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Biff Elliot

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Biff Elliot
Elliot in an episode of The Public Defender (1954)
Born
Leon Shalek

(1923-07-26)July 26, 1923
Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedAugust 15, 2012(2012-08-15) (aged 89)
Studio City, California, U.S.
Resting placeWestwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Alma materUniversity of Maine
OccupationActor
Years active1948–2001
Spouses
Betty Dole
​
​
(m. 1948; died 1974)​
Connie Elliot
​
(m. 1977)​

Biff Elliot (born Leon Shalek; July 26, 1923 – August 15, 2012) was an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as popular detective Mike Hammer in the 1953 version of I, the Jury and for his guest appearance as Schmitter in the Star Trek episode "The Devil in the Dark".[1]

Early life

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Elliot was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, the son of Susan (née Bernstein) and Israel Shalek.[2] He was the youngest of three brothers. His ancestors were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.[2][3]

Career

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Elliot, who had acted during his college years, abandoned writing to pursue television roles. He appeared in many important dramatic shows of the time, mostly playing tough, working-class characters. When Elliot was spotted by a Hollywood attorney while performing in a television episode, the attorney recommended him to Victor Saville, the producer who was preparing the first film adaption of Mickey Spillane's I, the Jury. After securing the part following a 15-minute audition, Elliot was brought to Hollywood and prepared for the role by reading Mike Hammer novels, often spending the entire night reading them. I, the Jury became Elliot's first leading film role, and he was the first actor to portray the Mike Hammer character in a film. Although Elliot was signed to a long-term contract as Mike Hammer, other actors were later cast in the role.[4]

In 2004 Elliot recorded a commentary track for I, the Jury.[5]

Over the next few years, Elliot became a prominent fixture in war films of the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in Between Heaven and Hell, The Enemy Below, Pork Chop Hill and PT 109. In 1959, playwright Clifford Odets, who had noticed Elliot in I, the Jury, offered him a role in The Story on Page One, which Odets wrote and directed. In the 1960s, Elliot appeared mostly in television, including appearance on Frank Lovejoy's detective series Meet McGraw and on Perry Mason. In 1961 Elliot played the part of Buddy Blue, a trumpeter on the run from a gangster, in the series 77 Sunset Strip. In 1966, he portrayed a government agent in an episode of the comedy series The Dick Van Dyke Show. In 1967, he appeared in the Star Trek episode "The Devil in the Dark". He guest-starred in an episode of Gibbsville in 1976. In 1977, he had a memorable supporting role in Telly Savalas's Beyond Reason with Diana Muldaur. In 1974, Elliot costarred in two episodes of the Planet of the Apes series, playing an orangutan in one of them. Elliot make his final film appearance in the 1986 film That's Life!. His last appearance on television was in 1986 on the set of the television series of Starman. Elliot retired in 2001. [citation needed]

Death

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Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery: "It was easy"

Elliot died at his home in Studio City, California, on August 15, 2012, at the age of 89. He was buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.[6]

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Biff Elliot, the First Mike Hammer of the Movies, Dies at 89". The Hollywood Reporter. August 17, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Leon "Biff Elliot" Shalek b. 26 Jul 1923 Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA d. 15 Aug 2012 Studio City, Los Angeles County, California, USA". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  3. ^ Shalek, Josh (August 15, 2012). "Biff Elliot 1923-2012". Kid Shay. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  4. ^ p. 191 Collins, Max Allen Mickey Spillane in His Own Words in Mickey Spillane on Screen: A Complete Study of the Television and Film Adaptations McFarland, 12 Jan 2018
  5. ^ "I, the Jury commentary track". Kid Shay. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  6. ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
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