Eli Wallach
Eli Herschel Wallach (December 7, 1915 – June 24, 2014)
“I never dreamed I would do Westerns.”
~ Eli Wallach
In his acting career Wallach appeared in approximately 90 films and 85 Television shows.
Incredibly, though Eli Wallach appeared in only 6 Westerns, at least 3 are considered Classics: John Ford’s How the West was Won (1962), The Magnificent Seven (1960) and The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (1966) .
Not bad shootin’ … for a badguy.
“My first Western was called The Magnificent Seven.”
~ Eli Wallach
Eli Wallach Western Filmography
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
How the West Was Won (1962)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Mackenna’s Gold (1969)
Long Live Your Death (1971)
Shoot First… Ask Questions Later (1975)
“As an actor I’ve played more bandits, thieves, killers, warlords, molesters, and Mafiosi than you could shake a stick at.”
~ Eli Wallach
Below is my favorite Wallach scene from the The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
I heard Wallach say that Director Sergio Leone basically gave him free rein to improvise that scene any way he wanted.
Nicely done.
“I always end up being the evil one, and I wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
~ Eli Wallach
If the only western he’d ever made was The Magnificent Seven, he’s have been remembered for that role alone. I can’t even imagine the movie without him. He had a very long career. A very good one.
You’re right.
Quite a guy. Worked right up to the end too.
Mackenna’s Gold has one of the great movie themes in the western genre. It’s sung by Jose Feliciano.
Thank you.
You know what Rick? I like McKenna’s Gold. I’ve watched it a few times. It’s different – a fun movie with a great cast. Not your usual Western.
It is one of my favorites, too. I just can’ figure out why.
I thought I recognised him in the movie Vera Cruz, playing the ship captain. Can anybody confirm that?
Vera Cruz is a Western Classic IMO and one of My Favorites. Wallach was an underrated actor – though he won a few awards.
I see no credit for Eli in Vera Cruz, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t right because Actors have often appeared in movies where they received no Credit or used a different name. He would have been 39 years old in 1954. He had a hell of a career – worked right up till the day he died. 99 years old.