Earl Holliman’s path to Hollywood is a compelling story of ambition and aspiration. At the age of 14 in 1943, he was resolute in his desire to become a movie star.
Raised in Oil City and Mooringsport, often mistakenly identified as Shreveport, he embarked on his journey to Hollywood through several stops along the way. His adventure began with a trip to visit relatives in Camden, Arkansas, followed by a bus ride to Texarkana, Texas. From there, he hitchhiked to Hollywood.
Having saved some money working as a theater usher and during the night shift at a café near Barksdale Air Force Base, Holliman had also connected with a serviceman who offered a lead on a place to stay. However, this turned out to be in El Monte, California, a significant distance from Hollywood. Looking back, Holliman acknowledges that it was a risky decision, one that wouldn’t be advisable in today’s world.
His initial foray into Hollywood didn’t pan out, prompting him to return home briefly before enlisting in the Navy. Nevertheless, his dream of becoming an actor remained alive. He eventually made his way back to Los Angeles, where he honed his craft at the Pasadena Playhouse and the University of California, Los Angeles.
Holliman’s determination paid off, leading to an impressive film career with notable roles in classics like “Giant” (1956), “Forbidden Planet”, “The Rainmaker”, and “The Sons of Katie Elder”. He also became well-known on television, especially for his work alongside Angie Dickinson in “Police Woman” and with Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward in “The Thorn Birds”.
He fondly reminisces about his early days in Hollywood, particularly his first morning in El Monte, when he wore a short-sleeved silk shirt and dark glasses while walking in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, fantasizing about being mistaken for a star. It was a moment filled with youthful dreams and innocence.
See below how Earl Holliman looks today at 96.
My Husband’s Family Always Excludes Me from Dinners, So One Time I Taught Them a Real Lesson
A 32-year-old woman took to Reddit to share how she was excluded from her husband’s family events during their three-year marriage. Despite being married to her 35-year-old husband, she was invited to only half of the family dinners, unlike her husband’s brothers’ significant others. Her husband often told her to “sit this one out,” which left her feeling isolated and excluded.
The tipping point came when she was asked to stay home once again. Frustrated, she made a reservation at the same restaurant and arrived shortly after her husband, catching his family off guard. Her husband was flabbergasted, and her mother-in-law deemed her actions rude. She defended herself, stating she just wanted to eat steak and had no intention of joining them.
When her husband returned home, he was angry and called her names. In a heated argument, he revealed it was a “family decision” to exclude her. Pressed further, he admitted his mother’s dislike for her race, personality, and political beliefs. Horrified but vindicated, she packed her belongings and went to her sister’s house.
In an update, she shared that the comments on her post gave her the confidence to confront her husband. She realized that her mother-in-law had pressured him into excluding her because she was half-black and didn’t fit their family mold. She felt it was likely they would either separate or divorce.
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