
Miami, Gila, Arizona, USA
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.

as Avery

as Dodie Hoad
1959

as Sim Groder
1958

as Avery
1959

as Hick Peterson
1991

1958

1957

as Hock Ellis
1956

as Harve Yost
1962

1981

as Zack Slade
1965

1955

as Jug Alverson
1959
as Buckshot
1993

as Self
1997

as Buckshot
1995

as Buckshot
1993

as Grady
1993

as Tommy
1992

as Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell
1991

as Hezekiah Crow
1990

as Jake Calhoun
1990

as Boone
1988

as Jason Fitch
1988

as Self
1987

as Tackett
1987

as Squires
1986

as Charlie
1986

as Scrooge
1984

as Doc
1984

as Mr. Newsom
1983

as Lum Witcher
1983

as Otto
1982

as Clay Haller
1981

as Troscliar Boudreaux
1981

as Doctor
1981

as Seth Beaumont
1981

as Avery Simpson
1979
as Avery
1 ep.

as Dodie Hoad
1 episodes

as Sim Groder
4 episodes

as Avery
1 episodes

as Hick Peterson
1 episodes

3 episodes

1 episodes

as Hock Ellis
1 episodes

as Harve Yost
1 episodes

1 episodes

as Zack Slade
1 episodes

1 episodes

as Jug Alverson
1 episodes

1 episodes

as Turkey Creek Jack Johnson
1 episodes

as Petch
1 episodes

as Gomez (uncredited)
3 episodes
as Vic
1 episodes

as Macklin
1 episodes

as Dolph Quince
1 episodes

as Reno Lawrence
1 episodes

as Chris
1 episodes

3 episodes

as Uncle Luce
1 episodes

as Toothy Thompson
2 episodes