Biff Elliot was an American actor who is best known for I, the Jury, The Enemy Below, and Planet of the Apes.
Personal and Family Life
Biff Elliot was born Leon Shalek on July 26, 1923, in Lynn, Massachusetts. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later pursued a career in acting. He was married to Elizabeth Alice Dole from 1948 until her death in 1974, and later to Constance Karen Bandy from 1977 until his own death in 2012.
Career
Biff Elliot was the first actor to portray the tough private eye “Mike Hammer” in the film I, the Jury in 1953. He began his acting career after training at New York’s Actor’s Studio. He also had a background in boxing, having been a champion in North Maine before switching to acting.
Death and Legacy
Biff Elliot passed away on August 15, 2012, in Studio City, Los Angeles, California. His contributions to film and television, especially as the character Mike Hammer, have left a lasting mark on the industry. He was remembered as a lifelong friend of actor Jack Lemmon and for his versatility as an actor.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Good Morning, Miss Dove | 1955-11-23 | Reverend Alex Burnham |
| House of Bamboo | 1955-07-01 | Webber |
| PT 109 | 1963-06-26 | Edgar E. Mauer |
| Blood Bath | 1966-03-02 | Cafe Manager |
| Destination Inner Space | 1966-05-01 | Dr. Wilson |
| I, the Jury | 1953-08-14 | Mike Hammer |
| Pork Chop Hill | 1959-05-29 | Pvt. Boven |
| The Enemy Below | 1957-12-25 | Quartermaster |
| Save the Tiger | 1973-02-14 | Tiger Petitioner |
| The True Story of Jesse James | 1957-03-22 | Jim Younger |
| The Navy vs. the Night Monsters | 1966-11-01 | Cmdr. Arthur Simpson |
| Cool Breeze | 1972-03-29 | Lt. Carl Mager |
| The Dark | 1979-04-27 | Detective Jack Bresler |
| The Hard Ride | 1971-04-22 | Mike |
| The Wild McCullochs | 1975-05-21 | Ralph |
| Portrait of an Escort | 1980-10-08 | Lieutenant |
| Beyond Reason | 1977-01-01 | Police Sergeant |
| Back to the Planet of the Apes | 1980-11-17 | Ullman |
| The Front Page | 1974-11-01 | Police Dispatcher |
| Kotch | 1971-09-17 | Motel Manager |
| Between Heaven and Hell | 1956-10-11 | Tom Thumb – Co. G |
| The Day of the Wolves | 1971-11-01 | The Inspector (as Biff Elliott) |
| That’s Life! | 1986-10-10 | Belmont |
| Torpedo Run | 1958-10-24 | Lt. Paul Buckeye |
| The Girl Who Knew Too Much | 1969-11-07 | Archie |
| The Stranger Who Looks Like Me | 1974-03-06 | Charles Verko |
| Steambath | 1973-05-04 | Flanders |
| The Story on Page One | 1959-12-01 | Eddie Ritter (uncredited) |
| Brainstorm | 1965-05-05 | Detective (uncredited) |
| Star Trek | 1966-09-08 | Schmitter |
| Law of the Plainsman | 1959-10-01 | Mike Williams |
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents | 1955-10-02 | Lieutenant Bates |
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents | 1955-10-02 | Dr. Bob Hudson |
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents | 1955-10-02 | Mr. Kovacs |
| The Magician | 1973-10-02 | Hotel Manager |
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents | 1955-10-02 | Fred Chester |
| Mission: Impossible | 1966-09-17 | Guard |
| Mission: Impossible | 1966-09-17 | Kid Wilson |