Curious World Staff
Earl Holliman, the Golden Globe-winning actor best known for The Rainmaker and the TV drama Police Woman, passed away Monday at age 96 in hospice care at his Studio City, California, home, his partner Craig Curtis confirmed.
Holliman’s career began in 1953, with a one-line appearance in Scared Stiff, starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. He rose to notoriety in 1956 with the film The Rainmaker, co-starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn. Holliman, who beat Elvis Presley for the role, received a Golden Globe for his performance.
His film credits included Broken Lance, Forbidden Planet, Giant, and Sharky’s Machine. On television, he starred as Lt. Bill Crowley in Police Woman alongside Angie Dickinson and appeared in the inaugural episode of The Twilight Zone in 1959.
Holliman was also active in shows like Gunsmoke and Murd3r, She Wrote and earned a second Golden Globe nomination for the sitcom Delta in 1992.
Holliman was born in Oil City, Louisiana, and served briefly in the United States Navy during WWII before enrolling in the Pasadena Playhouse acting program. He broke into Hollywood by meeting a Paramount executive and securing his first part.
Beyond acting, Holliman recorded music with Capitol Records and was a passionate animal rights activist, serving as president of Actors and Others for Animals for 34 years. He also supported Toys for Tots and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1977.
