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At the age of 96, Earl Holliman, the multifaceted actor whose career spanned more than 50 years and included famous performances in television and movies, died yesterday.
Craig Curtis, Holliman’s boyfriend, revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that Holliman passed away on Monday while receiving hospice care at his Studio City residence.
A number of noteworthy performances characterized Holliman’s career, notably his Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Katharine Hepburn’s endearing, girl-crazy brother in The Rainmaker (1956).
He received the Best Supporting Actor award for his portrayal of Jim Curry, which he landed over Elvis Presley.
The next year, Holliman cemented his legacy in Hollywood by playing Wyatt Earp’s aide in the beloved classic Western Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957).
His versatility as an actor was further shown by his memorable participation in The Twilight Zone’s first episode in 1959.
Alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson, Holliman acted in the epic Giant in 1956. The movie would go on to become one of the hallmarks of 1950s filmmaking.
But his portrayal as Angie Dickinson’s stern, no-nonsense employer in the ground-breaking crime series Police Woman (1974) in the 1970s may.
Have been one of his most memorable performances; it helped establish him as a household figure for a new generation of viewers.
A number of noteworthy films, including Broken Lance (1954), The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), Last Train from Gun Hill (1959), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), and Sharky’s Machine (1981), are part of Holliman’s oeuvre.
Additionally, he had regular parts in TV shows like Wide Country and Hotel de Paree, solidifying his reputation as a dependable and adored presence on both large and small screens.
Holliman’s reputation as a Hollywood legend was cemented in 1977 when he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
According to Variety, Holliman was born and raised in Oil City, Louisiana, and joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 15 during World War II.
He socialized with celebrities at the renowned Hollywood Canteen while stationed there.
After a year, however, his real age was found, and he was discharged; nonetheless, he later re-enlisted after graduating from high school.
After coming back to Los Angeles, Holliman studied acting at UCLA and the Pasadena Playhouse. He met Paul Nathan, Hal Wallis’s assistant producer.
When he snuck into the Paramount Studios property while working at North American Aviation to make ends meet.
His first movie part was in the Martin and Lewis comedy Scared Stiff as a result of this meeting. “A gentleman, kind confidant, a consummate host.
A man whose unwavering optimism was evergreen and powered by a 1000-watt smile, an easy charm, and infectious goodwill,” was how Curtis recalled him.