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Omaha Steve

(99,493 posts)
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 06:38 AM Jun 2014

'The Magnificent Seven' and 'The Misfits' actor Eli Wallach dies at 98

Source: Omaha World Herald-NYT

Eli Wallach, who was one of his generation’s most prominent and prolific character actors in film, onstage and on television for more than 60 years, died Tuesday. He was 98.

His death was confirmed by his daughter Katherine.

A self-styled journeyman actor, the versatile Wallach appeared in scores of roles, often with his wife, Anne Jackson. No matter the part, he always seemed at ease and in control, whether playing a Mexican bandit in the 1960 western “The Magnificent Seven,” a bumbling clerk in Eugène Ionesco’s allegorical play “Rhinoceros,” a henpecked French general in Jean Anouilh’s “Waltz of the Toreadors,” Clark Gable’s sidekick in “The Misfits” or a Mafia don in “The Godfather: Part III.”

Despite his many years of film work, some of it critically acclaimed, Wallach was never nominated for an Academy Award. But in November 2010, less than a month before his 95th birthday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded him an honorary Oscar, saluting him as “the quintessential chameleon, effortlessly inhabiting a wide range of characters, while putting his inimitable stamp on every role.”

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/go/movies/the-magnificent-seven-and-the-misfits-actor-eli-wallach-dies/article_82347b04-fc42-11e3-be35-001a4bcf6878.html





THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this undtaed file photo, the cast and principals of "The Misfits." Front row, left to right: Montgomery Clift, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable. Back row, left to right: Eli Wallach, playwright Arthur Miller, and director John Huston.
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'The Magnificent Seven' and 'The Misfits' actor Eli Wallach dies at 98 (Original Post) Omaha Steve Jun 2014 OP
He was in one of my favorite films Hawaii Hiker Jun 2014 #1
One of my favorites also, HH! Ferretherder Jun 2014 #5
He had his pistol on a string!!! "Hey Blondie!!!!" GREAT JOB... winstars Jun 2014 #7
He should have won an Oscar for that. Kingofalldems Jun 2014 #9
My favorite also. rickford66 Jun 2014 #15
I think I've watched "Good, Bad, & Ugly" on every outlet possible Hawaii Hiker Jun 2014 #18
Wallach was the only real actor in the film. The rest were extras. rickford66 Jun 2014 #35
If you're gonna shoot,... MarianJack Jun 2014 #17
My favorite scene packman Jun 2014 #24
The most Turbineguy Jun 2014 #27
He was "The Ugly" LTR Jun 2014 #29
I read somewhere that he was surprised to hear that he was "the ugly" because chelsea0011 Jun 2014 #39
This message was self-deleted by its author LTR Jun 2014 #43
It was pretty obvious by watching the opening titles LTR Jun 2014 #44
One of the best movies EVER! Blondie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WCLinolVir Jun 2014 #42
Great actor. Rhinodawg Jun 2014 #2
Never saw a film he was in that I didn't like. sybylla Jun 2014 #3
too soon, too soon AngryAmish Jun 2014 #4
Great, prolific actor! Cooley Hurd Jun 2014 #6
And Mr. Freeze on Batman ... meegbear Jun 2014 #8
... countryjake Jun 2014 #47
Yes, he was a skilled actor ewagner Jun 2014 #10
Wow. R.I.P. BumRushDaShow Jun 2014 #11
Tuco! Octafish Jun 2014 #12
"If you work for a living..." sofa king Jun 2014 #16
An Artist Octafish Jun 2014 #28
Eli & wife Ann 2 of the greatest ...Peace hangfire00 Jun 2014 #13
One of the greats. CBGLuthier Jun 2014 #14
He was a good one. Always enjoyed his work, especially Baby Doll. nt raouldukelives Jun 2014 #19
The scene where I knew he was a great actor OnlinePoker Jun 2014 #20
The lusty mill owner Vaccaro in Baby Doll: LeftinOH Jun 2014 #21
I almost met him a few years ago Omaha Steve Jun 2014 #22
A fine actor. RIP. (nt) Paladin Jun 2014 #23
He was fantastic. Aristus Jun 2014 #25
Great actor, gone RIP. Historic NY Jun 2014 #26
Not just another pretty face rock Jun 2014 #30
He was a great character actor. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #31
Yes, he was great aint_no_life_nowhere Jun 2014 #32
"If God didn't want them sheared, he would not have made them sheep." El Supremo Jun 2014 #33
One of my top ten films Doctor_J Jun 2014 #38
Tuco frylock Jun 2014 #34
Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez, wanted in fourteen counties nt geek tragedy Jun 2014 #36
This message was self-deleted by its author Doctor_J Jun 2014 #37
For some weird reason, I remember him in "A Cold Night's Death" most. closeupready Jun 2014 #40
I remember him from The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly lunatica Jun 2014 #41
Just saw him on TV in "The Holiday" progressoid Jun 2014 #45
More recently, I enjoyed his performance in 'Keeping the Faith.' onehandle Jun 2014 #46

rickford66

(5,521 posts)
15. My favorite also.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 08:42 AM
Jun 2014

I watched it several times while on all night watch in the NAVY. We had the old 16mm projectors that were shock hazards and not to be used, but in Antarctica you use what you brung. When VCRs came out I made a tape and played it dozens of more times. I even recorded the music of the cemetery scene to play on my truck tape player. Now I have the DVD. Can't get enough of that film. The DVD also has the cutting room floor scenes which enhance this very long film. A masterpiece.

