Ross Elliott


Ross Elliott

Biography

From auspicious beginnings as a member of Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre troupe, Ross Elliott appeared in over 200 roles in his nearly half-century career. He made a living of captivating performances, but none quite reached the fervor caused by the infamous 1938 radio broadcast of H.G. Wells's "The War of the Worlds," to which he lent his voice. In 1952, he memorably appeared on the ben...

Biography

From auspicious beginnings as a member of Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre troupe, Ross Elliott appeared in over 200 roles in his nearly half-century career. He made a living of captivating performances, but none quite reached the fervor caused by the infamous 1938 radio broadcast of H.G. Wells's "The War of the Worlds," to which he lent his voice. In 1952, he memorably appeared on the benchmark sitcom "I Love Lucy." Elliott's episode, "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," became an instant classic among fans. He played a director tasked with seeing the hapless character through an advertisement for the tongue-twisting elixir "Vitameatavegamin," which, unbeknownst to either party, contained 23% alcohol. The episode consistently ranks among all-time series favorites. Elliott elsewhere made an impression as stalwart Sheriff Mark Abbott on 60 episodes of the long-running TV Western "The Virginian," and played attorney Lee Baldwin for two years on daytime soap "General Hospital." Although his television success was unmatched by his involvement in other mediums, Elliott played strong supporting roles in several films, including an intrepid reporter in the '50s creature feature "Tarantula," which also featured a young Clint Eastwood in an uncredited role. Elliott played a policeman toward the end of his career in the Paul Newman/Steve McQueen disaster flick, "The Towering Inferno."

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

Scorpion (1986)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985)
Glendon
Bogie (1980)
Howard Hawks
Doctors' Private Lives (1978)
Lou Wise
Gable and Lombard (1976)
Ellery Queen (1975)
Act of Vengeance (1974)
Runaway! (1973)
Dr Phillips
Linda (1973)
Skyjacked (1972)
Harold Shaw
The Longest Night (1972)
Dr Steven Clay
The Victim (1972)
Paper Man (1971)
The Trackers (1971)
See the Man Run (1971)
Kelly's Heroes (1970)
Booker
Backtrack (1969)
Sheriff Abbott
Day of the Evil Gun (1968)
Reverend Yearby
Wild Seed (1965)
Mr. Collinge
The Lively Set (1964)
Ernie Owens
FBI Code 98 (1964)
Special Agent Vernon Lockhart
The Crawling Hand (1963)
Tammy Tell Me True (1961)
Professor Bateman
Never So Few (1959)
Dr. Barry
Monster on the Campus (1958)
Sgt. Eddie Daniels
As Young as We Are (1958)
Bob
Chain of Evidence (1957)
Bob Bradfield
D-Day the Sixth of June (1956)
Maj. Mills
Indestructible Man (1956)
Paul Lowe
Tarantula (1955)
Joe Burch
Women's Prison (1955)
Don Jensen
Carolina Cannonball (1955)
Don Mack
Toughest Man Alive (1955)
Cal York
African Manhunt (1955)
Rene Carvel
Massacre Canyon (1954)
Pvt. George W. Davis
Dragnet (1954)
Intelligence officer
Ma and Pa Kettle at Home (1954)
Pete Crosby
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
Prof. George Ritchie
Problem Girls (1953)
John Page
Tumbleweed (1953)
Seth [Blanden]
Woman in the Dark (1952)
Father Tony Morello
Chicago Calling (1952)
Jim
Loan Shark (1952)
Norm
Desert of Lost Men (1951)
Dr. Jim T. Haynes
Hot Lead (1951)
Dave Collins
I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1951)
Ray
Three Secrets (1950)
Reporter
Dynamite Pass (1950)
Stryker
Tyrant of the Sea (1950)
Howard Palmer
Chinatown at Midnight (1950)
Eddie Marsh
Woman on the Run (1950)
Frank Johnson
Cody of the Pony Express (1950)
The Gal Who Took the West (1949)
Streets of San Francisco (1949)
Clevens
Angel on the Amazon (1948)
Frank Lane
The Burning Cross (1947)
This Is the Army (1943)
Soldier

Cast (Special)

Irving Berlin: An American Song (1999)

Life Events

Bibliography