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Dick Elliott

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the actor. For the U.S. senator, see Dick Elliott (politician).

Dick Elliott
Elliott in Dangerous Money (1946)
Born
Richard Damon Elliott

(1886-04-30)April 30, 1886
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedDecember 22, 1961(1961-12-22) (aged 75)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1933–1961
Spouse
Esther Claud
​
​
(m. 1907; died 1949)​
Children1

Richard Damon Elliott (April 30, 1886 – December 22, 1961) was an American character actor who played in over 240 films from the 1930s until the time of his death.

Early years

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Elliott was born in Boston, Massachusetts.[1]

Career

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Elliott played many different roles, typically as a somewhat blustery sort, such as a politician. A short, fat man, Elliott played Santa Claus on the Jimmy Durante, Red Skelton, and Jack Benny programs. Elliott had a couple of memorable lines in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), notably when he scolded James Stewart's character, who was trying to say goodnight to Donna Reed, advising him: "Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?"

Elliott as Mayor Pike on
The Andy Griffith Show, 1961

He also had a few memorable appearances in episodes of the Adventures of Superman television series. He appeared three times as Stanley on the CBS sitcom December Bride, as well as on two of ABC/Warner Brothers' western series, Sugarfoot and Maverick. He was cast as the prospector Peter Cooper and then as Sheriff Tiny Morris in two segments of CBS's Tales of the Texas Rangers. He appeared twice as Doc Thornton on ABC's The Real McCoys. Elliott is perhaps best known as Mayberry's Mayor Pike in early episodes of CBS's The Andy Griffith Show, one of his last screen works. In two of the eleven episodes featuring Elliot as mayor, actress Josie Lloyd portrayed his daughter.

Death

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On December 22, 1961, the 75-year-old Elliott died from complications of severe cardiovascular disease.[2]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ Aaker, Everett (2011). Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters: All Regular Cast Members in American Crime and Mystery Series, 1948-1959. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. pp. 209–210. ISBN 978-0-7864-6409-8.
  2. ^ Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. (2 volume set). McFarland. p. 225. ISBN 9780786479924. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
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