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Ross Elliott, a versatile and dependable character actor on TV and film, enjoyed a career spanning more than four decades. Born Elliott Blum on June 18, 1917, in New York City, he was raised in the Bronx and began acting in plays during his teenage years at summer camps and high school. After graduating, he attended City College of New York, where he studied law while participating in the college's drama productions. Ultimately, acting prevailed, and he earned his degree in 1937.
Elliott gained experience through variety shows and summer stock theater before joining Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre. He appeared in minor roles on Broadway in productions such as the modern adaptation of "Julius Caesar," "The Shoemaker's Holiday," and "Danton's Death." He was also involved in the infamous 1938 radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds" and toured with Welles in the play "Five Kings." His career was interrupted by military service during World War II, where he performed in Army touring shows, notably "This Is the Army," and appeared in its 1943 Warner Brothers film adaptation.
After his honorable discharge, Elliott resumed acting, replacing Tom Ewell on tour with Walter Huston in "Apple of His Eye." By 1947, he had moved to Los Angeles and made his film debut in "The Burning Cross," a drama concerning the Ku Klux Klan. Over the next forty years, he accumulated hundreds of roles in movies and television. Notable film appearances include "Woman on the Run" (1950), "Hot Lead" (1951), "Woman in the Dark" (1952), "Problem Girls" (1953), "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" (1953), "Carolina Cannonball" (1955), "Indestructible Man" (1956), and "Monster on the Campus" (1958).
On television, Elliott featured in numerous dramas such as "Perry Mason," "Death Valley Days," "The Adventures of Superman," "Lassie," "The Twilight Zone," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," "Kung Fu," "The Mod Squad," "Dallas," "Little House on the Prairie," and "The A-Team." He also appeared in comedies including "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Leave It to Beaver," "Hazel," "Here's Lucy," "The Doris Day Show," and "Phyllis." He is perhaps best remembered as Lucy Ricardo's director in the iconic Vitameatavegamin commercial episode of "I Love Lucy" (1951). In other "Lucy" episodes, he portrayed Ricky Ricardo's publicity agent. Additionally, he played Virgil Earp in several episodes of "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955), frequently acted as the straight man to Jack Benny on his television show, and portrayed Sheriff Abbott in numerous episodes of "The Virginian" (1962).
Elliott's career declined in the 1970s, leading him to pursue real estate. His final film role was a small part in "Scorpion" (1986). He passed away from cancer at the age of 82 on August 12, 1999, and was cremated.
