Elliott Reid
A versatile character actor whose dry wit and everyman presence stole scenes in Hollywood comedies and dramas for over six decades.
1920–2013 (age 93)·American actor·Birthday: January 16·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Elliott Reid carved out a durable career not as a leading man, but as the indispensable supporting player. With a face made for either befuddlement or sly charm, he became a favorite of directors like George Cukor and Billy Wilder. He often played the articulate, slightly pompous foil—the other man, the snide colleague, the unflappable announcer. His early Broadway success led to a contract with 20th Century Fox, and he seamlessly transitioned from the studio era to television guest spots, appearing on everything from 'The Twilight Zone' to 'Murder, She Wrote.' Reid's secret was a precise, understated comic timing that never tipped into caricature, making his performances in films like 'The Lady Eve' and 'Inherit the Wind' memorable decades later.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Elliott was born in 1920, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Elliott Was Born
The biggest hits of 1920
#1 Movie
Way Down East
Elliott's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1920Born
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1925Started school
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1933Became a teenager
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Could drive
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1938Could vote
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Turned 21
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1950Turned 30
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 40
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 50
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 60
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 70
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 80
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2013Died at 93
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Appeared in over 100 film and television roles across a career spanning from the 1940s to the 2000s.
- Performed on Broadway in the original production of 'The Moon Is Blue,' which later led to a film version.
- Had notable film roles in classics such as 'The Lady Eve,' 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,' and 'Inherit the Wind.'
- Was a frequent guest star on popular TV series including 'The Andy Griffith Show,' 'The Rockford Files,' and 'Cheers.'
Did You Know?
His birth name was Edgeworth Blair Reid.
He served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II as a pilot.
He was the original host of the game show 'The Name's the Same' in 1951.
He provided the voice for the character of Bob in the English dub of the Japanese anime film 'My Neighbor Totoro.'
“The trick is to make the audience think you're the smartest man in the room, right before you lose the girl.”
