Born: December 26, 1903 – Died: May 18, 1995
Elisha Cook Jr., born on December 26, 1903, was a versatile actor known for his distinctive performances in the entertainment industry. Raised in the world of cinema, he initially appeared in college-student roles in the 1930s, sharing the screen with stars like Gloria Stuart and Judy Garland. However, it wasn't long before his talent for portraying intense neurotics and spineless double-dealers became evident to casting directors. Elisha Cook Jr. transitioned from innocuous roles to noxious characters, leaving a lasting mark. Notably, his role in Warner's "They Won't Forget" showcased his ability to captivate audiences with his emotional depth. With a career spanning decades, he became a fixture in both film and television, leaving an indelible legacy.
Early Life and Career
Elisha Cook Jr.'s journey into the world of entertainment began in his early years. Born in San Francisco, California, he grew up surrounded by the allure of the film industry. While there isn't specific information about the university he attended or his major, it's clear that his passion for acting led him down a remarkable path.
Elisha Cook Jr.'s first professional role came in the late 1930s when he appeared in Warner Bros.' "They Won't Forget." It was a pivotal moment in his career, as his portrayal of Joe Turner, a passionate and emotionally charged character, caught the attention of both critics and audiences. This role showcased his ability to convey raw emotions and made him a sought-after actor.
However, it was his role as Wilmer Cook in the classic film "The Maltese Falcon" (1941) that catapulted Elisha Cook Jr. into stardom. His portrayal of the conniving and trigger-happy Wilmer alongside Humphrey Bogart's Sam Spade left an indelible mark on the noir genre. This film remains a cinematic masterpiece, and Elisha Cook Jr.'s performance is an integral part of its enduring legacy.
Throughout his career, Elisha Cook Jr. received acclaim for his supporting roles in various films and television series. Although he may not have won major awards, his contributions to the entertainment industry were highly regarded. His personal life remained relatively private, and there isn't substantial information available about his marital status or family life.
While not considered a mainstream Hollywood icon, Elisha Cook Jr. is celebrated for his unique ability to bring depth and authenticity to his characters, particularly those with dark and complex personalities. His presence on screen always added a layer of intrigue to any production he was a part of.
In summary, Elisha Cook Jr. was a versatile actor who made a lasting impact on Hollywood through his distinctive performances. From his early roles to his iconic portrayal in "The Maltese Falcon," he left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, even if he remained somewhat under the radar in the public eye.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1981–1988 | Magnum, P.I. (TV Series) | Francis 'Ice Pick' Hofstetler | Wilmer | Harold W. Farber (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1988 | ALF (TV Series) | Uncle Albert (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1987 | The Man Who Broke 1, 000 Chains (TV Movie) | Pappy Glue |
| 1983–1986 | Simon & Simon (TV Series) | Bradley Bishop | Dutch Silver |
| 1986 | The Fall Guy (TV Series) | Whitman the Counterfeiter |
| 1986 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) | Weldon (segment "Welcome to Winfield") (as Elisa Cook) |
| 1985 | The A-Team (TV Series) | Jim Beam (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1985 | Night Court (TV Series) | Wilbur Posten (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1984 | Treasure: In Search of the Golden Horse | Mr. Maps |
| 1984 | It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (TV Movie) | Mr. Bibbs (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1984 | Whiz Kids (TV Series) | Sid (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1983 | This Girl for Hire (TV Movie) | Eddie (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1981–1982 | Insight (TV Series) | Old Man | Grandpa (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1982 | Bring 'Em Back Alive (TV Series) | Wilmer Bass (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1982 | Terror at Alcatraz (TV Movie) | Hotel desk clerk |
| 1982 | Chicago Story (TV Series) | Captain Billy |
| 1982 | Hammett | Eli the Taxi Driver (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1982 | Movie Madness | Mousy ("Municipalians") (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1982 | Pigs vs. Freaks (TV Movie) | Novatney (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1981 | Leave 'em Laughing (TV Movie) | Jetter |
