Elisha Cook Jr.
ActingAbout Elisha Cook Jr.
Elisha Vanslyck Cook, Jr. (December 26, 1903 – May 18, 1995) was an American character actor who made a career out of playing cowardly villains and weedy neurotics in dozens of films. He was perhaps most noted for his portrayal of the "gunsel" Wilmer, who tries to intimidate Humphrey Bogart's Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon. Description above from the Wikipedia article Elisha Cook, Jr, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Elisha Cook Jr. reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Elisha Cook Jr.'s filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 70% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Elisha Cook Jr. remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in They Came from the Attic, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Elisha Cook Jr. Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Elisha Cook Jr.'s career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Elisha Cook Jr..
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | They Came from the Attic | Watson Pritchard (voice) (Archival) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains | Pappy Glue | Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Hammett | Eli the Taxi Driver | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Leave 'Em Laughing | Jetter | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Carny | On-Your-Mark | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | Tom Horn | Stable Hand | Average | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Champ | Georgie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Dead of Night | Karel | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | Winterhawk | Finley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Messiah of Evil | Charlie | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Outfit | Carl | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid | Cody | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Emperor of the North | Gray Cat | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Electra Glide in Blue | Willie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Night Stalker | Mickey Crawford | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Scarecrow | Micah | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Movie Murderer | Willie Peanuts | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Great Bank Robbery | Jeb | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | Rosemary's Baby | Mr. Nicklas | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Movie Orgy | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Spy in the Green Hat | Arnold | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Big Parade of Comedy | Joe in 'Love Crazy' (archive footage) (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Haunted Palace | Gideon Smith / Micah Smith | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | One-Eyed Jacks | Carvey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Platinum High School | Harry Nesbit | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | Day of the Outlaw | Larry Teter, Town Barber | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | House on Haunted Hill | Watson Pritchard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Plunder Road | Skeets Jonas | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Killing | George Peatty | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Indian Fighter | Briggs | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Trial | Finn | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Drum Beat | Blaine Crackel | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Shane | Frank 'Stonewall' Torrey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Don't Bother to Knock | Eddie Forbes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Born to Kill | Marty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Big Sleep | Harry Jones | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Two Smart People | Fly Feletti | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Phantom Lady | Cliff Milburn | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Manila Calling | Gillman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | A-Haunting We Will Go | Frank Lucas | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Hellzapoppin' | Harry Selby | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Ball of Fire | Waiter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | I Wake Up Screaming | Harry Williams | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Maltese Falcon | Wilmer Cook | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Sergeant York | Piano Player (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Love Crazy | Joe (elevator operator) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Stranger on the Third Floor | Joe Briggs | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Submarine Patrol | Seaman Rutherford Davis Pratt, aka 'The Professor' | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Danger – Love at Work | McBain, the chemist | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Pigskin Parade | Herbert Van Dyke | Average | Similar → |
Elisha Cook Jr. - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Elisha Cook Jr.?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Elisha Cook Jr. is "They Came from the Attic" with a rating of 9.0/10.
How many movies has Elisha Cook Jr. acted in?
Elisha Cook Jr. has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Elisha Cook Jr.?
Other notable films include "Leave 'Em Laughing", "Scarecrow", and "Rosemary's Baby".