Burton Gilliam (born August 9, 1938) is an American actor. He is best known for memorable roles in several popular 1970s movies, such as '' Blazing Saddles'' and '' Paper Moon'', as well as comedic cameos in '' Back to the Future, Part III'' and ''

Honeymoon in Vegas ''Honeymoon in Vegas'' is a 1992 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Andrew Bergman and starring James Caan, Nicolas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker. Plot Private Detective ("Private eye") Jack Singer (Nicolas Cage) swore to hi ...

''.

Biography

Career

Before acting, Gilliam was a member of the

Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to ...

's boxing team, where he won 201 out of 217 fights. He remained in the boxing world for decades, working as a referee in California. While working as a fireman for the city of Dallas, Gilliam appeared in the role of "Floyd", the desk clerk, in the film '' Paper Moon''. He then went on to appear in such popular movies as '' Blazing Saddles'' and '' Back to the Future Part III''. Performing in ''Blazing Saddles'' was difficult for him, since he played a despicable racist who repeatedly hurls racial insults (including "

nigger In the English language, the word ''nigger'' is an ethnic slur used against black people, especially African Americans. Starting in the late 1990s, references to ''nigger'' have been progressively replaced by the euphemism , notably in cases ...

") at the black characters, especially the hero, played by

Cleavon Little Cleavon Jake Little (June 1, 1939 – October 22, 1992) was an American stage, film, and television actor. He began his career in the late 1960s on the stage. In 1970, he starred in the Broadway production of '' Purlie'', for which he earned both ...

. Gilliam was so uncomfortable with his use of that slur that he apologized to Little, who had to remind him that it simply was a word in the script and that the racial insults were treated unambiguously negatively since he was playing a villain. Gilliam was also embarrassed by being the main protagonist in the fart scene. Gilliam also has had roles in movies such as ''

'', ''

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot ''Thunderbolt and Lightfoot'' is a 1974 American crime comedy film written and directed by Michael Cimino and starring Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, and Geoffrey Lewis. Plot A young ne'er-do-well, Lightfoot steals a car. Elsewh ...

'', ''

Farewell, My Lovely ''Farewell, My Lovely'' is a novel by Raymond Chandler, published in 1940, the second novel he wrote featuring the Los Angeles private eye Philip Marlowe. It was adapted for the screen three times and was also adapted for the stage and rad ...

'', '' Fletch'', '' Gator'', '' Telefon'' and ''

The Terror Within II ''The Terror Within II'' is a 1991 American science fiction horror film and a sequel to the 1989 film '' The Terror Within''. It is written and directed by star Andrew Stevens (reprising his role from the first film), and also stars R. Lee Erm ...

''. His television appearances include '' Alice'', ''

Charlie's Angels ''Charlie's Angels'' is an American crime drama television series that aired on ABC from September 22, 1976, to June 24, 1981, producing five seasons and 115 episodes. The series was created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts and was produced by Aa ...

'', ''

The A-Team ''The A-Team'' is an American action-adventure television series that ran on NBC from January 1983 to March 1987 about former members of a fictitious United States Army Special Forces unit. The four members of the team were tried by court marti ...

'', ''

The Dukes of Hazzard ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy TV series that was aired on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985. The show aired for 147 episodes spanning seven seasons. It was consistently among the top-rated television series ...

'' and ''

The Fall Guy ''The Fall Guy'' is an American action/adventure television series produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981, to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas as Hollywood stunt performers who moonli ...

'', and he appeared as a regular on ''

Evening Shade ''Evening Shade'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on CBS from September 21, 1990, to May 23, 1994. The series stars Burt Reynolds as Wood Newton, an ex-professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who returns t ...

''.

Personal life

Gilliam was born in Dallas, Texas. He lives with his wife, Susan, in Allen, Texas, just north of Dallas. He has two children and four grandchildren. His granddaughter

Hollie Vise Hollie Diane Vise (born December 6, 1987) is an American former Artistic gymnastics, artistic gymnast. A two-time world champion, Vise went on to compete for the University of Oklahoma. Early life and training Born in Dallas, Texas, Vise is not ...

is an American former world champion artistic gymnast. Gilliam graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1956 and was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2004. In 2018, he was the grand marshal of the Dallas St. Patrick's Day parade.

