Henry Nelson Elliott: What Happened To Sam Elliott’s Father?

Henry Nelson Elliott is the father of award-winning American actor Sam Elliott. Henry Nelson Elliott’s son Sam Elliott is known for his distinctive deep voice, grey hair, and thick mustache. For his performance in A Star Is Born (2018), he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the corresponding prizes at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Henry Nelson Elliott: Bio Summary

Who Was Sam Elliott’s Father, Henry Nelson Elliott?

Henry Nelson Elliott was welcomed into the world on January 6, 1911, in El Paso County, Texas, United States. Hardie Bishop Elliott and Leona Elliott were his parents. He was the brother of Hardie Bishop Elliott, Jr. and Jean Elliott. He was a predator-control specialist for the U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife. He started his employment with the federal government in the year 1933.

Henry was a hunter, fisherman, conservationist, and member of the Izaak Walton League of America. He became the regional supervisor of the Interior Department’s Division of Wildlife Services. He married Glynn Mamie (née Sparks). Glynn was a Texas state diving champion in high school and later a physical training instructor and high school teacher.

Henry and Glynn were the parents of Glenda Elliott and Samuel “Sam” Pack Elliott, who became an actor, voice actor, producer, and writer. The family moved from California to Portland, Oregon after Henry was transferred. Henry and Glynn did their best to provide for their children. Henry lived a private life away from the spotlight. His life was cut short so he wasn’t able to witness how successful his son Sam Elliott has become.

However, Henry Nelson Elliott saw only a play or two of his son “before he died. I think he’d be proud that his kid became the actor I did,” Sam said. Henry never graduated from college but he wanted that more than anything for his son, Sam Elliott. Before he passed away in the arms of his wife, he told Sam who was interested in pursuing a career in acting that his chances of landing on the big screen were unrealistic.

“He gave me that proverbial line, ‘You’ve got a snowball’s chance in hell of having a career in (Hollywood)’,” Sam Elliott recalled. “He was a realist, my dad. He was a hard worker. He had a work ethic that I’ve fashioned mine after, and I thank him for that every day.” Henry Nelson Elliott’s son Sam Elliott worked hard to make his father proud of him although he had died. “He died thinking, ‘Man, this kid is going to go down the wrong path,’” Sam said in an interview.

“And I think on some level that was either hard on me or made me more focused in my resolve to have a career.” Although his father wanted him to finish college, Sam Elliott left college after his father died. He worked in construction while studying acting. He started working as a character actor. He played Missouri Townsman in The Way West but he was uncredited for his role. He landed his first television credit as Dan Kenyon in an episode of Judd for the Defense.

ALSO, READ: Glynn Mamie Sparks: Who Was Sam Elliott’s Mother?

Sam Elliott appeared in episodes of The Felony Squad. He played a role in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He appeared in the series Lancer. He starred as Doug Robert in episodes of the hit series Mission: Impossible. He appeared as Pickett Smith in Frogs, Cory Soames in an episode of Gunsmoke, Rick Price in an episode of Mod Squad, and Johnny Lawler in Molly and Lawless John.

Sam appeared in the television series Mannix, Hawkins, The Streets of San Francisco, Doc Elliot, The Manhunter, and Hawaii Five-O. He was cast as Charles Wood in the television film I Will Fight No More Forever. He appeared in the film Lifeguard. He played the lead character Sam Damon in the miniseries Once an Eagle. He played Tom Keating in the miniseries Aspen. He also appeared in the film The Legacy.

Sam Elliott has appeared in episodes of The Sacketts, Wild Times, The Yellow Rose, and A Death in California and appeared in the films Fatal Beauty, Shakedown, Road House, Prancer, Sibling Rivalry, Rush, Gettysburg, Tombstone, and The Final Cut. He had supporting roles in the drama We Were Soldiers and the superhero films Hulk and Ghost Rider. He guest-starred on the series Justified.

Sam has also performed voice-over narration for several commercials. He has lent his voice to campaigns for Dodge, IBM, Kinney Drugs, Union Pacific, and the American Beef Council. He has voiced Smokey Bear and voiced Joe Biden’s “Go From There” campaign ad. He has received several accolades for his work including a Screen Actors Guild Award and a National Board of Review Award.

Henry Elliott’s Relationship With His Son

Henry Nelson Elliott and his son Sam Elliott had a great father-and-son relationship. They were very close and often spent time together while Sam was growing up. Sam said in an interview: “I knew men’s men, is what I knew. My dad worked for the Fish and Wildlife Service, and he worked for the Department of Interior, you know, like the federal government. And consequently, I was outdoors a lot in my lifetime.”

“And I was with my dad and my – and his peers, who were all men’s men and outdoorsmen. All had incredible work ethics and were all good men. And they were really the ones I think that I learned what kind of a man I wanted to be when I grew up.” Sam Elliott also spoke of his father’s unfortunate death when he was still a teenager: “Dad died when he was 54, and I was 18.”

“But I spent so much time with them when I was younger that plenty of it rubbed off. You know, I didn’t get to know him near as well as I would love to have. But I have – I got enough of him that, you know, my sister tells me all the time – my sister Glenda – she tells me all the time, you’re just like daddy.”

ALSO, READ: Bernard Goldstein: What happened to Elliott Gould’s father?

What Happened To Sam Elliott’s Father?

Henry Nelson Elliott died on 11 February 1966, at age 55, in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA. His death is said to have been caused by a heart attack. He was survived by his wife Glynn Mamie Sparks, daughter Mrs. Glenda Ford, son Samuel “Sam” Pack Elliott, brother, Dr. Hardy Bishop Elliott, of Grand Blanc, Mich., sister, Mrs. Jean Elliott, of San Francisco, Calif., and grandchildren.

Henry Nelson Elliott was laid to rest at River View Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA. His wife Glynn Mamie passed away on 19 November 2011, in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA when she was 95 years old. She was also buried at River View Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA.