Sam Elliott Talks About Male Role Models Who Shaped His Life
on Sep 02, 2020 • Updated Jan 15, 2025
When you think of Sam Elliott, you likely think of a rough and tumble cowboy who has delighted viewers on both the big and small screens. Recently, Elliott opened up about the male role models who helped him become the man he is today.
Elliott credits his father and his father’s friends for shaping him into the respected figure he’s become over the course of his career.
“I can only speak of the men that were in my life and that was my dad and his friends. Those are the men that I grew up going fishing and, you know, spending time with,” Elliott told Sam Jones of The Off Camera Show.
There are 1,883 reasons why Sam Elliott deserves this 👏 pic.twitter.com/UeaOotTphh
— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) February 27, 2023
Sadly, Elliott’s dad passed away at the age of 54, when Elliott was just 18. He never got to see his son’s career become a success, and it’s likely that he would have been shocked if he saw his son become a Hollywood heavy hitter.
Happy birthday to Academy Award nominee Sam Elliott, whose career includes appearances in 'Hulk' (2003), 'Ghost Rider' (2007), and Marmaduke (2010). pic.twitter.com/EhfPnu6NX3
— Comic Book Cinephile (@ComicCinema) August 9, 2022
Elliott’s father believed in his son’s talent, but wasn’t a fan of acting as a career choice.
“My dad died thinking I was a total idiot for wanting to be an actor. He said, ‘You got a snowball’s chance in hell having a f-king career in that tomb,'” said Elliott, laughing as he recounted his father’s disdain for his career choice.
Watch the interview below.
