John Elliott (July 5, 1876 – December 12, 1956) was an American actor who appeared on Broadway and in over 300 films during his career. He worked sporadically during the silent film era, but with the advent of sound his career took off, where he worked constantly for 25 years, finding a particular niche in “B” westerns. His versatility allowed him to play both “good guys” and “bad guys” with equal aplomb, working right up until his death in 1956.
Life and career
Elliott was born on July 5, 1876, one day after the United States’ Centennial, in Keosauqua, Iowa, to Sarah E. Norris and Jehue S. Elliott. He was the third of four children, and the only boy; his two older sisters were named Elizabeth and Fanny, with his younger sister named Nina. In February 1897, when Elliott was 20, his mother, his sister Fanny came down with typhoid fever. Elliott would be the only one of the three to survive. Two months later, on April 14, Elliot married Cleo Kelly, despite her parents’ objections to her marrying an actor.
Elliot began his acting career on stage, where he reached Broadway in 1917, appearing as Robert Goring in the very successful play, Eyes of Youth. The play was produced by A. H. Woods, Lee Shubert, and Jacob J. Shubert, and ran for over a year at the Maxine Elliott Theatre. Elliott’s screen debut came in the featured role of Sir Robert Eastbourne in the 1919 silent film When a Man Loves. Less than two dozen of his film appearances were during the silent era. Beginning with the advent of sound, Elliott would begin to make the bulk of his 300 film appearances.
In 1930, he had the featured role of General Robert E. Lee in Only the Brave (1930), starring Gary Cooper. It was a role he would play in several films, such as Carolina (1934), starring Janet Gaynor and Lionel Barrymore; and Operator 13 (1934), again starring Cooper. His roles would run the gamut, from small nameless roles, as a banker in the 1939 film, The Story of Alexander Graham Bell, starring Don Ameche and Loretta Young; to smaller named roles such as Captain Wilkins in The Conquering Horde (1931), starring Richard Arlen and Fay Wray; to featured roles like that of Jess Roarke in 1936’s Ridin’ On.
Other notable films in which Elliot appeared include: a small role as a padre in Michael Curtiz’ 1934 military drama, The Key, starring William Powell; a bit part as one of the directors in the 1935 comedy, A Night at the Ritz, starring William Gargan; as Judge Matthews in 1939’s Jesse James, starring Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda; the role of Tremont in Hold That Co-ed , a 1938 comedy starring John Barrymore, George Murphy and Marjorie Weaver; a small role as a purchaser in the 1938 drama Kentucky, starring Loretta Young and Richard Greene; a small role in Orson Welles’ 1942 historical drama, The Magnificent Ambersons, starring Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Anne Baxter, and Tim Holt; an admiral in 1944’s Marine Raiders, starring Pat O’Brien, Robert Ryan, and Ruth Hussey; the role of Hooker in Randolph Scott’s 1946 western, Badman’s Territory; as the judge in the 1947 film noir The Unfaithful, starring Ann Sheridan, Lew Ayres and Zachary Scott; as a train conductor in the 1947 biopic The Babe Ruth Story, starring William Bendix and Claire Trevor; as a workman in Jean Renoir’s 1947 drama, The Woman on the Beach, starring Robert Ryan, Joan Bennett, and Charles Bickford; as a clerk in Orson Welles’ film noir, The Lady from Shanghai, starring Rita Hayworth and Welles; and as a judge in the 1949 crime drama, Flaxy Martin, starring Virginia Mayo. His final appearance in a feature film was as the minister in George Cukor’s 1952 comedy-drama, The Marrying Kind, starring Aldo Ray and Judy Holliday. His final acting appearance was in the 1956 western serial, Perils of the Wilderness, in the role of Homer Lynch. Elliott died on December 12, 1956 in Los Angeles, less than a year after the release of his final performance.