Filmography

Films

* '' Paper Moon'' (1973) - Floyd (Desk Clerk) * '' Blazing Saddles'' (1974) - Lyle * ''

'' (1974) - Welder * '' At Long Last Love'' (1975) - Man at Racetrack * ''

'' (1975) - Cowboy * ''

Hearts of the West ''Hearts of the West'', released in Europe as ''Hollywood Cowboy'', is a 1975 American comedy film directed by Howard Zieff, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Jeff Bridges, Andy Griffith, Blythe Danner, and Alan Arkin. Set in 1930s ...

'' (1975) - Lester * ''

The Night That Panicked America '' The Night That Panicked America'' is an American television film, made-for-television drama (film and television), drama film that was originally broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC network on October 31, 1975. The telefilm dram ...

'' (1975) - Tex * '' Gator'' (1976) - Smiley * ''

Another Man, Another Chance ''Another Man, Another Chance'' (''Un autre homme, une autre chance'', UK title: ''Another Man, Another Woman'') is a 1977 French western film directed by Claude Lelouch. Plot France in 1870: Napoleon III has just lost the war against Prussia ...

'' (1977) - Sheriff Murphy * '' Telefon'' (1977) - Gas Station Attendant * '' The Beasts Are on the Streets'' (1978) - Al Loring * ''

The Jericho Mile ''The Jericho Mile'' is a 1979 Emmy Award-winning United States made for TV crime film, directed by Michael Mann. The film won five awards, including three Emmy Awards. The story is set at Folsom Prison, where the film was shot on location in the ...

'' (1979) - Jimmy-Jack * ''

Foxfire Light ''Foxfire Light'' is a 1982 American romance drama film written by Janet Dailey and directed by Allen Baron. Starring Leslie Nielsen, Tippi Hedren, Faye Grant, Barry Van Dyke, and Lara Parker, it is based on a romantic novel by Janet Dailey, featur ...

'' (1982) - Deke * '' Fletch'' (1985) - Bud * '' Uphill All the Way'' (1986) - Corporal * '' The Girl'' (1987) * ''

The Underachievers The Underachievers are an American hip hop duo from Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 2011, the duo is composed of rappers AKTHESAVIOR and Issa Gold. American record producer Flying Lotus signed the duo to his Brainfeeder record label ...

'' (1987) - Red * '' Back to the Future Part III'' (1990) - Elmer H. Johnson, Colt Gun Salesman * ''

'' (1991) - Dewitt * '' Quake'' (1992) - Willie * ''

'' (1992) - Roy Bacon, Elvis Impersonator * '' The Getaway'' (1994) - Gollie * '' Wild Bill'' (1995) - Lynch * ''

Born to Be Wild "Born to Be Wild" is a song written by Mars Bonfire and first performed by the band Steppenwolf. The song is often invoked in both popular and counter culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude. It is most notably featured in the 1969 fi ...

'' (1995) - Dwayne * ''Soccer Dog: The Movie'' (1999) - The Mail Man * ''The Journeyman'' (2001) - Silas Bishop * ''Mi Amigo'' (2002) - Older Pal Grisham * ''An Eye for Detail'' (2002) - Professor William Seymore * ''Sweet Hideaway'' (2003) - Det. Dick Johnson * ''88 Hits'' (2003) - Victor Bordeaux * '' Shtickmen'' (2003) - Ray Sellers * ''

Drop Dead Sexy ''Drop Dead Sexy'' is a 2005 American comedy film starring Jason Lee and Crispin Glover. Plot When their money scam goes into the ground, two would-be thieves (Jason Lee and Crispin Glover) turn to kidnapping in an attempt to blackmail their targ ...

'' (2005) - Big Tex * ''Killing Down'' (2006) - Turner * '' Cake: A Wedding Story'' (2007) - Judge * ''Fire from Below'' (2009) - Bubba * ''Breaking the Press'' (2010) * ''Shattered Dreams V'' (2012) Daddy * ''Return to Vengeance'' (2012) - Leonard * ''The Wisdom to Know the Difference'' (2014) - Jesse * ''The Lucky Man'' (2017) - Pawn Broker's Dad

Television

* '' The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything'' (1980) - Hoover Hess * '' The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite'' (1981) - Hoover Hess III * '' North and South Book II'' (1986) - Cpl. Strock * ''

Dream West ''Dream West'' is a 1986 American television miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain and directed by Dick Lowry. Development The seven-hour miniseries was broken into three parts (2 hours, 2 hours, and 3 hours). Part 1 aired on Sunday, April 13 ...

