Sam Elliott

Sam Elliott
Elliott in November 2001
Born	Samuel Pack Elliott (1944-08-09) August 9, 1944 (age 72) Sacramento, California, United States
Other names	Kyle Peterson
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1968–present
Spouse(s)	Katharine Ross (m. 1984)
Children	1

Samuel Pack "Sam" Elliott (born August 9, 1944) is an American actor. His lanky physique, thick horseshoe moustache, deep and resonant voice, and Western drawl have led to frequent roles as cowboys and ranchers. His other credits over the years have included playing The Stranger in The Big Lebowski (1998), Gar in Mask (1985), General John Buford in Gettysburg (1993), and Marvel Comics characters Thunderbolt Ross in Hulk (2003) and The Caretaker in Ghost Rider (2007). He also played Virgil Earp in Tombstone (1993).

Elliott was born in Sacramento, California, to a mother who was a physical training instructor and a father who worked for the Department of the Interior. He moved to Portland, Oregon with his family during his teenage years, graduating from David Douglas High School. He attended Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, where he completed a two-year program and was cast as one of the leads in Guys and Dolls. The local newspaper suggested that Elliott should be a professional actor. Soon after, Elliott declared he was going to Hollywood to become a star.

Elliott is a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at California State University, Los Angeles. He worked in construction while studying acting and served in the California Army National Guard. He also lived for a short time in Princeton, West Virginia. He claims that he has heritage from the west, specifically the southern state of Texas, with a relative who was in the Battle of the Alamo.