Hawaii Hiker

(3,165 posts)
18. I think I've watched "Good, Bad, & Ugly" on every outlet possible
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 09:22 AM
Jun 2014

I've seen the movie on cable, VHS cassette, DVD, & Blu-Ray.....The Blu-Ray version has some never before seen deleted scenes...

The other Eastwood spaghetti westerns are good, but GBU is the best (its my favorite overall western movie to)

rickford66

(5,521 posts)
35. Wallach was the only real actor in the film. The rest were extras.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 03:23 PM
Jun 2014

Van Cleef and Eastwood were good but didn't hardly have to act much. Without Eli, no movie. Like Bullitt without the Mustang.

MarianJack

(10,237 posts)
17. If you're gonna shoot,...
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 09:22 AM
Jun 2014

...then shoot, don't talk!

Yes, he should have been up for an Oscar for that. RIP! :hattip

PEACE!

LTR

(13,227 posts)
29. He was "The Ugly"
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 11:20 AM
Jun 2014

IMO, one of the greatest westerns ever made. And he was pure genius in it!

What an amazing, brilliant actor! He excelled in everything I've ever seen him in. The last film I can recall seeing him in was the "Wall Street" sequel a few years back. Even in his 90s, he almost stole the movie.

chelsea0011

(10,115 posts)
39. I read somewhere that he was surprised to hear that he was "the ugly" because
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 04:55 PM
Jun 2014

he always thought he was "the bad". Urban myth?

Response to chelsea0011 (Reply #39)

LTR

(13,227 posts)
44. It was pretty obvious by watching the opening titles
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 09:08 PM
Jun 2014

The movie's original Italian title was " Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo". And it even shows each of those terms over pictures of Wallach, Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef. We all know Eastwood is "good", and Van Cleef is too much of a slick bastard to be "ugly" and definitely cruel enough to be "bad". Wallach was a scuzzy schemer, and certainly wasn't nearly as bad as Van Cleef.

I've never heard that story, but if so, then Wallach obviously didn't learn enough Italian while filming spaghetti westerns. He was probably joking, which seems like him, based on his acting personna.

sybylla

(8,495 posts)
3. Never saw a film he was in that I didn't like.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 06:55 AM
Jun 2014

He shone in everything. And worked until just a few years ago. His portrayal in The Holiday (2006) of a retired film and tv writer was enchanting.

Rest in peace, Mr. Wallach.

BumRushDaShow

(128,440 posts)
11. Wow. R.I.P.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 07:39 AM
Jun 2014

Didn't realize he was still out there. So many roles as a prolific character actor. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

Pass gently.

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
12. Tuco!
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 07:56 AM
Jun 2014

There are two kinds of spurs in the world, my friend. Those who come in by the door and those who come in by the window.

sofa king

(10,857 posts)
16. "If you work for a living..."
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 09:01 AM
Jun 2014

"...why do you kill yourself working?"

Dear, dear scenery-chewing Tuco, one of Eli Wallach's greatest creations. It was so cool to see Raymond Cruz bring Wallach's character into the 21st century as a meth dealer with the same name.

Edit: I should also add that Wallach was the last Mr. Freeze in the Batman TV series, taking up the same role previously portrayed by Otto Preminger and later to be done by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
28. An Artist
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 11:17 AM
Jun 2014

Here's to old friends!



Angel Eyes: Why are you going under the name Bill Carson now?

Tuco: One name is as good as another. Not wise to use your own name. Like you! I'll bet they don't call you Angel Eyes! Sergeant Angel Eyes!

CBGLuthier

(12,723 posts)
14. One of the greats.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 08:22 AM
Jun 2014

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is one of the greatest films ever made and his is the key performance of the film.

Also enjoyed his cameo in the film Circle of Iron as a man who is living in a barrel of oil in an attempt to rid himself of lust.


OnlinePoker

(5,716 posts)
20. The scene where I knew he was a great actor
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 09:30 AM
Jun 2014

In The Misfits when he was telling Marilyn Monroe's character how his wife had died. Just gets me every time because it was so believable.

Omaha Steve

(99,493 posts)
22. I almost met him a few years ago
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 09:47 AM
Jun 2014

He was in talks to come to Omaha for a fund raiser that would show 'The Magnificent Seven'. It didn't happen. When "The Misfits" had a fund raiser, it didn't match up with his schedule: http://www.omahafilmevent.com/past/misfits.htm

I would have wanted an autograph from 'How the West Was Won', 'Tough Guys", 'The Magnificent Seven', and 'The Moon-Spinners".

OS

Aristus

(66,285 posts)
25. He was fantastic.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 10:51 AM
Jun 2014

I remembered him from so many violent bad-guy roles, that I was astonished at his performance as a gentle, erudite rabbi in Keeping The Faith. What a great actor.

RIP, sir.

El Supremo

(20,365 posts)
33. "If God didn't want them sheared, he would not have made them sheep."
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 12:45 PM
Jun 2014

Calvera in The Magnificent Seven



One of my favorite actors. RIP

Response to Omaha Steve (Original post)

 

closeupready

(29,503 posts)
40. For some weird reason, I remember him in "A Cold Night's Death" most.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 05:10 PM
Jun 2014

I've seen many of the other films in which he'd appeared, of course. Great actor, RIP.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
41. I remember him from The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 05:15 PM
Jun 2014

I think it was the first time that the so-called Good Guy was actually as bad and the Bad Guy. It's one of the iconic movies of it's time. Spaghetti Westerns.

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