'' (1986) - Martineau * ''

'' (1990-1994) - Virgil * ''

The Love Bug ''The Love Bug'' is a 1968 American comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and the first in a franchise by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution that starred an anthropomorphic pearl-white, fabric-sunroofed 19 ...

'' (1997) - Mechanic Race Announcer

TV guest appearances

* ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr., based on his 1961 book ''Spencer's Mountain'' and the 1963 film ...

'' (1975) - J.D. Paulsen * ''

'' (1977) - Ulmer * '' Alice'' (1976-1978) - Buford Baker / Jimmie Joe Castleberry * ''

Soap Soap is a salt of a fatty acid used in a variety of cleansing and lubricating products. In a domestic setting, soaps are surfactants usually used for washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping. In industrial settings, soaps are use ...

'' (1979) - Buck * ''

Young Maverick ''Young Maverick'' is a 1979 television series and a sequel to the 1957–1962 series ''Maverick'', which had starred James Garner as roving gambler Bret Maverick. Charles Frank played Ben Maverick, the son of Bret's first cousin Beau Maverick, ma ...

'' (1979) - Barbary Kid * ''

B. J. and the Bear ''B.J. and the Bear'' is an American action comedy television series which aired on NBC from February 10, 1979, to May 9, 1981. Created by Glen A. Larson and Christopher Crowe, the series stars Greg Evigan. The series was produced when the CB ...

'' (1979) - Lacy * '' Flo'' (1980) - J.J. Castleberry * ''

'' (1979-1982) - Heep / Tom Colt * ''

Knight Rider ''Knight Rider'' is an American entertainment franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The core of ''Knight Rider'' is its three television series: the original ''Knight Rider'' (1982–1986) and sequel series ''Team Knight Rider'' (1997–1998) ...

'' (1983) - Trucker Gene * '' Gun Shy'' (1983) - Jeremiah Jones * ''

'' (1983) - Sheriff Jeff Lewis * ''

'' (1983) - Sheriff * ''

Hail to the Chief "Hail to the Chief" is the personal anthem of the president of the United States, adapted by James Sanderson from an original Scottish Gaelic melody. The song's playing accompanies the appearance of the president of the United States at many ...

'' (1985) - Clovis Montgomery * ''

Mama's Family ''Mama's Family'' is an American sitcom television series starring Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper, Mama (Thelma Harper). The series is a Spin-off (media), spin-off of a recurring series of sketch comedy, comedy sketches called "The Family (sketc ...

'' (1987) - Bud * '' Weird Science'' (1995) - Snake * ''

Sliders Slider or Sliders may refer to: Arts * K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise * '' The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex * ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy television series * ...

'' (1999) - Stage Driver * ''

Walker, Texas Ranger ''Walker, Texas Ranger'' is an American action crime television series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis. It was inspired by the film ''Lone Wolf McQuade'', with both this series and that film starring Chuck Norris as a member of the Texa ...

'' (1999) - Frank

Video games

* ''

Redneck Rampage ''Redneck Rampage'' is a 1997 first-person shooter game developed by Xatrix Entertainment and published by Interplay Entertainment, Interplay. The game is a first-person shooter with a variety of weapons and levels, and has a hillbilly theme, pr ...

'' (1996) - Leonard (voice) * ''

Redneck Rampage Rides Again ''Redneck Rampage Rides Again'' is a video game developed by Xatrix Entertainment and published by Interplay Entertainment for MS-DOS in 1998. It was rereleased on Steam for Microsoft Windows on June 5, 2017, and for macOS on June 18. The game i ...

'' (1998) - Leonard (voice)

References

External links

*
Burton Gilliam
at mobygames.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Gilliam, Burton 1938 births Living people American male film actors American male television actors Male actors from Dallas People from Allen, Texas