Jack Starrett

Claude Ennis "Jack" Starrett Jr. (November 2, 1936 – March 27, 1989) was an American actor and film director.

Starrett is perhaps best known for his role as Gabby Johnson, a parody of George "Gabby" Hayes, in the 1974 film Blazing Saddles and is also known for his role as the brutal policeman Art Galt in the 1982 action film First Blood. He also played the cruel foreman Swick in The River (1984).

Starrett acted in the biker films The Born Losers, Hells Angels on Wheels (both from 1967), Angels from Hell (1968) and Hell's Bloody Devils (1970), and directed two more: Run, Angel, Run in 1969 and Nam's Angels (1970) as well as the horror film Race with the Devil (1975) – that was filmed in his home state of Texas – in which he also played a gas station attendant.

Life and career Starrett was raised in Refugio, Texas and worked in the oil fields before coming to Hollywood. He starred in the 1961 film Like Father Like Son as Coach Jennings, and later reprised the role in The Young Sinner in 1965 and Like Father Like Son in 1987.

Valerie Starrett, his wife at one time, said Jack had always wished to direct rather than act. He made an uncredited first attempt at direction when the original director of The Girls from Thunder Strip needed assistance.

Throughout his career, Starrett directed feature films and episodes of television programs. In addition, he made guest appearances on TV shows including Hill Street Blues, Hunter, The A-Team, and Knight Rider (in which he made three guest appearances as different characters.) Starrett starred in three short films directed by Tony Schweikle. Starrett and Schweikle stayed close friends until Starrett's death.

He played the mumbling Gabby Johnson in Mel Brooks' 1974 film Blazing Saddles that was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. At the time of his death he was married to Valerie Starrett.

Filmography Film Director

Run, Angel, Run! (1969) House of Zodiac (1969) Nam's Angels (1970) Cry Blood, Apache (1970) The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie (1972) Slaughter (1972) Cleopatra Jones (1973) The Gravy Train (1974) Race with the Devil (1975) The New Spartans (1975) A Small Town in Texas (1976) Hollywood Man (1976) Walking Tall: Final Chapter (1977) Kiss My Grits (1982)

Actor Year Title Role Notes 1965 The Young Sinner Coach Jennings Filmed in 1961 1967 Hells Angels on Wheels Sergeant Bingham The Born Losers Deputy Fred 1968 Angels from Hell Bingham 1969 The Gay Deceivers Colonel Dixon 1970 Hell's Bloody Devils Rocky The Girls from Thunder Strip Sheriff Nam's Angels Chet Davis Uncredited Cry Blood, Apache The Deacon 1973 Kid Blue Tough Guy 1974 Blazing Saddles Gabby Johnson The Gravy Train Gentleman Rancher 1975 Race with the Devil Gas Station Attendant 1976 A Small Town in Texas Buford Tyler 1979 The Rose Dee 1982 First Blood Deputy Sergeant Art Galt 1983 Grizzly II: The Concert Papas Unreleased film 1984 The River Swick 1987 Like Father Like Son Coach Jennings Uncredited 1988 Death Chase Lieutenant MacGrew Brothers in Arms Father 1989 Family Reunion Charlie Nightwish Professor 1990 Hollywood Heartbreak Lou Budowski (final film role)

Television TV series Director Year Title Notes 1969 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors 2 episodes 1974 Planet of the Apes Episode: "The Horse Race" 1975-1977 Starsky & Hutch 3 episodes 1978 What Really Happened to the Class of '65? Episode: "Class Underachiever" 1979 Paris Episode: "Decisions" 1979 A Man Called Sloane Episode: "Sweethearts of Disaster" 1979-1980 The Dukes of Hazzard Two episodes 1980 Beyond Westworld Episode: "The Lion" 1980 Eischied Episode: "Powder Burn" 1981 Hill Street Blues Episode: "Life, Death, Eternity"

Actor Year Title Role Notes 1971 Cade's County Wilbur Bain Episode: "The Mustangers" 1983 Hill Street Blues Farley Episode: "Moon Over Uranus" 1983-1985 Knight Rider Hagen / Lieutenant George Barth / Sheriff 3 episodes 1985 Wildside General Abraham Wollock Episode: "Well Known Secret" 1985 Hunter Dennis Balzer / The Bartender / The Sniper 3 episodes 1986 The A-Team Wade Blackburn Episode: "The Duke of Whispering Pines"

TV movies Director Night Chase (1970) Roger and Hary: The Mitera Target (1977) Nowhere to Hide (1977) Thaddeus Rose and Eddie (1978) Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus (1978) Mr. Horn (1979) Survival of Dana (1979)

Actor Year Title Role Notes 1977 Nowhere to Hide Gus 1979 Mr. Horn General George Crook 1979 Survival of Dana Police Photographer Uncredited