Filmography
(Per AFI database)
When a Man Loves (1919) as Sir Robert Eastbourne
Homer Comes Home (1920) as Mr. Bailly (as John H. Elliot)
Are All Men Alike? (1920) as Uncle Chandler
Held In Trust (1920) as Jasper Haig (as John H. Elliott)
A Master Stroke (1920) as George Trevor (as John Elliot)
Her Winning Way (1921) as Mallon
The Eagle’s Feather (1923) as Parson Winger
The Spoilers (1923) as Bill Wheaton
Flaming Waters (1925) as Professor Richard Crawford
Christine of the Big Tops (1926) as Dr. Hastings
Racing Blood (1926) as Johnn Sterling
What Happened to Jones (1926) as The Bishop
Horse Shoes (1927) as William Baker
Million Dollar Mystery (1927) as Stanley Hargreaves / Inspector Jedson
The Phantom in the House (1929) as Police Captain
For the Defense (1930) as Joseph McGann (uncredited)
Only the Brave (1930) as Gen. Robert E. Lee
The Rampant Age (1930) as Arnold Benton
The Widow From Chicago (1930) as Detective T. Finnegan (uncredited)
Oklahoma Jim (1931) as Indian Agent
The Conquering Horde (1931) as Capt. Wilkins
Galloping Thru (1931) as Mr. Winton
Secret Menace (1931) as John Grant
Dugan of the Bad Lands (1931) as Sheriff Manning
Mother and Son (1931) as Mr. Winfield (as John Elliot)
God’s Country and the Man (1931) as Young
The Montana Kid (1931) as Burke
Two Fisted Justice (1931) as Mr. Cameron – Nancy’s Father
Call Her Savage (1932) as Hank (uncredited)
Hidden Valley (1932) as Judge
The Night of June 13 (1932) as Real Estate Agent (uncredited)
Riders of the Desert (1932) as Dad Houston
Texas Pioneers (1932) as Colonel Thomas
Vanishing Men (1932) as Heck Claiborne
South of Santa Fe (1932) as Thornton
From Broadway to Cheyenne (1932) as Martin Kildare
Single-Handed Sanders (1932) as Senator Graham
Week Ends Only (1932) as Bartender
Lucky Larrigan (1932) as J. C. Bailey (as John Elliot)
Breed of the Border (1933) as Judge Stafford
The Gallant Fool (1933) as Chris McDonald
As the Earth Turns (1934) as Country Doctor (uncredited) (as John H. Elliott)
Operator 13 (1934) as Gen. Robert E. Lee (uncredited)
Ticket to a Crime (1934) as Mr. Davidson
Upper World (1934) as Crandall (scenes deleted)
I Can’t Escape (1934) as Mr. Douglas (uncredited)
I Sell Anything (1934) as Lawyer (uncredited)
The Murder in the Museum (1934) as Detective Chief Snell
Green Eyes (1934) as Chemist (uncredited)
One in a Million (1934)
The Key (1934) as Gen. Robert E. Lee (uncredited)
Desirable (1934)
Gentlemen Are Born (1934) as Bill – Night Editor (uncredited) (as John H. Elliott)
Side Streets (1934) as The Judge (uncredited)
A Lost Lady (1934) as Bridge Player (uncredited)
Carolina (1934) as Gen. Robert E. Lee (as John Elliot)
Kid Courageous (1934) as High-Hat Clickett
Cowboy Holiday (1934) as Sheriff Hank Simpson
Fighting Pioneers (1935) as Major Dent (as John Elliot)
Captured in Chinatown (1935) as Butler–City Editor
A Night at the Ritz (1935) as Director (uncredited) (as John H. Elliott)
The Girl Who Came Back (1935) as Police Captain (uncredited)
Rainbow’s End (1935) as Adam Ware
Bulldog Courage (1935) as Judge Charley Miller
Big Calibre (1935) as Rusty Hicks
Danger Trails (1935) as George Wilson – aka Pecos
Make a Million (1935) as Dean
Saddle Aces (1935) as The Judge (as John Elliot)
Sunset Range (1935) as Dan Caswell
Toll of the Desert (1935) as Judge
Wagon Trail (1935) as Judge
Frontier Justice (1935) as Ben Livesay
Tombstone Terror (1935) as Mr. Dixon
Trigger Tom (1935) as Nord Jergenson
Trails of the Wild (1935) as Tom Madison
Unconquered Bandit (1935) as Mr. Morgan, Tom’s Father
Red Hot Tires (1935)
Skull and Crown (1935) as John Norton
