Earl Holliman was born on September 11 1928 in Delhi, Louisiana. His biological father died six months before Earl Holliman's birth, and he was placed in an orphanage. He was adopted when he was a week old. Earl Holliman wanted to be an actor even as he was growing up. After his father died, when Earl Holliman was only 14, he hitchhiked to the outskirts of Hollywood from a relative's house in Texarkana, Texas. Earl Holliman was convinced to return home and he attended Oil City High School. He was elected president of his senior class and was a tackle on the school football team.
Earl Holliman served in the United States Navy during World War II before studying acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. He made his screen debut in an uncredited role in Destination Gobi (1953). That same year he appeared in uncredited roles in The Girls of Pleasure Island (1953), the Martin & Lewis movie Scared Stiff (1953). His first credited role was in Devil's Canyon in 1953. During the Fifties he appeared in the movies East of Sumatra (1953), Tennessee Champ (1954), Broken Lance (1954), The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), The Big Combo (1955), I Died a Thousand Times (1955), Forbidden Planet (1956), The Burning Hills (1956), Giant (1956), The Rainmaker (1956), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), Trooper Hook (1957), Don't Go Near the Water (1957), Hot Spell (1958), The Trap (1958), Last Train from Gun Hill (1959), and Visit to a Small Planet (1960).
During the Fifties Earl Holliman starred on the short-lived Western Hotel de Paree. He guest starred on the TV shows Matinee Theatre, Playhouse 90, Kraft Television Theatre, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, Studio One, and The Twilight Zone (the premiere episode "Where is Everybody?").
During the Sixties Earl Holliman starred on the short-lived television series \Wide Country. He guest starred on The Dick Powell Show, Westinghouse Presents, Bus Stop, Checkmate, General Electric Theatre, The Great Adventure, Bonanza, Dr. Kildare, Slatterly's People, The Fugitive, The Virginian, 12 O' Clock High, The F.B..I., Custer, Judd for the Defense, Gunsmoke, It Takes a Thief, and The Wonderful World of Disney. He appeared in the movies Armored Command (1961), Summer and Smoke (1962), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), A Covenant with Death (1967), and The Power (1968).
In the Seventies Earl Holliman played Sgt. Crowley on the TV series Police Woman. He guest starred on the shows The Wonderful World of Disney, Alias Smith and Jones, The F.B.I., Ironside, Medical Center, The Rookies, The Streets of San Francisco, Gunsmoke, Police Story, and CHiPs. He appeared in the movies Duel (1971), The Biscuit Eater (1971), and I Love You...Goodbye (1973).
In the Eighties Earl Holliman appeared on the mini-series The Thorn Birds. He guest starred on the shows Hotel and Empty Nest. He appeared in the movies Sharkey's Machine (1981). In the Nineties Earl Holliman was a regular on the shows P.S. I Luv U, Delta, and Night Man. He had a recurring role on Caroline in the City as the title character's father, Fred. He guest starred on Murder, She Wrote; In the Heat of the Night; and Chicken Soup for the Soul. He appeared in the movies Bad City Blues (1999) and The Perfect Tenant (2000).
Earl Holliman also had a brief recording career starting in 1958. He released such singles as "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"/"A Teenager Sings the Blues," "In the Mood for Love"/"No Other Love," and "Road to Nowhere"/"There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight."
As an actor Earl Holliman was a great talent. He was capable of playing a wide variety of roles. As the cook on Forbidden Planet he served primarily as comic relief (he persuaded Robbie the Robot to make booze for him), and he played the role wonderfully. In sharp contrast to the cook on Forbidden Planet was the murderous Rick Belden in Last Train from Gun Hill. Earl Holliman also played impetuous younger brother, Jim Curry, in The Rainmaker, Bick Benedict's (Rock Hudson) son-in-law Bob Dace in Giant, and Matt, the quietest of the Elder brothers, in The Sons of Katie Elder. Earl Holliman was equally impressive on television. He played astronaut Mike Ferris, who slowly loses his min din a deserted town, in the premiere episode of The Twilight Zone "Where is Everybody?." In the Bonanza episode "The Flannel-Mouth Gun," Earl Holliman played ruthless range detective Sherman Clegg. In the Marcus Welby, M.D. episode "Neither Punch Nor Judy," he played an asthmatic priest. Throughout his career Earl Holliman gave many great performances.
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