Henry Earl Holliman

Earl Holliman, the cleft-chinned former Navy man whose chiseled looks and earnest presence made him one of Hollywood's most versatile film and television stars, died peacefully Monday afternoon at his home in Studio City, California. He was 96 years old.

Singularly handsome, quick-witted, and driven by an activist’s conscience, Mr. Holliman was a staple in American film and television for over 50 years. From working with industry titans, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean, in “Giant” (1956) to being chosen by Rod Serling to star in the inaugural episode of his groundbreaking new television series, “The Twilight Zone” (1959), Mr. Holliman brought virility, grace, and nuance to every role and was among the last few actors who harkened back to the golden age of the studio system. In a letter to Mr. Holliman, Serling would later offer, “…your performance was outstanding, full of dimension, shading and a fantastic believability. In short, Holliman, you’re one hell of an actor!”

During the breadth of his career, Mr. Holliman was ubiquitous in the entertainment industry and made over 50 films, including “Broken Lance” (1954), “The Bridges at Toko-Ri” (1954), “Forbidden Planet” (1956), “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957), "Don't Go Near the Water" (1957), "Last Train from Gun Hill" (1959), “The Sons of Katie Elder” (1965), “Sharky’s Machine” (1981), and was last seen on the big screen screen in "Journey to Royal: A WWII Rescue Squadron" (2021). He appeared in nearly 50 television shows, with starring turns in “Hotel de Paree” (1959-1960), “Wide Country” (1962-1963), and “Police Woman” (1974-1978).

Nominated twice for a Golden Globe, Mr. Holliman won the coveted award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Jim Curry in “The Rainmaker” (1956), a role for which he beat out Elvis Presley. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which he received on July 20, 1977, can be found at 6901 Hollywood Blvd.

On screen, Mr. Holliman seemed born to personify the strong, stalwart figure of the quintessential, square-jawed, Western male, but grew up far away in Oil City, Louisiana, the adopted son of Henry and Velma Holliman. Having saved money working as a movie theater usher, newsboy, and magician’s assistant, Mr. Holliman hitchhiked to Los Angeles where he ran out of money within a week. Jobless and penniless, he hitchhiked back home to find his mother remarried. Driven by a dislike of his new stepfather, Mr. Holliman lied about his age and enlisted in the United States Navy to serve in WWII. Assigned to a Navy communications school in Los Angeles, Mr. Holliman spent his off-time at the Hollywood Canteen mingling with movie stars who frequented the barn-like venue which had been established by Bette Davis in support of US servicemen and women bound for the front lines. A year after his enlistment at the age of 15, the Navy discovered his true age, and he was discharged.

Not to be deterred, Mr. Holliman returned home where he graduated with honors from Oil City High School, re-enlisted in the Navy, and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, where he was cast in several Norfolk Navy Theatre Productions. After completion of his military service, he ventured west again where he would hone his acting skills at the Pasadena Playhouse and the University of California, Los Angeles.

While working at North American Aviation making templates for the Saber Jet, Mr. Holliman’s career was launched by boldly sneaking onto the Paramount lot once a month where he claimed to have an appointment with “Victor the Barber.” It was on the lot that he befriended Hal Wallis’ associate producer, Paul Nathan, who gave him his first speaking role in Martin & Lewis’ “Scared Stiff” (1953). “I went home that night, and I was immortal. I was on film,” Mr. Holliman would later recount. In an ironic twist of fate, it would be "Victor the Barber" who would give Mr. Holliman the GI haircut that became the talk of the town and took him “15 pictures to get rid of...”

Mr. Holliman was an accomplished and lauded stage performer having starred in numerous productions throughout his distinguished career, including “Oklahoma,” “A Chorus Line,” “Sunday in New York,” “The Country Girl,” “The Tender Trap,” and in two Tennessee Williams’ plays, “Camino Real” and “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Williams himself attended several of Holliman’s performances, sending an urgent telegram to the Ahmanson Theatre stage door praising Holliman, “YOUR KILROY AND YOUR MITCH… BEST EVER. LOVE TENNESSEE.” An avid supporter of the theatre and his fellow artists, Mr. Holliman created the Fiesta Dinner Playhouse in San Antonio, Texas, where he frequently appeared. Among the performances in which he starred were “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Same Time Next Year.” For a brief period, he also was under contract with Capitol Records and recorded several classic songs.

Mr. Holliman was beloved for his unwavering work as an animal rights activist, serving as President of Actors and Others for Animals for 34 years and culminating in a long association with Dian Fossey and her fight to save mountain gorillas. When asked what the proudest moments of his life were, Mr. Holliman replied, “Going up the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda with Dian to help raise awareness for the plight of her gorillas.”

Later in life, Mr. Holliman continued to personally respond to fan requests for autographed photographs and stories. Whether sharing anecdotes of serving Marilyn Monroe her weekly hot fudge sundae at historic Wil Wright’s ice cream parlor where he worked, or feeding hot soup in his living room to a flu-addled Elizabeth Taylor or any of the innumerable rarefied experiences from his expansive career, Mr. Holliman was a virtuosic entertainer.

To his friends, Mr. Holliman was a gracious, kind confidant, a consummate host, a man whose indefatigable positivity was evergreen and powered by a 1000-watt smile, an easy charm and infectious goodwill. A joy and a privilege to spend time with, he was even-keeled and compassionate, possessing a deep sensitivity and mischievous sense of humor which were belied by his stoically handsome countenance.

Henry Earl Holliman was born on September 11, 1928, and remained with us for nearly a century.

Check the gate….and print that. That’s a wrap, Earl.