What Price Crime (1935) as Chief Radcliff (as John Elliot)
Bars of Hate (1935) as The Sheriff
The Rider of the Law (1935) as Town Mayor
The Drunkard (1935) as Third Drunk
Lawless Border (1935) as Border Patrol chief (as John Elliot)
Vagabond Lady (1935) as Poolside Master of Ceremonies (uncredited) (as John H. Elliott)
Midnight Phantom (1935) as Capt. Bill Withers
Danger Ahead (1935) as Capt. Matthews
Frontier Justice (1935) as Ben Livesay
Kelly of the Secret Service (1936) as Howard Walsh
The Rogues’ Tavern (1936) as Mr. Jamison
Avenging Waters (1936) as Charles Mortimer
Millionaire Kid (1936) as Yellerton (as John Elliot)
Rip Roarin’ Buckaroo (1936) as Colonel Hayden
Times Square Playboy (1936) as Sam – Chairman of the Board of Directors (uncredited)
Ambush Valley (1936) as Bob Morgan (uncredited)
The Crime of Dr. Forbes (1936) as Faculty Doctor (uncredited)
Prison Shadows (1936) as The Police Captain
Hearts Divided (1936) as James Monroe (uncredited)
Vengeance of Rannah (1936) as Doc Adams (as John Elliot)
A Face in the Fog (1936) as Detective Davis
Ridin’ On (1936) as Jess Roarke
Snowed Under (1936) as First Actor (scenes deleted)
Roarin’ Guns (1936) as Bob Morgan
Roamin’ Wild (1936) as Chief Inspector Reed
Trail Dust (1936) as John Clark
Phantom of the Range (1936) as Hiram Moore
Men of the Plains (1936) as Dad Baxter (as John Elliot)
The Fugitive Sheriff (1936) as Judge Roberts
Legion of Terror (1936) as Postmaster (uncredited)
Rio Grande Ranger (1936) as John Cullen (as John Elliot)
Dodge City Trail (1936)
Death in the Air (1936) as Dr. Norris
Souls at Sea (1937)
Smoke Tree Range (1937) as Jim Cary
Submarine D-1 (1937) as Father on Pier (uncredited)
The Shadow Strikes (1937) as Chester Randall (uncredited) (as John Elliot)
Children of Loneliness (1937)
Love Is on the Air (1937) as Mr. Grant McKenzie (uncredited) (as John H. Elliott)
Flying Fists (1937) as Jim Conrad
Headin’ East (1937) as M.H. Benson
Hold That Co-ed (1938) as Legislator (uncredited)
Kentucky (1938) as Cal (uncredited)
Cassidy of Bar 20 (1938) as Tom Dillon
Heart of Arizona (1938) as Buck Peters
Keep Smiling (1938) as Spence (uncredited) (as John H. Elliott)
Trigger Fingers (1939) as Jim Bolton
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) as Banker at Demo (uncredited)
Jesse James (1939) as Judge Mathews
Port of Hate (1939) as Stevens
Mystery Plane (1939) as Army Colonel
Mesquite Buckaroo (1939) as Tavern Owner Hawk
The Fighting Renegade (1939) as Prospector (as John Elliot)
Death Rides the Range (1939) as Hiram Crabtree
The Great Profile (1940) as Pop – Stage Doorman (uncredited)
Lightning Strikes West (1940) as Dr. Jenkins
Covered Wagon Trails (1940) as Beaumont – Rancher
Gun Code (1940) as Parson A. Hammond
Phantom Rancher (1940) as Dad Markham
Lone Star Raiders (1940) as Dad Cameron
The Tulsa Kid (1940) as Judge Perkins
The Man Who Wouldn’t Talk (1940) as Juror (uncredited) (as John H. Elliot)
The Apache Kid (1941) as Judge John Taylor
Golden Hoofs (1941) as Race Announcer (uncredited)
The Kid’s Last Ride (1941) as Disher
Marry the Boss’s Daughter (1941) as Cynical Passerby (uncredited)
Private Nurse (1941) as Clerk (uncredited)
Ride, Kelly, Ride (1941) as Doctor (uncredited)
The Texas Marshal (1941) as John Gorham
Gentleman from Dixie (1941) as Prosecutor
The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury (1941) as Jim Bowen
Tumbledown Ranch in Arizona (1941) as Judge Jones
Saddle Mountain Roundup (1941) as ‘Magpie’ Harper
Billy the Kid’s Round-Up (1941) as Red Gap Judge (uncredited)
Come on Danger (1942) as Saunders
Border Roundup (1942) as Jeff Sloane
