Earl Holliman dead at 96: Forbidden Planet actor starred in first Twilight Zone episode

Earl Holliman, the versatile histrion whose vocation spanned implicit 5 decades and included iconic roles successful some movie and television, has passed distant astatine the property of 96.

Holliman died connected Monday successful hospice attraction astatine his location successful Studio City, arsenic confirmed by his spouse Craig Curtis to The Hollywood Reporter.

Holliman's vocation was marked by a bid of memorable performances, including his Golden Globe-winning relation successful The Rainmaker (1956), wherever helium portrayed Katharine Hepburn's lovable, girl-crazy brother. 

His relation of Jim Curry, which helium won implicit Elvis Presley, earned him the Best Supporting Actor award.

The pursuing year, Holliman solidified his spot successful Hollywood past with his portrayal of Wyatt Earp's adjunct successful Gunfight astatine the O.K. Corral (1957), a classical Western that remains a instrumentality favorite. 

He besides made an unforgettable quality successful the precise archetypal occurrence of The Twilight Zone (1959), further showcasing his scope arsenic an actor.

In 1956, Holliman starred successful the epic Giant alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson, a movie that would go 1 of the defining works of 1950s cinema.

However, possibly 1 of his astir enduring roles came successful the 1970s erstwhile helium portrayed Angie Dickinson's tough, no-nonsense brag successful the groundbreaking transgression bid Police Woman (1974), a relation that made him a household sanction for a caller procreation of viewers.

Holliman's filmography includes a drawstring of notable credits specified arsenic Broken Lance (1954), The Bridges astatine Toko-Ri (1954), Last Train from Gun Hill (1959), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), and Sharky's Machine (1981). 

He besides had recurring roles successful tv bid similar Hotel de Paree and Wide Country, further establishing himself arsenic a reliable and beloved fixture connected some the large and tiny screens.

A existent Hollywood icon, Holliman was honored with a prima connected the Hollywood Walk of Fame successful 1977, cementing his bequest successful the amusement world.

Holliman grew up successful Oil City, Louisiana, and astatine conscionable 15 years old, enlisted successful the U.S. Navy during World War II, per Variety. 

While stationed successful Hollywood, helium rubbed elbows with stars astatine the famed Hollywood Canteen. 

However, his existent property was discovered aft a year, starring to his discharge — lone for him to re-enlist aft graduating precocious school.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Holliman pursued acting, studying astatine the Pasadena Playhouse and UCLA. 

While moving astatine North American Aviation to marque ends meet, helium managed to sneak onto the Paramount Studios lot, wherever helium met Paul Nathan, an subordinate shaper for Hal Wallis. 

This brushwood led to his archetypal movie relation successful the Martin and Lewis drama Scared Stiff. 

Curtis remembered him arsenic 'a gracious, benignant confidant, a consummate host, a antheral whose indefatigable positivity was evergreen and powered by a 1000-watt smile, an casual charm and infectious goodwill.'