Strother Martin
ActingAbout Strother Martin
Strother Martin (March 26, 1919 – August 1, 1980) was an American actor in numerous films and television programs. Martin is perhaps best known as the prison "captain" in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke, where he uttered the line, "What we've got here is...failure to communicate."
Strother Martin Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Strother Martin reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Strother Martin's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 72% of Strother Martin's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains The Black Whip, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Strother Martin Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Strother Martin's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Strother Martin has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Hotwire | The Weasel | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Secret of Nikola Tesla | George Westinghouse | Average | Similar → |
| 1979 | Better Late Than Never | J.D. Ashcroft | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Champ | Riley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Love and Bullets | Louis Monk | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | Stubby Pringle's Christmas | Old Hollander | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Steel Cowboy | Pinky Pincus | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy | Turtle Ranch Boss | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Up in Smoke | Mr. Stoner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Slap Shot | Joe McGrath | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Rooster Cogburn | Shanghai McCoy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Hard Times | Poe | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | One of Our Own | LeRoy Atkins | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Hannie Caulder | Rufus Clemens | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Fools' Parade | Lee Cottrill | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Red Sky at Morning | John Cloyd | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Ballad of Cable Hogue | Bowen | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | Percy Garris | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Wild Bunch | Coffer | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | True Grit | Colonel G. Stonehill | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | Cool Hand Luke | Captain | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Flim-Flam Man | Lovick | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Nevada Smith | Strother (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | An Eye for an Eye | Trumbull | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Harper | Claude | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Sons of Katie Elder | Ned Ross | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Shenandoah | Train Engineer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Brainstorm | Mr. Clyde | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | Invitation to a Gunfighter | Fiddler | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | McLintock! | Agard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | Showdown | Charlie Reeder | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance | Floyd | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Horse Soldiers | Virgil | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Wild and the Innocent | Ben Stocker | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Shaggy Dog | Thurm | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Bitter Heritage | Earle Eheeler | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | Cowboy | Trailhand Bitten by Rattlesnake | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | