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Burton Gilliam

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Burton Gilliam
Gilliam at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2019
Born (1938-08-09) August 9, 1938 (age 86)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1973–present

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[1] and Paper Moon, as well as comedic cameos in Back to the Future, Part III and Honeymoon in Vegas.

Biography

Career

Before acting, Gilliam was a member of the Coast Guard's boxing team, where he won 201 out of 217 fights.[2] He remained in the boxing world for decades, working as a referee in California.

While working as a fireman for the city of Dallas,[2] 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") at the black characters, especially the hero, played by Cleavon Little. 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.[3]

Gilliam also has had roles in movies such as Honeymoon in Vegas, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Farewell, My Lovely, Fletch, Gator, Telefon and The Terror Within II. His television appearances include Alice, Charlie's Angels, The A-Team, The Dukes of Hazzard and The Fall Guy, and he appeared as a regular on Evening Shade.

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 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

Television

TV guest appearances

Video games

References

  1. ^ Lindsey, Craig (26 August 2019). "How 'Blazing Saddles' turned a Texan into a star". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b Brady, Shaun (February 22, 2019). "The man who will be remembered as a part of the first fart joke in movie history comes to New Hope". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "'Blazing Saddles': What the Producers Didn't Want You to Know". History by Day. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
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