The story of Earl Holliman’s journey to Hollywood is one of aspiration and perseverance. In 1943, Holliman was just 14 years old and determined to become a movie star.
Raised in Oil City and Mooringsport—not Shreveport as often stated—Holliman traveled through several places before reaching Hollywood.
He first visited relatives in Camden, Arkansas, and then took a bus to Texarkana. From there, he caught a rideshare to Hollywood.
Holliman had worked the night shift at a diner near Barksdale Air Force Base and as a theater usher, saving up some money. A serviceman he met at the diner even gave him a lead on a place to stay, which turned out to be in El Monte, California, quite a distance from Hollywood.
Reflecting on his journey, Holliman admits it was a risky decision, one that wouldn’t be wise today.
DAILY LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD
After his first attempt in Hollywood didn’t work out, Holliman quickly went back home and then decided to join the Navy. But his dream of being a movie star never faded. He later returned to Los Angeles to study at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Pasadena Playhouse.
Holliman’s perseverance paid off. He landed roles in movies like “Giant” (1956), “Forbidden Planet,” “The Rainmaker,” and “The Sons of Katie Elder,” building an impressive list of film credits.
He also became known for his TV appearances, especially in “Police Woman” with Angie Dickinson and “The Thorn Birds” with Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward.
Holliman looks back on his Hollywood days with fondness, especially his first morning there. Wearing dark glasses and a short-sleeved silk shirt, he strutted in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, wondering if anyone thought he was a celebrity. “I felt like a star already,” he recalls, laughing at his youthful naivety.
Check out the image below to see Earl Holliman’s current age of 95:
Earl Holliman’s story is a testament to the power of persistence and the pursuit of dreams, no matter how many obstacles stand in the way.
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