‘Twilight Zone’ actor Earl Holliman dies aged 96

Earl Holliman, known for his roles in The Twilight Zone and Forbidden Planet, has died at the age of 96.

The American actor and animal rights activist passed away in hospice care at his home in Studio City, Los Angeles on Monday (November 25), his husband Craig Curtis told The Hollywood Reporter.

Curtis described Holliman as “a gracious, kind confidant, a consummate host, a man whose indefatigable positivity was evergreen and powered by a 1000-watt smile, an easy charm and infectious goodwill” (via Variety).

He continued: “A joy and a privilege to spend time with, he was even-keeled and compassionate, possessing a deep sensitivity and mischievous sense of humour which were belied by his stoically handsome countenance.”

An exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

Holliman won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1956 western-romance film The Rainmaker, which starred Burt Lancaster as Bill Starbuck, and Katharine Hepburn as Lizzie Curry.

He would go on to appear in another Lancaster movie, 1957’s Gunfight At The O.K. Corral, portraying Deputy Sheriff Charlie Bassett.

Sad news, everyone. Earl Holliman—star of the Twilight Zone pilot, “Where is Everybody?”—has died. He was 96.

“Your performance was outstanding, full of dimension, shading and a fantastic believability,” Rod Serling told him.

More about his career: https://t.co/5yABQpOcQL pic.twitter.com/X6s6KPVeC3

— The Twilight Zone (@TheNightGallery) November 27, 2024

Holliman, who was born in Delhi, Louisiana in 1928, also had notable roles in I Died A Thousand Times (1955) Giant (1956), Forbidden Planet (1956) and The Sons Of Katie Elder (1965).

He played Sergeant Bill Crowley on the TV police drama Police Woman for its four-year run, spanning 1974 to 1978.

In a tribute on X/Twitter, actress Morgan Fairchild shared about her experience working with Holliman on the show: “Earl was so kind to me when I did a Policewoman ep when I 1st arrived in LA. And always active on Actors & Others for Animals. Lovely guy!”

Additionally, Holliman appeared in the first-ever episode of The Twilight Zone, titled ‘Where Is Everbody?’, in 1959. He portrayed Mike Ferris – a man with amnesia – in Rod Serling’s sci-fi horror anthology series.

Holliman would go on to land roles in TV westerns Hotel de Paree and Wide Country. More recently, in the 1990s, he featured in the US crime drama Murder, She Wrote.

His latest acting credits are for playing Gramps in the TV series Chicken Soup For The Soul (2000) and Arther Michaels in the Doug Campbell-directed feature film The Perfect Tenant (2000).

The late actor was placed in an orphanage before being adopted when he was one week old, and had dreamed of becoming an actor from a young age.

Following his father’s death when he was just 14, he hitchhiked from a relative’s home in Texas to the outskirts of Hollywood. He was eventually convinced to return home, however, and was enlisted in the US Navy during World War II.

Holliman would go on to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse in California before making his professional debut with a one-line part in Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis’ comedy horror Scared Stiff (1953).

The late actor received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1977. He starred in various stage productions too, and had a stint running the Fiesta Dinner Playhouse in San Antonio, Texas.

Holliman, who was a vegetarian, was also known for his work as an animal rights activist. He served as president of Actors And Others For Animals for many years.

In a tribute tweet by actor Jon Lindstrom, he called Holliman “a committed performer” and praised “the selfless work he did to better the lives of animals”.

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