Strother Martin: Movies & Box Office

Strother Douglas Martin Jr. (March 26, 1919 – August 1, 1980) was a renowned American character actor, often recognized for his memorable performances in support of John Wayne and Paul Newman, as well as his frequent appearances in Western films directed by esteemed filmmakers John Ford and Sam Peckinpah. Among Martin's significant performances is his portrayal of the warden or 'captain' in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke, where he famously uttered the line, 'What we've got here is a failure to communicate.', ranking 11th on the American Film Institute list of 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes. Martin was an accomplished diver in his youth and later served as a swimming instructor in the United States Navy during World War II. His first foray into acting began post-war in Los Angeles where he worked in water scenes as an extra and earned minor roles in films. His versatile performances soon gained him recognition in Hollywood, contributing to popular western anthology series Frontier on NBC and the Civil War drama Gray Ghost. He made notable appearances in John Wayne films such as McLintock! (1963) and True Grit (1969). Martin's acting repertoire expanded beyond Westerns into the comedy and thriller genres, including films like SSSSSSS (1973) and Slap Shot (1977) with Paul Newman. Martin also made many guest appearances on television shows such as Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, and The Dick Van Dyke Show.