From Small Town Dreams to Hollywood Fame: A Look at the Legendary Actor Today

Earl Holliman’s journey to Hollywood is a story of unwavering determination and dreams. At just 14 years old in 1943, Holliman was set on becoming a movie star.

Raised in Oil City and Mooringsport—not Shreveport, as often misreported—he navigated his way to Hollywood through a series of stops.

First, he traveled to Camden, Arkansas, to stay with relatives, then took a bus to Texarkana, Texas. From there, he hitchhiked to Hollywood.

Holliman had saved some money from working as a theater usher and on the night shift at a cafe near Barksdale Air Force Base. He even had a lead on a place to stay from a serviceman he met at the cafe, which turned out to be in El Monte, California, quite far from Hollywood. Reflecting on his journey, Holliman admits it was a risky move, one that wouldn’t be advisable today.

LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD

Holliman’s first attempt in Hollywood didn’t pan out, prompting him to return home briefly before enlisting in the Navy. However, his dream of becoming a movie star never faded. He later returned to Los Angeles, where he studied at the Pasadena Playhouse and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Holliman’s persistence paid off handsomely. He amassed an impressive filmography, starring in notable films such as “Giant” (1956), “Forbidden Planet,” “The Rainmaker,” and “The Sons of Katie Elder.” He also gained recognition for his television roles, particularly alongside Angie Dickinson in “Police Woman” and with Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward in “The Thorn Birds.”

Holliman fondly recalls his early days in Hollywood, particularly his first morning in El Monte. Wearing a short-sleeved silk shirt and dark glasses, he strutted in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, wondering if people mistook him for a star. It was a moment filled with the innocent dreams of youth.

To see how Earl Holliman looks today at 95, check below: