Eli Wallach
Eli Wallach
Eli Herschel Wallachwas an American film, television and stage actor whose career spanned more than six decades, beginning in the late 1940s. Trained in stage acting, which he enjoyed doing most, he became "one of the greatest 'character actors' ever to appear on stage and screen" states TCM, with over 90 film credits. On stage, he often co-starred with his wife, Anne Jackson, becoming one of the best-known acting couples in the American theater...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth7 December 1915
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
I met my wife and, for the next ten years, we did no films at all. She did the first movie and then I did several after. My first movie was written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Kazan and was called Baby Doll.
But I went to the University of Texas in the 30s, and while there I learned to ride. Mostly polo ponies.
All of these stories bounced around in my mind for a long time.
From the age of four or five. I went to see a lot of Westerns then. But it was silent movies and I loved everything that happened then.
When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk.
There's a scene in Baby Doll where we're sitting around the dining table that was played in toto. It was wonderful because it had an alive quality.
The whole thing was chaotic. Everyone spoke a different language. I knew a little French, so that's how I conversed with Leone.
I still get more mail for that one episode of 'Batman' than just about anything else.
Yes, I won the Bafta. I thought the British were very intelligent.
The big secret in acting is listening to people
No, I never thought of it in those terms. I used to go into agents' offices and they'd have pictures of these handsome movie men and I knew I'd never be up there. I'm a journeyman actor. I didn't think about stardom.
I've learned that life is very tricky business: Each person needs to find what they want to do in life and not be dissuaded when people question them.
Having the critics praise you is like having the hangman say you've got a pretty neck.
I don't act to live. I live to act.