| 1981 | Harry's War | Sgt. Billy (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1980 | Carny | On-Your-Mark |
| 1980 | Tom Horn | Stablehand (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1941 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 1979 | The Patron (Dexter) (as Elisha Cook) | Unknown |
| 1979 | Salem's Lot (TV Mini Series) | Gordon 'Weasel' Phillips (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1979 | The Champ | Georgie (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1978 | Lucan (TV Series) | Hal Mooney (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1977 | Mad Bull (TV Movie) | Sweeper |
| 1977 | Quincy M.E. (TV Series) | Henry Davis | Mr. Charles Trout Sr. (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1977 | The Bionic Woman (TV Series) | Inky (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1977 | Dead of Night (TV Movie) | Karel (segment "No Such Thing as a Vampire") (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1975–1977 | Baretta (TV Series) | Banjo Vincent | Banjo (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1977 | Switch (TV Series) | Henley |
| 1976 | The Blue Knight (TV Series) | Spinks |
| 1976 | St. Ives | Eddie (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1976 | McCoy (TV Series) | Bob Mayfield |
| 1975 | Senior Power (Short) | Mr. Boyle |
| 1975 | The Black Bird | Wilmer Cook (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1975 | Police Story (TV Series) | Smiley (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1975 | Starsky and Hutch (TV Series) | Polly the Snitch (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1975 | Winterhawk | Finley |
| 1975 | S.W.A.T. (TV Series) | Albert Winters | Harry Thorne |
| 1974 | Messiah of Evil | Charlie |
| 1974 | The Odd Couple (TV Series) | Heel (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1974 | Ironside (TV Series) | Charley Yager (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1974 | Mannix (TV Series) | Herbie (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1974 | Movin' On (TV Series) | Andrew Shannon (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1974 | The Phantom of Hollywood (TV Movie) | Studio Engineer (uncredited) |
| 1973 | The Outfit | Carl (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1973 | Emperor of the North | Gray Cat (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1973 | Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid | Cody |
| 1973 | Electra Glide in Blue | Willie (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1972 | Blacula | Sam (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1972 | The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid | Bunker (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1972 | The Night Stalker (TV Movie) | Mickey Crawford |
| 1972 | The Scarecrow (TV Movie) | Micah (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1971 | The Chicago Teddy Bears (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1971 | McCloud (TV Series) | Mr. Diller (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1970 | Night Chase (TV Movie) | Proprietor |
| 1970 | Night Slaves (TV Movie) | (unconfirmed) |
| 1966–1970 | Bonanza (TV Series) | Marcus | John Walker |
| 1970 | El Condor | Old Convict (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1970 | The Movie Murderer (TV Movie) | Willie Peanuts (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1969 | Cry for Poor Wally | Preacher (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1969 | The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (TV Series) | Frankie (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1969 | The Great Bank Robbery | Jeb (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1968 | Rosemary's Baby | Mr. Nicklas (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1967 | Cimarron Strip (TV Series) | Spud (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1967 | Welcome to Hard Times | Hanson (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1967 | Batman (TV Series) | Professor Isaacson (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1967 | Star Trek (TV Series) | Cogley (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1967 | The Monroes (TV Series) | Jed |
| 1966 | McNab's Lab (TV Movie) | Coach |
| 1966 | I Spy (TV Series) | Erick Magnuson (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1966 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series) | Arnold (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1966 | The Road West (TV Series) | Wild Man |