Land of the Open Range (1942) as George ‘Dad’ Cook
The Mad Monster (1942) as Professor Hatfield
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) as Guest (uncredited)
Overland Stagecoach (1942) as Jeff Clark
Pirates of the Prairie (1942) as John Spencer (as John H. Elliott)
Rock River Renegades (1942) as Dick Ross
Rolling Down the Great Divide (1942) as Lem Bartlett
Red River Robin Hood (1942) as Mr. Brady (uncredited)
Calling Dr. Death (1943) as Priest
Corvette K-225 (1943) as Merchant Captain (uncredited)
Fighting Valley (1943) as Frank Burke
First Comes Courage (1943) as Norwegian Patient (uncredited) (as John H. Elliott)
Death Rides the Plains (1943) as James Marshall
Law of the Saddle (1943) as Dan Kirby
My Kingdom for a Cook (1943) as Janitor (uncredited)
Raiders of San Joaquin (1943) as R.R. Vice President Morgan
Sagebrush Law (1943) as Cole Winters (as John H. Elliott)
Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground (1943) as Inspector Talbot
Two Fisted Justice (1943) as Uncle Will Hodgins
You’re a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith (1943) as Lawyer (uncredited)
Cattle Stampede (1943) as Dr. George Arnold
The Heavenly Body (1944) as Prof. Collier (uncredited)
Heavenly Days (1944) as An Average Citizen (uncredited)
Fuzzy Settles Down (1944) as John Martin (Newspaper Editor)
Experiment Perilous (1944) as Phone Operator (uncredited)
Dead Man’s Eyes (1944) as Travers the Butler (uncredited)
Marine Raiders (1944) as Admiral (uncredited)
Mr. Winkle Goes to War (1944) as Walker (uncredited)
Oklahoma Raiders (1944) as Judge Clem Masters
Bowery to Broadway (1944) as Reformer (uncredited)
Home in Indiana (1944) as Man Seated Left of J.T. in Bar (uncredited)
Marshal of Gunsmoke (1944) as Judge Brown (uncredited)
Wild Horse Phantom (1944) as Prison Warden
Night Club Girl (1945)
Allotment Wives (1945) as Police Doctor
Eadie Was a Lady (1945) as Butler (uncredited)
Escape in the Fog (1945) as Thomas – the Butler (uncredited) (as John H. Elliott)
Hollywood and Vine (1945) as Judge (uncredited)
One Way to Love (1946) as Butler (uncredited)
Badman’s Territory (1946) as Brother Hooker (uncredited)
The Dark Corner (1946) as Laundry Proprietor (uncredited)
Deadline at Dawn (1946) as Sleepy Man (uncredited)
The Devil’s Mask (1946) as John the Butler (uncredited)
Frontier Gunlaw (1946) as Pop Evans
Moon Over Montana (1946) as Judge (uncredited)
Cry Wolf (1947) as Clergyman (voice, uncredited)
The Fighting Vigilantes (1947) as Bert (as John Elliot)
Law of the Lash (1947) as Dad Hilton
Millie’s Daughter (1947) as Butler (uncredited)
News Hounds (1947) as Judge (as John H. Elliott)
Nora Prentiss (1947)
The Unfaithful (1947) as Judge Edward R. McVey (uncredited)
The Woman on the Beach (1947) as Old Workman (uncredited)
The Lady from Shanghai (1947) as Court Clerk (uncredited)
Angels’ Alley (1948) as Magistrate E.J. Saunders (as John H. Elliott)
The Babe Ruth Story (1948) as Conductor (scenes deleted) (as John H. Elliott)
The Countess of Monte Cristo (1948) as Innkeeper (uncredited)
I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes (1948) as Mr. Lake – Tom’s Lawyer (as John H. Elliott)
Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948) as Flower Vendor (uncredited) (as John Elliot)
Smart Woman (1948) as Harker (uncredited) (as John H. Elliott)
Smoky Mountain Melody (1948) as Englesby
Flaxy Martin (1949) as Judge Edward R. McVey (uncredited)
Homicide (1949) as Doctor (uncredited)
The Arizona Cowboy (1950) as Ace Allen
The Marrying Kind (1952) as Minister (uncredited)
External Links
Actor John Elliott – Wikipedia
