Actor. Born Leon Shalek, the son of a former semi-pro baseball player-turned manufacturer of a canvas bag business, he moved with his parents and two older brothers to Maine when he was sixteen. Sports became an important part of his life during this period, initially boxing. He was good enough to achieve North Maine Champion, however his mother intervened and put an end to this aspect of his athletics. During the rest of his high school years, he participated in baseball and was a standout long-distance runner. He enrolled at the University of Maine and played collegiate football, prior to serving as an infantry man in the United States Military whom he served with in Italy during World War II. Upon returning home, he resumed studying Journalism at Maine and following graduation in 1949, he went to New York in search of opportunities as a writer. This never came to fruition. Elliot pursued acting as an alternative and since he had some stage experience while in college, he had a familiarity with the field. With assistance from the Actors' Studio and some patience, he was able to land roles on live episodes of the TV programs "Lights Out" and "Kraft Theatre". He made an impressionable film debut playing Mike Hammer in Mickey Spillane's "I, the Jury" (1953) and followed this with "House of Bamboo" (1955), "The Enemy Below" (1957), "Pork Chop Hill" (1959) and "PT 109" (1963). To fans of the original "Star Trek" series, he will be remembered for playing Schmitter in the episode "The Devil in the Dark" (1967). Elliot remained active in both TV and films until the mid 1980s.
Actor. Born Leon Shalek, the son of a former semi-pro baseball player-turned manufacturer of a canvas bag business, he moved with his parents and two older brothers to Maine when he was sixteen. Sports became an important part of his life during this period, initially boxing. He was good enough to achieve North Maine Champion, however his mother intervened and put an end to this aspect of his athletics. During the rest of his high school years, he participated in baseball and was a standout long-distance runner. He enrolled at the University of Maine and played collegiate football, prior to serving as an infantry man in the United States Military whom he served with in Italy during World War II. Upon returning home, he resumed studying Journalism at Maine and following graduation in 1949, he went to New York in search of opportunities as a writer. This never came to fruition. Elliot pursued acting as an alternative and since he had some stage experience while in college, he had a familiarity with the field. With assistance from the Actors' Studio and some patience, he was able to land roles on live episodes of the TV programs "Lights Out" and "Kraft Theatre". He made an impressionable film debut playing Mike Hammer in Mickey Spillane's "I, the Jury" (1953) and followed this with "House of Bamboo" (1955), "The Enemy Below" (1957), "Pork Chop Hill" (1959) and "PT 109" (1963). To fans of the original "Star Trek" series, he will be remembered for playing Schmitter in the episode "The Devil in the Dark" (1967). Elliot remained active in both TV and films until the mid 1980s.
Bio by: C.S.
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Elliot memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
