Known for his work in Westerns, gravelly voice and distinctive mustache, the Oscar-nominated actor, who turns 82 on Aug. 9, 2026, has a career spanning six decades

Sam Elliott has a filmography that goes back nearly 60 years.

The actor, who celebrates his 82nd birthday on Aug. 9, 2026, worked his way from small parts to leading roles, starring alongside Hollywood icons like Farrah Fawcett, Cher, Patrick Swayze and Melanie Griffith. Over the years, he established himself as a renowned character actor, and in 2018, he had a critical breakthrough in Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s A Star Is Born. For his performance as Bobby Maine, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Away from the screen, he has been happily married to his wife, retired actress Katharine Ross, since 1984, and the couple shares one daughter.

Ahead, see Elliott’s accomplished life in photos, from his early days in the industry to his current role in Landman.

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Sam Elliott’s Early Life

Sam Elliott was born in Sacramento, Calif., on Aug. 9, 1944. When he was 14 years old, he moved with his parents to Portland, Ore., where he spent the majority of his youth.

He studied psychology and English at the University of Oregon for two semesters before transferring to Clark College, where he was cast in a theater production of Guys and Dolls. He dropped out of school after his father died of a heart attack.

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Sam Elliott’s Breakthrough Role

After dropping out of college, Elliott moved to Los Angeles to take on acting — a pursuit his father was not supportive of.

Throughout the 1960s, Elliott established himself as a character actor. He made a name for himself in the Western genre, specifically, with his memorably smoky, deep voice.

His first television credit came in 1969 when he landed a minor role in ABC’s Judd for the Defense. While Elliott nabbed several stints on the small screen throughout the early 1970s, his film breakthrough came with the role of Rick Carlson in 1976’s Lifeguard.

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Sam Elliott in ‘Mask’

In 1985, he starred in his first commercial success, the acclaimed biographical drama Mask, playing opposite Cher and Eric Stoltz.

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Sam Elliott’s Marriage to Katharine Ross

Elliott wed Katharine Ross in 1984, and they welcomed daughter Cleo Rose Elliott in September of that year. They’ve resided in a home by the beach in Malibu, Calif., since the 1970s. Elliott also has property in Willamette, Ore.

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Sam Elliott’s Roles in Louis L’Amour Adaptations

Elliott was cast in several screen adaptations of books written by Louis L’Amour, an American novelist primarily known for his Western work.

The first was 1979’s miniseries The Sacketts, followed by TV films The Quick and the Dead in 1987 and Conagher in 1991.

The latter earned him his first Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a miniseries or television film. He also starred alongside his wife.

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Sam Elliott’s First Emmy Award Nomination

Elliott made guest appearances in various shows throughout his early career, such as Gunsmoke, Lancer and Hawaii Five-O. But his continued work with TV movies earned him his first Primetime Emmy Award nod, specifically for Buffalo Girls in 1995.

For his work in the role of Wild Bill Hickok, Elliott was nominated in the outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie category.

His work in Buffalo Girls also earned him his second Golden Globe nomination in the same category.

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Sam Elliott’s Supporting Roles in the Early 2000s

After dabbling in voice roles, like narrating the story of The Big Lebowski in 1998, he began taking roles in major films throughout the 2000s.

In 2002, he portrayed Command Sergeant Major Basil L. Plumley in We Were Soldiers. The following year, he played General Thaddeus Ross in 2003’s Hulk.

In 2007, he played Carter Slade in the comic book adaptation of Ghost Rider. The film was a box office success, with Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes as leads.

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Sam Elliott’s Netflix Work

After carving out a successful career across TV and film, Elliott ventured into the streaming space in 2015 when he joined the cast of Netflix’s The Ranch.

He became a series regular, playing Beau Bennett opposite Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson. The series was released in 2016, wrapped in January 2020 and produced eight seasons in between.

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Sam Elliott’s Academy Award Nomination

2018 was a monumental year for Elliott, who received critical acclaim for his work in A Star is Born — the role that landed him his first, long-awaited Academy Award nomination the following year.

The actor played Bobby Maine, the elder half-brother of Bradley Cooper‘s Jackson Maine. He starred alongside Lady Gaga, who took home the Oscar for Best Original Song for “Shallow.”

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Sam Elliott’s National Board of Review Honor

The National Board of Review also recognized Elliott for his work in A Star is Born, honoring him with their prestigious award for best supporting actor.

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Sam Elliot’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony

Elliott was honored with his very own hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in California on Jan. 8, 2019. Costars Cooper and Gaga stood alongside him for support.

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Sam Elliott’s Recent Work

Elliott is continuing his work in Westerns, playing Shea Brennan in the 2021 Paramount+ miniseries 1883, a spinoff of the hit neo-Western Yellowstone. He then took on a leading role in another Taylor Sheridan project, Landman, for its second season in 2025. In the drama, he portrays T.L. Norris, the father of Billy Bob Thornton’s character.

In an interview with Variety, Elliott shared that T.L.’s physical struggles with age hit close to home.

“I’ve had a hard life. I’ve been an athlete all my life, and I’ve been a laborer all my life, and I’m paying for it now,” he said.

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