By MICHAEL MOSLEY, Journal Contributor

Among Hollywood actors of note we lost in 2024, Earl Holliman was the one who once called Shreveport home.

Henry Earl Holliman was born to the world on September 11, 1928 in north Louisiana backwoods near Delhi. He left this world 96 years later in the hills of Studio City in Los Angeles on Nov. 25. In between those dates of destiny, Earl served his country twice in the Navy, appeared in both TV hit shows and classic films as an actor, released music as a recording artist with commercial flavor, and was a good-hearted social activist and dedicated rescuer of animals.

I had the good fortune of meeting Mr. Holliman in July 2010 at a California venue called Hollywood Show, where he signed and inscribed a linen-backed poster for The Sons of Katie Elder that I shipped to Burbank. I hoped it would find a spot at the Robinson Film Center.   

He appreciated having a local fella to talk to about our area as he was a local himself back in the day.

I had previously written a screenplay that had gained the attention of three Oscar winners, another Oscar-nominated director with a vacation residence in the French Quarter, the producer of Dumb and Dumber, the future showrunner for Duck Dynasty, and the co-head of the literary department at the William Morris Agency.

I put all my eggs into one flimsy basket weaved with naivety. The basket broke. Down went the eggs.  

Does anyone remember the infamous Disco Dale in our area? My script was partially about that now deceased character, the charms of a vibrant Louisiana Downs, and a very sexy author and love goddess.

I thought I was sitting on a rocket. Thought I was going to kick the Farrelly brothers’ butts and every other comedic mind that had earned studio funding. But that homemade rocket of mine sputtered and failed to launch. The laugh was on me.

I got a lift in spirit when I met Mr. Holliman on a trip out to the West coast.  He asked me where I was from.  “Shreveport,” I answered.  He said, “You gotta be kiddin’. I’m from Shreveport. I ushered at The Strand.” That’s when things clicked for me with Mr. Holliman. We got to talking. He asked more questions about me. He was intrigued with my history in trying to get a script made from Shreveport in Hollywood against the odds.  And he told me one has to overcome a stifling climate of skepticism when going for it in Hollywood. 

Later in 2011, I invited the head cinematographer from The Sopranos to the RFC to theatrically screen an episode from the hit show with clearance from HBO. It was the only time in America that “Tony Soprano” was put up on the big screen. For some reason we only had around 20 patrons seated with their ticket stubs on a chilly December day after Christmas. But it was a quiet success for me. The boost to my inner drive to make it happen was put there by Earl Holliman.

Mr. Holliman was an adopted baby raised in poverty. He became a Shreveport Times newsboy just ahead of World War II, proud usher at The Strand, magician’s assistant, teenage Oil City oilfield redneck, student at Byrd, Fair Park and honors graduate of Oil City High School, a restaurant dishwasher, and a Navy man, to later top the hill in Hollywood, and the world of stage plays, when he got on a roll performing.

He was chosen over the great Elvis Presley to become a Golden Globe Award winner for a supporting role in The Rainmaker. He was a top cowboy actor, usually playing a son or a brother, in many fine ’50s and ’60s westerns with famed Hollywood performers.

He also had a supporting role in Giant with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and the iconic James Dean in the 1956 Texas epic.

Forbidden Planet is a sci-fi gem where Holliman shined in a supporting role. 

Perhaps Mr. Holliman’s finest role was his tour de force performance with a five o’ clock shadow beard in the premier episode for The Twilight Zone, titled “Where Is Everybody?”     

Mr. Holliman co-starred with Angie Dickinson on the Police Woman series in the ’70’s as raspy-voiced Sergeant “Bill” Crowley. For a short time it was the top-rated show on NBC in both the U.S. and was also a hit in the UK. President Ford was the program’s most prominent fan. 

Holliman’s credits are too many to list. I could go on and on. He was a wonderful human being, a recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was a kind gentleman to a fellow Shreveport film enthusiast.

Contact Michael at michaelmosley1225@yahoo.com