As a fan of classic Hollywood, I was deeply saddened by the passing of Earl Holliman. Known for his memorable roles in iconic shows like “Police Woman” and “The Twilight Zone,” Earl’s career spanned an impressive six decades. His journey from a Louisiana orphanage to becoming a Golden Globe winner is nothing short of inspiring.
Actor Earl Holliman, who gained fame by portraying Angie Dickinson’s superior officer in the 1970s police series “Police Woman” on NBC, has passed away at the age of 96.
Holliman passed away on Monday, at his Studio City residence, which was under hospice care. His partner, Craig Curtis, confirmed this to The Hollywood Reporter.
As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “Back in the golden days of Hollywood, I, just like you playing my favorite game character, landed the role of Katharine Hepburn’s energetic, boy-crazy brother in ‘The Rainmaker’ (1956). Believe it or not, I edged out Elvis Presley for that part! Then, I found myself teaming up with Burt Lancaster again, this time as Doc Holliday’s right-hand man in ‘Gunfight at the O.K. Corral’ (1957).
In the 1956 film epic “Giant,” a native of Louisiana took on the role of Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson’s son-in-law, cooked in the science fiction movie “Forbidden Planet” from the same year, and portrayed the brother of John Wayne, Dean Martin, and Michael Anderson Jr. in Henry Hathaway’s film “The Sons of Katie Elder,” which was released in 1965.
Back in October 1959, I stepped into the surreal world of “The Twilight Zone” as a man lost in memory and alone in an eerie town. It was my debut on Rod Serling’s legendary series, titled “Where Is Everybody?” A truly unforgettable experience!
During that TV season, Holliman appeared as Sundance, a Colorado gunslinger-turned-marshal with a canine friend called Useless, in the temporary show named Hotel de Paree.
Three years after that, Holliman headlined another Western TV show, “Wide Country” on NBC; in this Ralph Edwards-produced series, he portrayed a rodeo champion, however, it ran for just one season too.
After the pilot, Holliman took over Bert Convy’s role as Lt. Bill Crowley in the TV show “Police Woman.” Airing from 1974-78, he worked alongside Dickinson who portrayed Sgt. Suzanne “Pepper” Anderson, an undercover cop with LAPD, during the series’ four seasons, developing a pleasant on-screen chemistry together.
Back in 2003, when discussing the usual plotline of Police Woman, I shared that I’d often swoop in to rescue her from trouble. I’d toss out a clever line, and she’d retort with a flirtatious comeback, all of which was improvised to some extent. There was an unspoken understanding between us that allowed for such spontaneity.
Henry Earl Holliman came into the world on September 11, 1928, in Delhi, Louisiana. Tragically, his biological father passed away six months prior to his birth. As a newborn, Holliman spent some time in an orphanage until he was adopted just a week later.
When my adoptive parents visited me, I was ill and they immediately took me to the doctor who, it seemed, declared, ‘You’re not bringing a baby here, you’re facing funeral costs.’ They paid the midwife $7.50 for me – this was in rural Louisiana.
My parents were truly amazing, showering me with endless love. They always supported my dreams and aspirations, wanting me to become whoever I could be. I was their one and only child.
At 14 years old, shortly following his father’s passing, Holliman found himself dreaming of acting. Inspired by this ambition, he embarked on an adventure, hitchhiking all the way from a relative’s house in Texarkana, Texas, to the outskirts of the enchanting Hollywood city.
After being persuaded, he decided to make his way back to Oil City High School. There, he had been a part of the school’s football team as a tackle player, and he was even elected the president of his graduating class.
Following his service in the U.S. Navy, Holliman honed his acting skills at the Pasadena Playhouse. His first professional role came in the form of a single line as an elevator operator in the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis film “Scared Stiff” (1953).
That same year, he took on supporting roles in four different movies. In 1954, he starred as Spencer Tracy’s son in “Broken Lance” and acted alongside William Holden and Grace Kelly in “The Bridges at Toko-Ri”.
In 1957, Holliman made an appearance in a CBS’s Playhouse 90 episode titled “The Dark Side of the Earth,” penned by Serling. This performance caught Serling’s attention, leading to his involvement in The Twilight Zone.
In 1993, Holliman earned another Globe nomination for his role as a rough-edged bar owner in the short-running ABC series “Delta,” which featured Delta Burke. Additionally, he played Luddie Mueller in the 1983 ABC miniseries “The Thorn Birds,” a significant production.
He had also appeared on shows such as Gunsmoke, Cannon, Bonanza, Slattery’s People, The Fugitive, Dr. Kildare, The Six Million Dollar Man, Empty Nest, Murder, She Wrote, and Caroline in the City.
Additionally, Holliman appeared in various films such as “I Died a Thousand Times” (1955), “Hot Spell” (1958), “Last Train From Gun Hill” (1959), “Summer and Smoke” (1961), “A Covenant With Death” (1967), “The Power” (1968), “Anzio” (1968), “The Biscuit Eater” (1972), “Bad City Blues” (1999) and “The Perfect Tenant” (2000).
For a considerable amount of time, Holliman oversaw the Fiesta Dinner Theatre in San Antonio, and during this period, he also held the position of president at Actors and Others for Animals – an organization dedicated to advocating for animal birth control.
Duane Byrge contributed to this report.
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2024-11-27 01:55