American Character Actor Achieved Fame In His Later Years

WEB Strother Martin: A Life in Character

American Character Actor Achieved Fame in His Later Years

American character actor WEB Strother Martin, who was born on March 26, 1919, and passed away on August 1, 1980, gained significant recognition in the final decade of his acting career.

From Supporting Roles to Notable Recognition

Martin's breakthrough came in the 1970s when he became known for his memorable supporting performances in films starring Western icons John Wayne and Paul Newman. His portrayal of crusty, often antagonistic characters left a lasting impression on audiences.

One of his most notable roles was as the grizzled prison guard in the Academy Award-winning film "Cool Hand Luke" (1967), where he famously uttered the line, "What we've got here is... failure to communicate." Martin's distinctive demeanor and natural talent for portraying authority figures made him an in-demand character actor throughout his career.