| 1966 | Summer Fun (TV Series) | Coach (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1965–1966 | The Wild Wild West (TV Series) | Gideon McCoy | Mike McGreavy (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1966 | A Man Called Shenandoah (TV Series) | Judd (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1965 | Burke's Law (TV Series) | Wyatt (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1958–1965 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) | Jocko Beal | George | Cyrus Tucker ... |
| 1958–1964 | Perry Mason (TV Series) | Reelin' Pete | Art Crowley (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1964 | Blood on the Arrow | Tex |
| 1959–1964 | Rawhide (TV Series) | Jim Gribble | Joel Turner | Bain (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1960–1964 | Wagon Train (TV Series) | Matt Wilson | Lem Salters | Cadge Waldo (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1964 | Destry (TV Series) | Leech (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1964 | The Glass Cage | Girl's father (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1963 | The Judge (TV Movie) | Unknown |
| 1963 | Temple Houston (TV Series) | John Alvorsen |
| 1963 | The Fugitive (TV Series) | Sailor (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1963 | Johnny Cool | Undertaker (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1963 | The Haunted Palace | Peter Smith | Micah Smith (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1963 | The Dakotas (TV Series) | Brinkman (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1963 | Black Zoo | Joe (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1963 | Death Valley Days (TV Series) | Peasley |
| 1963 | Papa's Delicate Condition | Mr. Keith |
| 1962–1963 | The Dick Powell Theatre (TV Series) | Moxie | Lob McHenry (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1962 | The Untouchables (TV Series) | Clarinet Player (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1962 | Outlaws (TV Series) | Cully |
| 1958–1961 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) | Lloyd Harwell | Willy Zucks | Jed |
| 1961 | Surfside 6 (TV Series) | Mike Pulaski (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1961 | 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) | Alfred 'Pony' Quist (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1961 | The Deputy (TV Series) | Miller (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1961 | Laramie (TV Series) | Doc |
| 1961 | One-Eyed Jacks | Carvey (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1961 | The Islanders (TV Series) | Tomas |
| 1960 | The Real McCoys (TV Series) | Harry (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1960 | Thriller (TV Series) | Harry Elser |
| 1960 | The Rebel (TV Series) | Jeremy Hake (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1960 | College Confidential | Ted Blake (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1960 | Platinum High School | Harry Nesbit |
| 1960 | Startime (TV Series) | Trick (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1960 | Peter Gunn (TV Series) | Snooker (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1960 | Tightrope (TV Series) | Sam Parker (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1959–1960 | Johnny Staccato (TV Series) | Solomon Bradshaw | Conrad (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1960 | Tombstone Territory (TV Series) | Adam Kirby |
| 1959 | Johnny Ringo (TV Series) | Maxie Dolan (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1958–1959 | Bat Masterson (TV Series) | Thorn Loomis | Pete Sheeley (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1959 | Day of the Outlaw | Larry Teter (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1959 | The Third Man (TV Series) | Kebble (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1959 | House on Haunted Hill | Watson Pritchard (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1956–1958 | Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) | Goon #1 |
| 1958 | Panic! (TV Series) | Charlie Pulaski (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1958 | Trackdown (TV Series) | Clint Serle |
| 1957 | Baby Face Nelson | Homer van Meter |
| 1957 | Plunder Road | Skeets Jonas |
| 1957 | Chicago Confidential | Candymouth Duggan |
| 1957 | The George Sanders Mystery Theater (TV Series) | (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1957 | The Lonely Man | Willie (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1957 | The Sheriff of Cochise (TV Series) | Simpson (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1957 | The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV Series) | Perry 'Guns' McCallum (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1957 | Whirlybirds (TV Series) | Garvey |
