Elisha Cook Jr.

Elisha Vanslyck Cook Jr. was an American character actor famed for his work in film noir. According to Bill Georgaris of They Shoot Pictures, Don't They, Cook appeared in a total of 21 film noirs, more than any other actor or actress. He played cheerful, brainy collegiates until he was cast against type as the bug-eyed baby-faced psychopathic killer Wilmer Cook in the 1941 version of The Maltese Falcon. He went on to play deceptively mild-mannered villains. Cook's acting career spanned more than 60 years, with roles in productions including The Big Sleep, Shane, The Killing, House on Haunted Hill, and Rosemary's Baby.

26 December 1903

Born on the same birth day (26 December): Alan King • Albert Gore Sr. • Arsenio Lacson • Candy Crowley • Denis Cheryshev • Don Barclay (actor) • Donald Moffat • Evelyn Bark • Gianluca Faliva • Jean Ferrat • Jean Toomer • José Ramos-Horta • Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah • Makis Katsavakis • Omar Infante • Robert Bolling • Rolf Botvid • Trevor Taylor (racing driver)

Born in the same month (December 1903): Candido Portinari • Cornell Woolrich • Danilo Blanuša • Earl Hines • Haldan Keffer Hartline • Hardie Albright • Harold Whitlock • Johannes Heesters • Joseph Cornell • Ray Noble • Tony Lazzeri • Una Merkel • Zelma Watson George