Twilight Zone and Forbidden Planet actor Earl Holliman dies at 96

Hollywood actor Eric Holliman — Earl Holliman was one of Hollywood’s best character actors (Image: Rex)

Hollywood star Earl Holliman, who starred in the first Twilight Zone, died at the age of 96.

WE The actor played a man with amnesia in a deserted town in the 1959 sci-fi series, while his other TV credits include the ’70s police drama Police Woman.

Holliman died Monday in hospice care at her home in Studio City, Los Angeles, her husband, Craig Curtis, said. Hollywood Reporter.

Known for his character roles, Holliman first rose to fame in films, including Westerns, in the 1950s after entering Hollywood.

While studying at the Pasadena Theatre, he had managed to gain entry to the Paramount party under the pretense of having an appointment with the studio barber.

But Holliman’s tactics worked, and he became friends with Paramount bosses, who gave him a small role opposite Dean Martin in Scared Stiff.

TWILIGHT ZONE. Earl Holliman as Mike Ferris "Where is everyone?" Season 1, episode 1 of CBS's science fiction television series 'The Twilight Zone', 'The Twilight Zone', aired December 8, 1958, original episode aired October 2, 1959. (Photo: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images) — Holliman appeared in the first episode of The Twilight Zone (Image: CBS)

Editorial use only. There is no use of book covers. Mandatory Credit: Photo: Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock (5877220g) Earl Holliman, Angie Dickinson Policewoman - 1974 NBC-TV USA Television — He also played Angie Dickinson’s boss in the 70s TV series Police Woman (Image: Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Just a few years later, he got his big break, winning a Golden Globe Award for The Rainmaker, opposite Katherine Hepburn. He beat out Elvis Presley for the role.

Holliman next starred in the 1956 epic Giant, in which he played the characters of Elizabeth Taylor’s son-in-law and Rock Hudson.

That same year, he was the cook for the science fiction film Forbidden Planet, which also starred Leslie Nielsen.

Holliman’s other films from the ’50s and ’60s include Hot Spell, Anzio, and The Desperate Mission.

Mandatory Credit: Photo: Glasshouse Images/Shutterstock (14062282a) Earl Holliman, head and shoulders Promotional Portrait for the Film, "Do not go near the water"MGM, 1957 Various — Holliman sped towards Hollywood, entering the Paramount Studios lot (Image: Glasshouse Images/Shutterstock)

Editorial use only. There is no use of book covers. Mandatory Credit: Photo: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock (5882116b) John Wayne, Michael Anderson, Dean Martin, Earl Holliman Katie Elder's Sons - 1965 Director: Henry Hathaway Paramount USA Stage Still Western Les quatre fils de Katie Elder — Holliman starred alongside Hollywood heavyweights including John Wayne (Image: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock)

In 1965, she starred in the Western The Sons of Katie Elder alongside John Wayne and Dean Martin.

On the small screen, the actor was known for his portrayal of Sergeant Bill Crowley, the boss of Angie Dickinson’s character Pepper, on Police Woman, which ran from 1974 to 1978.

He also appeared in the short-lived TV series Wide Country and Hotel de Paree, and most recently in the TV series Murder, She Wrote.

According to IMDb, Holliman’s last credits were Arther Michaels in The Perfect Tenant and Gramps in Chicken Soup for the Soul.

More to follow.

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