Biography
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.
Filmography
Cast Credits

Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western
Character: Self
MOVIE • 1997

Bonanza: Under Attack
Character: Buckshot
MOVIE • 1995

Bonanza: The Return
Character: Buckshot
MOVIE • 1993

Uninvited
Character: Grady
MOVIE • 1993

Shadow Force
Character: Tommy
MOVIE • 1992

Lucky Luke
Character: Axel Ericson
TV • 1992

Suburban Commando
Character: Col. Dustin 'Dusty' McHowell
MOVIE • 1991

Home Improvement
Character: Hick Peterson
TV • 1991

The Giant of Thunder Mountain
Character: Hezekiah Crow
MOVIE • 1990

Big Bad John
Character: Jake Calhoun
MOVIE • 1990

Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
Character: Boone
MOVIE • 1988

Paradise
Character: Skragg
TV • 1988

Once Upon a Texas Train
Character: Jason Fitch
MOVIE • 1988

I Am Not a Freak
Character: Self
MOVIE • 1987

J.J. Starbuck
Character:
TV • 1987

Hawken's Breed
Character: Tackett
MOVIE • 1987

Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills
Character: Squires
MOVIE • 1986

Easy Street
Character:
TV • 1986

The Aurora Encounter
Character: Charlie
MOVIE • 1986
Detective in the House
Character:
TV • 1985