culture and language. However, he was still known for being very American. For many years, he lived in Studio City, California.
He supported Dwight Eisenhower in the 1956 presidential election. He was of the Baptist faith. In 1976, he was the grand marshal of the Annual Fourth of July Parade in Huntington Beach, California.
Earl Holliman passed away on November 25, 2024, at the age of 96. He died at his home in Studio City.
Helping Animals and Others
Earl Holliman was a dedicated activist. In the late 1970s, he was the national honorary chairman for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. This group collects toys for children in need.
He was a vegetarian and spoke out against using animal fur for clothing. He was very well known for his work as an animal rights activist. For over 25 years, he was the president of Actors and Others for Animals. He often cared for animals on his own property. At one point, he fed about 500 pigeons a day. He also helped heal a wounded dove and a blind opossum in his home. For many years, he helped organize meals for people in need during Christmas at the Los Angeles Mission.
Awards and Recognition
Earl Holliman won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture for his role in The Rainmaker. He was also nominated for another Golden Globe Award. This was for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Television Series" for his work in the 1992 sitcom Delta.
For all his contributions to television, Earl Holliman has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at 6901 Hollywood Blvd.
Filmography
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