Elliott Gould

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18 Feb 2024

Elliott Gould

Elliott Gould, born Elliott Goldstein on August 29, 1938, is an American actor known for his versatile performances across film and television. His career spans over seven decades, beginning in Hollywood during the 1960s.
Gould's breakthrough role came in the film "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" (1969), earning him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The following year, he starred as Capt. Trapper John McIntyre in Robert Altman's iconic film "MAS*H" (1970), which brought him BAFTA Award and Golden Globe Award nominations. Gould continued collaborating with Altman in films like "The Long Goodbye" (1973) and "California Split" (1974).
Throughout his career, Gould delivered memorable performances in a range of films, including Alan Arkin's "Little Murders" (1971), Ingmar Bergman's "The Touch" (1971), Richard Attenborough's "A Bridge Too Far" (1977), "Capricorn One" (1978), "The Silent Partner" (1978), "Over the Brooklyn Bridge" (1984), Warren Beatty's "Bugsy" (1991), "American History X" (1998), Steven Soderbergh's "Contagion" (2011), and "Ruby Sparks" (2012). He also portrayed Reuben Tishkoff in the Ocean's film series (2001, 2004, 2007, and 2018).
In addition to his film work, Gould has made significant contributions to television. He is a member of Saturday Night Live's prestigious Five Timers' Club, having hosted the show six times from 1976 to 1980. Gould is also remembered for his role as Jack Geller on the beloved NBC sitcom "Friends" (1994–2004), as well as his recurring roles in the Fox sitcom "Mulaney" (2014–2015) and the Showtime series "Ray Donovan" (2013–2016). He has further appeared on Netflix shows like "Grace and Frankie," "Lincoln Lawyer," and "The Kominsky Method."

Elliott Gould's career began on Broadway in the late 1950s, with his professional debut in the musical "Rumple" (1957), followed by small roles in successful productions like "Say, Darling" (1958–59) and "Irma La Douce" (1960–61). He gained prominence with a starring role in "I Can Get It for You Wholesale" (1962), where he met his future wife, Barbra Streisand. Gould continued to take on prominent roles in Broadway productions such as "Drat! The Cat!" (1965) and "Little Murders" (1971), although he walked out of a production of "A Way of Life" by Murray Schisgal prior to its Broadway debut.
In 1964, Gould made his feature film debut in "Quick, Let's Get Married" and followed it with a role in William Friedkin's "The Night They Raided Minsky's" (1968). However, it was his role in "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" (1969) that propelled him to stardom. Gould received critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film. This success led to a series of notable roles in the 1970s.
Gould starred as Trapper John McIntyre in Robert Altman's "MAS*H" (1970), which further solidified his status as a leading actor. He appeared on the cover of Time magazine and earned praise for his performances in films like "Getting Straight" (1970) and "The Long Goodbye" (1973), where he portrayed Philip Marlowe. Gould's collaboration with Altman continued with "California Split" (1974), another critically acclaimed film.

Throughout the 1970s, Gould's career saw both successes and setbacks. He starred in a variety of films, ranging from comedies like "I Love My Wife" (1970) to dramas like Ingmar Bergman's "The Touch" (1971). Gould also appeared in Woody Allen's "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)" (1972) and Richard Attenborough's "A Bridge Too Far" (1977).
Gould's versatility extended to television, where he became a member of Saturday Night Live's Five Timers' Club, hosting the show six times from 1976 to 1980. He also had memorable roles on the NBC sitcom "Friends" (1994–2004) as Jack Geller, the father of Ross and Monica, and on other shows like "Mulaney" (2014–2015) and "Ray Donovan" (2013–2016).
Despite some box office disappointments and setbacks in his career, Elliott Gould remains a respected and influential figure in both film and television, with a legacy that spans over seven decades.

Throughout the 1980s, Elliott Gould continued to diversify his acting career, appearing in a variety of films, television shows, and stage productions.
In 1980, he starred in the romantic comedy "Falling in Love Again" alongside Susannah York and also appeared in two Disney films: "The Last Flight of Noah's Ark" (1980) and "The Devil and Max Devlin" (1982). Gould briefly returned to Broadway in 1983 with "The Guys in the Truck," but the play closed after its opening night.
Transitioning to television, Gould played Dr. Howard Sheinfeld in the CBS medical sitcom "E/R" from 1984 to 1986. He also appeared in an episode of "The Twilight Zone" in 1986 and starred in the HBO television film "Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8" (1987).
In the 1990s, Gould continued to balance his film and television work. He received critical acclaim for his role as an aging mobster in Warren Beatty's "Bugsy" (1991) and made a cameo appearance as himself in Robert Altman's "The Player" (1992).
On television, Gould appeared in guest roles on various shows, including "L.A. Law," "Moon Over Miami," "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," and "Diagnosis: Murder." He also had a recurring role as Jack Geller on the NBC sitcom "Friends" and appeared in the controversial drama "American History X" (1998).

In the 2000s, Gould gained renewed popularity with his role as Reuben Tishkoff in Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's Eleven" (2001) and its sequels "Ocean's Twelve" (2004) and "Ocean's Thirteen" (2007). He also continued to make guest appearances on television shows like "Law & Order" and "CSI."
Throughout the 2010s, Gould remained active in both film and television. He appeared in Soderbergh's "Contagion" (2011) and the romantic comedy-drama "Ruby Sparks" (2012). Gould also lent his voice to animated series like "Kim Possible" and made guest appearances on shows such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Additionally, he had a recurring role on the Showtime series "Ray Donovan" and appeared in the sitcom "Mulaney."
In recent years, Gould has continued to make guest appearances on various television shows, including "The Kominsky Method" and "Grace and Frankie." He also reprised his role as Reuben in "Ocean's 8" (2018) and appeared in the film "Dangerous Lies" (2020).