One look at that thick, gray mustache and you’d recognize Sam Elliott anywhere.
Add in his voice, which has voiced everything from Smokey Bear to Joe Biden’s most recent presidential campaign, and it feels like he’s right there with you.
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Yep, Sam Elliott is definitely one of Hollywood‘s treasures, finally getting the recognition he deserves.
Sam Elliott isn’t exactly the most famous person in the world, compared to Marvel stars or Brad Pitt.
But those who know him sure do love him. That deep, soothing voice just feels like home.
But just because we love him, doesn’t mean we know everything about him. Luckily, we’re here to help. Check out these super interesting facts about Sam Elliott!
1. His dad never wanted him to become an actor
Tragically, his dad, a member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, died when Elliott was 18.
“He died thinking, ‘Man, this kid is going to go down the wrong path,’” Elliott said. “And I think on some levels that was either hard on me or made me more focused in my resolve to have a career.”
2. He’s the voice in several familiar commercials
That deep drawl is certainly one you’d recognize.
In addition to narrating The Big LeBowski as The Stranger, he was the voice in commercials for Coors beer, Dodge Ram, and the American Beef Council.
3. He was also the voice of Smokey Bear
Given his father’s wildlife background, it was fitting for Sam to voice the advertising icon of the U.S. Forest Service.
Fun fact: He and the spokesbear have the exact same birthday: August 9, 1944.
4. He earned his first Oscar nomination for his role in A Star Is Born
After decades of acting, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. His response? “It’s about [expletive] time.”
Sadly, he didn’t win the Oscar.
5. His first acting role was in the movie The Way West in 1967
He later landed a role in 1969′s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
6. He’s been with his wife, Katharine Ross, for 39 years
They have one of Hollywood’s most enduring marriages.
The couple started dating after they starred in the horror movie The Legacy together.
“I didn’t dare try to talk to her then,” Elliott told AARP The Magazine in 2015.
“She was the leading lady. I was a shadow on the wall, a glorified extra in a bar scene.”
When they started dating, Ross was on her fourth husband and Elliott had never been married.
Today, they have one daughter together named Cleo Rose.
7. Elliott almost missed his important role in Mask because of his honeymoon
You can thank Ross for getting her husband in the movie.
She cut their honeymoon short to get them home in time for the screen test.
8. He stalled his career due to his beef with Paramount Pictures
When the actor was promoting his film, Lifeguard, he had an issue with the movie’s poster.
“The one sheet [poster] for that film was an animated piece, and it had me in a pair of Speedos,” he told NPR in 2017.
“And a big busted girl on either arm,” he said.
“And it said, ‘Every girl’s summer dream’ over the top of it. And I was like, wow.”
After he complained about it during press interviews, Paramount wasn’t eager to hire him again.
9. The Coen Brothers wrote The Stranger based on him in The Big Lebowski
His name was even in the script when describing the character. This made it really hard for the actor to turn down the role.
“You can’t,” he told Business Insider about this. “And how do you say no to the Coen brothers, period? Even when your name isn’t in the script.”
10. He got propositioned a lot during the early days of his career
Remember that episode from Friends where Joey could have landed an acting role if he slept with the casting director?
Well, in the early days of Sam’s career, these kinds of propositions actually happened.
“The clichés are all true. I’ve had propositions from men and women, and I’ve turned them all down,” he told Dayton Daily News in 1980.
“It’s probably hurt me, but I’m the one who has to live with that guilt. My conscience is clear, even though my career is still not setting the world on fire.”
11. The Coen Brothers made him repeat his lines in The Big Lebowski for a very unique reason
If you loved hearing him say things like “The Dude abides,” you’re not alone.
The Coen brothers made Elliott feel exasperated by making him repeat all of his lines several times. The reason? They loved hearing him talk!
12. He refuses to sell out to make money
No wonder you won’t catch the actor in a bad role.
“My security comes from the fact that I’ve never done a job for money,” he told The Guardian.
“A certain level of security comes out of the commercial world – that allows me to turn down the dramatic stuff, or the theatrical stuff … the acting work.”
13. He doesn’t understand the world’s fascination with his mustache
Rolling Stone once said that he has the “world’s greatest living mustache,” but Elliott doesn’t understand it.
“The whole mustache thing is a mystery to me,” he told Vanity Fair in 2017.
He continued: “I’m working on this thing now, A Star is Born — somebody showed me on their cell phone one day that there was this contest online between me and [Tom] Selleck about who had the best mustache. It’s so bizarre.”
15. He thinks comedians cross lines
While he didn’t say whether or not he finds that to be a good thing or a bad thing, he does think they take pride in being able to cross lines in the world of entertainment.
14. He voiced Joe Biden’s presidential campaign
In the $4 million ad titled, “Go From There,” he narrates visuals of Biden interacting with Americans.
“There is only one America,” he says. “No Democratic rivers. No Republican mountains. Just this great land and all that’s possible on it with a fresh start.”
16. He got along with Bradley Cooper right away
When they got to work together on A Star is Born, they went to dinner and immediately connected.
From there, the rest was history, and Elliott knew that he would be able to trust Cooper with the movie.
In fact, when it came to praising Cooper’s director ability, he had nothing but good things to say.
“Bradley is more than capable as a director. I think he’s a great director. I don’t know how he does it. I’ve gone to set when I’m not working just to watch him in action.”
“He covers it all and boy the pressure is on him and he’s delivering this amazing performance in which he’s singing and playing the guitar. I mean, that guy is driven. He’s super intelligent, has an incredible work ethic.”
“He just wants it to be real, that’s what he’s striving for, some kind of honesty,” he told Business Insider.
17. He doesn’t mind that many people haven’t seen most of his movies
Elliott has made it clear that movie-making isn’t about the money for him.
What matters most to him is the experience he had on set and the connections he made with the people he worked with.
18. He credits his current career to Nick Offerman
“I love Nick. I think on some level Nick is probably responsible for whatever’s going on with my career right now. I think probably,” he told Business Insider.
“I’ve never asked Nick this but when I went and did Parks and Rec, it was to play Nick’s doppelganger.”
“I can’t imagine that those writers and producers didn’t go to Nick and say, “Who do you want to play this character, since it’s a reflection of you?” And I think Nick was the one who came up with it.”
19. He still takes acting advice seriously
In fact, he still remembers the advice that truly changed him.
Most importantly, he’s learned not to take himself too seriously and to just play himself as best he can. After all, no one else can be Sam Elliott.
Do you know any more interesting things about Sam Elliott?
Or were you pleasantly surprised by all of the facts in this article?
Either way, let us know down below in the comment section — we’d love to hear from you!