| 1957 | Voodoo Island | Martin Schuyler (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1957 | The Millionaire (TV Series) | Nevins (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1957 | The O. Henry Playhouse (TV Series) | Fred (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1956 | Climax! (TV Series) | Pop |
| 1956 | Crusader (TV Series) | Ed Scanlon (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1956 | Accused of Murder | 'Whitey' Pollock |
| 1956 | The Killing | George Peatty (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1956 | TV Reader's Digest (TV Series) | Big Mike Preisser |
| 1955 | Indian Agent (TV Movie) | Pete - the Cavalry Scout (uncredited) |
| 1955 | The Lone Wolf (TV Series) | Chris Walters |
| 1955 | The Indian Fighter | Briggs (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) | Shorty |
| 1955 | Trial | Finn (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1955 | Mystery Is My Business (TV Series) | Matty |
| 1955 | The Man Behind the Badge (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1955 | Treasury Men in Action (TV Series) | Roy Weber |
| 1955 | Timberjack | Punky (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1955 | Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (TV Series) | Jumper Joe |
| 1954 | Drum Beat | Blaine Crackel |
| 1954 | The Outlaw's Daughter | Lewis 'Tulsa' Cook |
| 1954 | The Dennis Day Show (TV Series) | Barney's Gunsel |
| 1954 | The Philip Morris Playhouse (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1954 | Adventures of Superman (TV Series) | Homer Garrity (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1953 | Big Town (TV Series) | Johnny Sutter (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1953 | The Motorola Television Hour (TV Series) | Charlie (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1953 | Thunder Over the Plains | Joseph Standish |
| 1953 | Footlights Theater (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1953 | I, the Jury | Bobo (uncredited) |
| 1953 | Shane | Stonewall Torrey |
| 1953 | The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1952 | Don't Bother to Knock | Eddie Forbes |
| 1951 | Behave Yourself! | Albert Jonas |
| 1950 | Dick Tracy (TV Series) | Gadgets |
| 1949 | The Great Gatsby | Klipspringer |
| 1949 | Flaxy Martin | Roper |
| 1947 | The Gangster | Oval |
| 1947 | The Long Night | Frank Dunlap |
| 1947 | Born to Kill | Marty |
| 1947 | Fall Guy | Joe |
| 1946 | The Big Sleep | Harry Jones |
| 1946 | Two Smart People | Fly Feletti |
| 1946 | Joe Palooka, Champ | Eugene |
| 1946 | The Falcon's Alibi | Nick |
| 1946 | Blonde Alibi | Sam Collins |
| 1946 | Cinderella Jones | Oliver S. Patch |
| 1945 | Why Girls Leave Home | Jimmy Lobo |
| 1945 | Dillinger | Kirk Otto |
| 1944 | Dark Waters | Cleeve |
| 1944 | Dark Mountain | Whitey |
| 1944 | Up in Arms | Info Jones |
| 1944 | Phantom Lady | Cliff |
| 1943 | Kill or Be Killed | Unknown |
| 1943 | Baptism of Fire (Short) | Bill (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Manila Calling | Gillman |
| 1942 | Wildcat | Harold 'Chicopee' Nevins |
| 1942 | A-Haunting We Will Go | Frank Lucas |
| 1942 | Sleepytime Gal | Ernie |
| 1942 | A Gentleman at Heart | Genius |
| 1941 | Ball of Fire | Waiter (as Elisha Cook) |
| 1941 | Hellzapoppin' | Harry Selby |
| 1941 | I Wake Up Screaming | Harry Williams |
| 1941 | The Maltese Falcon | Wilmer Cook |
| 1941 | Man at Large | Hotel Clerk |
| 1941 | Sergeant York | Piano Player (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Love Crazy | Joe - Elevator Boy |
| 1940 | Tin Pan Alley | Joe Codd |
| 1940 | Public Deb No. 1 | Communist |
| 1940 | Stranger on the Third Floor | Joe Briggs |
| 1940 | He Married His Wife | Dicky Brown |
| 1939 | Grand Jury Secrets | Robert Austin | Norman Hazlitt |
| 1938 | Newsboys' Home | Danny |
| 1938 | Submarine Patrol | Seaman Rutherford Davis Pratt - aka 'The Professor' |
| 1938 | My Lucky Star | Waldo |
| 1938 | Three Blind Mice | Boy on Bench (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Thoroughbreds Don't Cry | Boots Maguire (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Life Begins in College | Ollie Stearns |
| 1937 | Danger - Love at Work | Chemist |
| 1937 | Wife, Doctor and Nurse | Glen Wylie |
| 1937 | They Won't Forget | Joe Turner |
| 1937 | The Devil Is Driving | Tony Stevens |
| 1937 | Love Is News | Egbert Eggleston |
| 1937 | Breezing Home | Pete Espinosa (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Pigskin Parade | Herbert Van Dyke |
| 1936 | Two in a Crowd | Skeeter |
| 1931 | Honor Among Lovers | Office Boy (uncredited) |
| 1930 | Chills and Fever (Short) | Member of the Glee Club (uncredited) |
| 1930 | Her Unborn Child | Stewart Kennedy |
General:
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