# Biff Elliot

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{{Short description|American actor (1923–2012)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Biff Elliot 
| image         = Biff Elliot in The Public Defender (Loyalty).jpg
| caption       = Elliot in an episode of ''[The Public Defender](/source/The_Public_Defender_(TV_series))'' (1954)
| birth_name     = Leon Shalek
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1923|07|26|mf=yes}}
| birth_place   = [Lynn, Massachusetts](/source/Lynn%2C_Massachusetts), U.S.
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2012|08|15|1923|07|26}}
| death_place   = [Studio City, California](/source/Studio_City%2C_California), U.S.
| alma_mater    = [University of Maine](/source/University_of_Maine)
| resting_place      = [Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery](/source/Pierce_Brothers_Westwood_Village_Memorial_Park_and_Mortuary)
| occupation    = Actor 
| years_active   = 1948–2001
| spouse        = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Betty Dole|1948|1974|reason=died}}
* {{marriage|Connie Elliot|1977}}
}}
}}

'''Biff Elliot''' (born '''Leon Shalek'''; July 26, 1923 &ndash; August 15, 2012) was an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as detective [Mike Hammer](/source/Mike_Hammer_(character)) in the 1953 version of ''[I, the Jury](/source/I%2C_the_Jury_(1953_film))''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/biff-elliot-mike-hammer-dies-363732|title=Biff Elliot, the First Mike Hammer of the Movies, Dies at 89|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=17 August 2012 }}</ref>

==Early life==
Elliot was born in [Lynn, Massachusetts](/source/Lynn%2C_Massachusetts), the son of Susan (née Bernstein) and Israel Shalek.<ref name="gen1">{{cite web |url=http://www.mymispoche.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I1145&tree=MM |title=Leon "Biff Elliot" Shalek b. 26 Jul 1923 Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA d. 15 Aug 2012 Studio City, Los Angeles County, California, USA |accessdate=2012-08-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230008/http://www.mymispoche.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I1145&tree=MM |archivedate=2016-03-03 }}</ref> He was the youngest of three brothers. His ancestors were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.<ref name="gen1" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Shalek |first=Josh |date=2012-08-15 |title=Biff Elliot 1923-2012 |url=https://www.kidshay.com/blog/biff-elliot-1923-2012 |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=Kid Shay |publisher=}}</ref>

He attended the [University of Maine](/source/University_of_Maine) and played on the freshman football team.<ref>p.182 Collins, Max Allan & Traylor, James L. ''Mickey Spillane on Screen: A Complete Study of the Television and Film Adaptations''  McFarland 18 May 2012</ref>  

From 1943 he served three years with the [34th Infantry Regiment](/source/34th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)) in World War II.<ref>Page 81 ''Motion Picture Story Magazine'' - Volume 43 1953</ref>

==Career==
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](/source/Victor_Saville), the producer who was preparing the first film adaption of [Mickey Spillane's](/source/Mickey_Spillane) ''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](/source/Mike_Hammer_(character)) 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.<ref>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</ref>

In 2004 Elliot recorded a [commentary track](/source/Audio_commentary) for ''I, the Jury''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I, the Jury commentary track |url=https://www.kidshay.com/blog/i-the-jury-commentary-track |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=Kid Shay |language=en-US}}</ref>

Over the next few years, Elliot became a prominent fixture in war films of the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in ''[Between Heaven and Hell](/source/Between_Heaven_and_Hell_(film))'', ''[The Enemy Below](/source/The_Enemy_Below)'', ''[Pork Chop Hill](/source/Pork_Chop_Hill_(film))'' and ''[PT 109](/source/PT_109_(film))''. In 1959, playwright [Clifford Odets](/source/Clifford_Odets), who had noticed Elliot in ''I, the Jury'',  offered him a role in ''[The Story on Page One](/source/The_Story_on_Page_One_(film))'', which Odets wrote and directed. In the 1960s, Elliot appeared mostly in television, including appearance on [Frank Lovejoy](/source/Frank_Lovejoy)'s detective series ''Meet McGraw'' and on ''[Perry Mason](/source/Perry_Mason_(1957_TV_series))''. In 1961 Elliot played the part of Buddy Blue, a trumpeter on the run from a gangster, in the series ''[77 Sunset Strip](/source/77_Sunset_Strip)''.  In 1966, he portrayed a government agent in an episode of the comedy series ''[The Dick Van Dyke Show](/source/The_Dick_Van_Dyke_Show)''. In 1967, he appeared in the ''[Star Trek](/source/Star_Trek%3A_The_Original_Series)'' episode "[The Devil in the Dark](/source/The_Devil_in_the_Dark)". He guest-starred in an episode of ''[Gibbsville](/source/Gibbsville_(TV_series))'' in 1976. In 1977, he had a memorable supporting role in [Telly Savalas](/source/Telly_Savalas)'s ''[Beyond Reason](/source/Beyond_Reason_(1977_film))'' with [Diana Muldaur](/source/Diana_Muldaur). In 1974, Elliot costarred in two episodes of the ''[Planet of the Apes](/source/Planet_of_the_Apes_(TV_series))'' series, playing an [orangutan](/source/orangutan) in one of them. Elliot make his final film appearance in the 1986 film ''[That's Life!](/source/That's_Life!_(film))''. His last appearance on television was in 1986 on the set of the television series of ''[Starman](/source/Starman_(TV_series))''. Elliot retired in 2001. {{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}

