A lanky, long-faced, laid-back but quietly compelling actor whose weathered looks give him a scruffy majesty ideal for Westerns, Sam Elliott was one of the last generation of contract players under the old studio system. Signed by 20th Century-Fox at about the same time as future co-star Tom Selleck, he managed to make his feature debut around a card table in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) before being loaned to Paramount where, clean-shaven and dashingly handsome, he joined the cast of the long-running CBS spy series "Mission: Impossible" for its final season as Dr. Doug Lang.
Moved from California to Oregon with his family when he was a teenager
Worked for a construction firm while studying acting in Los Angeles
Signed contract with 20th Century-Fox
1969
Made film debut in bit role of 2nd card player in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"; future wife Katharine Ross was the female lead; Elliott saw her around the lot a few times, but the two never met
