Earl Holliman was a celebrated actor who graced our movie and television screens for over six decades. When he passed away recently he left behind not only a wealth of great performances, but also a legacy of protecting and caring for animals, especially those that share our homes. As the president of Actors and Others for Animals for 31 years, he helped change public perception on how we as a society treat our pets. He agonized over the number of animals being destroyed in animal shelters and recognized that no one was paying attention to how many were being born. He voiced the importance of spay/neuter at every opportunity.
Earl Holliman

In his own words, “When I began with Actors and Others, animal advocates were rare. But through the power of media exposure, determination and just plain hard work, we were able to show the public that sharing one’s life with animal companions is a privilege and caring for them a responsibility.”

He went on to say: “The one question I am always asked is why help animals. The answer is simple. Not one of the calls that Actors and Others has ever received in all of our years has been placed by an animal seeking help. We do help people. We help people care for their animal companions – many times their only companion.

I have loved and helped animals all of my life. When I was a lonely child growing up in the oil fields of Texas, I had quite a few animal companions to keep me company. I would put out food for them each night, and was so pleased when more and more would show up. It took a while for the adults in the camp to figure out that the reason there was a rat explosion was because I had adopted them! When it comes to animals, I am still that little boy in awe of all the creatures who share our world!”

Earl worked hard to raise funds for Actors and Others, hosting our Celebrity Fairs, Celebrity Fashion Shows and several of our Celebrity Roasts, calling on his Hollywood friends to join him. He even turned down some acting roles if they interfered with one of our events. He attended adoption events with the County of Los Angeles, spoke on behalf of animals in Sacramento and was always there when needed. He had a long association with Dian Fossey and her fight to save mountain gorillas. One of the proudest moments of his life was going to Rwanda with Dian to help raise awareness for the plight of the gorillas. He even rescued a dog on the trip and brought him home.

Earl made over 50 films, including “Broken Lance”, “The Bridges at Toko-Ri”, “Forbidden Planet”, “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral", "Don't Go Near the Water", "Last Train from Gun Hill", “The Sons of Katie Elder”, “Giant”, “Sharky’s Machine”, and was last seen on the big screen in "Journey to Royal: A WWII Rescue Mission" in 2021. He won a Golden Globe for “The Rainmaker” with Katharine Hepburn and Burt Lancaster, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He shared the screen with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean and Kirk Douglas. He also appeared in nearly 50 television shows, with starring turns in “Hotel de Paree”, “Wide Country”, “Police Woman”, “PS I Love You,” “Delta” and “NightMan.” He was chosen by Rod Serling to star in the inaugural episode of the groundbreaking television series, “The Twilight Zone.”

Earl had an easy charm and infectious smile. He also had a mischievous sense of humor. He will be remembered for his diverse career and for his animal advocacy. His rich legacy will remain a significant part of Actors and Others for Animals.