==Death==
thumb|Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery: "It was easy"

Elliot died at his home in [Studio City, California](/source/Studio_City%2C_California), on August 15, 2012, at the age of 89. He was buried in [Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery](/source/Pierce_Brothers_Westwood_Village_Memorial_Park_and_Mortuary).<ref>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.</ref>

==Partial filmography==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*''[I, the Jury](/source/I%2C_the_Jury_(1953_film))'' (1953) - Mike Hammer
*''[House of Bamboo](/source/House_of_Bamboo)'' (1955) - Webber
*''[Good Morning, Miss Dove](/source/Good_Morning%2C_Miss_Dove)'' (1955) - Reverend Alex Burnham
*''[Between Heaven and Hell](/source/Between_Heaven_and_Hell_(film))'' (1956) - Tom Thumb, Company G
*''[The True Story of Jesse James](/source/The_True_Story_of_Jesse_James)'' (1957) - Jim Younger
*''[The Enemy Below](/source/The_Enemy_Below)'' (1957) - Quartermaster
*''[Torpedo Run](/source/Torpedo_Run)'' (1958) - Lieutenant Paul Buckeye (uncredited)
*''[Pork Chop Hill](/source/Pork_Chop_Hill_(film))'' (1959) - Private Boven
*''[The Story on Page One](/source/The_Story_on_Page_One_(film))'' (1959) - Eddie Ritter (uncredited)
*''[Perry Mason](/source/Perry_Mason)'' (1959) (Season 2 Episode 30: "The Case of the Lame Canary") - Jimmy McLain
*''[Alfred Hitchcock Presents](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents)'' (1960) (Season 5 Episode 20: "The Day of the Bullet") - Mr. Kovacs
*''[Alfred Hitchcock Presents](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents)'' (1960) (Season 5 Episode 32: "One Grave Too Many") - Lieutenant Bates
*''[Alfred Hitchcock Presents](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents)'' (1961) (Season 6 Episode 16: "A Crime for Mothers") - Phil Ames
*''[Alfred Hitchcock Presents](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents)'' (1961) (Season 6 Episode 37: "Make My Death Bed") - Dr. Bob Hudson
*''[Alfred Hitchcock Presents](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents)'' (1961) (Season 7 Episode 2: "Bang! You're Dead") - Fred Chester
*''[PT 109](/source/PT_109_(film))'' (1963) - Seaman Edgar E. Mauer
*''[Combat!](/source/Combat!)''  (1963) (Episode: "The Party") as Rafferty
*''[Brainstorm](/source/Brainstorm_(1965_film))'' (1965) - Detective (uncredited)
*''[Blood Bath](/source/Blood_Bath)'' (1966) - Cafe Manager
*''[Destination Inner Space](/source/Destination_Inner_Space)'' (1966) - Dr. Wilson
*''[The Navy vs. the Night Monsters](/source/The_Navy_vs._the_Night_Monsters)'' (1966) - Commander Arthur Simpson
*''[Combat!](/source/Combat!)''  (1966) (Episode: "The Outsider") as Doctor
*''[The Girl Who Knew Too Much](/source/The_Girl_Who_Knew_Too_Much_(1969_film))'' (1969) - Archie
*''[The Day of the Wolves](/source/The_Day_of_the_Wolves)'' (1971) - The Inspector
*''[The Hard Ride](/source/The_Hard_Ride)'' (1971) - Mike
*''[Kotch](/source/Kotch)'' (1971) - Motel Manager
*''[Mission Impossible](/source/Mission_Impossible)'' (1972) (Episode: "Casino") as Mel Simpson
*''[Cool Breeze](/source/Cool_Breeze_(film))'' (1972) - Lieutenant Carl Mager
*''[Save the Tiger](/source/Save_the_Tiger)'' (1973) - Tiger Petitioner
*''This Is a Hijack'' (1973) - Neal Hanaford
*''[The Front Page](/source/The_Front_Page_(1974_film))'' (1974) - Police Dispatcher
*''[Planet of the Apes](/source/Planet_of_the_Apes_(TV_series))'' (1974) (Episode: The Cure) - Orangutan
*''[The Wild McCullochs](/source/The_Wild_McCullochs)'' (1975) - Ralph
*''[The Dark](/source/The_Dark_(1979_film))'' (1979) - Detective Jack Bresler
*''Beyond Reason'' (1985) - Police Sergeant
*''[That's Life!](/source/That's_Life!_(film))'' (1986) - Belmont
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Biography|United States|Film|Television|Theater}} 
* [http://biffelliot.com/ Official Website]
*{{IMDb name|id=0254187}}
{{Memory Alpha}}
* [http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?pid=159219213 Obituary]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliot, Biff}}
Category:1923 births
Category:2012 deaths
Category:American male film actors
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II
Category:American male television actors
Category:Male actors from Lynn, Massachusetts
Category:University of Maine alumni
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:Jewish American male actors
Category:People from Studio City, Los Angeles
Category:21st-century American Jews
Category:Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Biff Elliot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biff_Elliot) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biff_Elliot?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.