Jack Starrett
Born
Claude Ennis Starrett Jr.

(1936-11-02)November 2, 1936
Refugio, Texas, U.S.
DiedMarch 27, 1989(1989-03-27) (aged 52)
Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, film director
Years active1961–1987
SpouseValerie Starrett

Claude Ennis "Jack" Starrett Jr.[1] (November 2, 1936 – March 27, 1989) was an American actor and film director.[2]

Starrett is perhaps best known for his role as Gabby Johnson, a parody of George "Gabby" Hayes, in the 1974 film Blazing Saddles and is also known for his role as the brutal deputy Art Galt in the 1982 action film First Blood. He also played the cruel foreman Swick in The River.

Starrett acted in the biker films The Born Losers, Hells Angels on Wheels (both from 1967), Angels from Hell (1968) and Hell's Bloody Devils (1970), and directed two more: Run, Angel, Run in 1969 and Nam's Angels (1970) as well as the horror film Race with the Devil (1975) - that was filmed in his home state of Texas - in which he also played a gas station attendant.

Life and career

Starrett was raised in Refugio, Texas and worked in the oil fields before coming to Hollywood.[3] He starred in the 1961 film Like Father Like Son as Coach Jennings, and later reprised the role in The Young Sinner in 1965 and Like Father Like Son in 1987.

Valerie Starrett, his wife at one time, said Jack had always wished to direct rather than act. He made an uncredited first attempt at direction when the original director of The Girls from Thunder Strip needed assistance. [4]

Throughout his career, Starrett directed feature films and episodes of television programs. In addition, he made guest appearances on TV shows including Hill Street Blues, Hunter, The A-Team, and Knight Rider (in which he made three guest appearances as different characters.) Starrett starred in three short films directed by Tony Schweikle. Starrett and Schweikle stayed close friends until Starrett's death.[5]

He played the mumbling Gabby Johnson in Mel Brooks' 1974 film Blazing Saddles, which was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.[5]

Death

Starrett died from kidney failure in Sherman Oaks, California at the age of 52. At the time of his death he was married to Valerie Starrett. His daughter is Jennifer Starrett, who is also an actress.[6]

Filmography

Actor

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1965The Young SinnerCoach Jennings
1967Hells Angels on WheelsSergeant Bingham
1967The Born LosersDeputy Fred
1968Angels from HellBingham
1969The Gay DeceiversColonel Dixon
1970Hell's Bloody DevilsRocky
1970The Girls from Thunder StripSheriff
1970Nam's AngelsChet DavisUncredited
1970Cry Blood, ApacheThe Deacon
1973Kid BlueTough Guy
1974Blazing SaddlesGabby Johnson
1974The Gravy TrainGentleman Rancher
1975Race with the DevilGas Station Attendant
1976A Small Town in TexasBuford Tyler
1979The RoseDee
1982First BloodDeputy Sergeant Art Galt
1983Grizzly II: The ConcertPapasUnreleased film
1984The RiverSwick
1987Like Father Like SonCoach JenningsUncredited
1988Death ChaseLieutenant MacGrew
1988Brothers in ArmsFather
1989Family ReunionCharlie
1989NightwishProfessor
1990Hollywood HeartbreakLou Budowski(final film role)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1971Cade's CountyWilbur BainEpisode: "The Mustangers"
1977Nowhere to HideGusTV movie
1979Mr. HornGeneral George CrookTV movie
1979Survival of DanaPolice PhotographerTV movie
Uncredited
1983Hill Street BluesFarleyEpisode: "Moon Over Uranus"
1983-1985Knight RiderHagen / Lieutenant George Barth / SheriffThree episodes
1985WildsideGeneral Abraham WollockEpisode: "Well Known Secret"
1985HunterDennis Balzer / The Bartender / The SniperThree episodes
1986The A-TeamWade BlackburnEpisode: "The Duke of Whispering Pines"

Director

Film

Year Title
1969Run, Angel, Run!
1969House of Zodiac
1970Nam's Angels
1970Cry Blood, Apache
1972The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie
1972Slaughter
1973Cleopatra Jones
1974The Gravy Train
1975Race with the Devil
1975The New Spartans
1976A Small Town in Texas
1976Hollywood Man
1977Walking Tall: Final Chapter
1982Kiss My Grits

Television

Year Title Notes
1969The Bold Ones: The New DoctorsTwo episodes
1970Night ChaseTV movie
1974Planet of the ApesEpisode: "The Horse Race"
1975-1977Starsky & HutchThree episodes
1977Roger and Hary: The Mitera TargetTV movie
1977Nowhere to HideTV movie
1978What Really Happened to the Class of '65?Episode: "Class Underachiever"
1978Thaddeus Rose and EddieTV movie
1978Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed CircusTV movie
1979Mr. HornTV movie
1979Survival of DanaTV movie
1979ParisEpisode: "Decisions"
1979A Man Called SloaneEpisode: "Sweethearts of Disaster"
1979-1980The Dukes of HazzardTwo episodes
1980Beyond WestworldEpisode: "The Lion"
1980EischiedEpisode: "Powder Burn"
1981Hill Street BluesEpisode: "Life, Death, Eternity"

References

  1. ↑ "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997". Familytreelegends.com.
  2. ↑ Staff report (March 29, 1989). Jack Starrett, 52; Adventure Film Actor, Director. Los Angeles Times
  3. ↑ (April 1, 1989). Jack Starrett, Actor/Director in films, TV. San Jose Mercury News
  4. ↑ Valerie Starrett Interview Sixties Cinema
  5. 1 2 "Librarian of Congress Adds Home Movie, Silent Films and Hollywood Classics to Film Preservation List" (Press release). Library of Congress. December 27, 2006. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  6. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0823629/
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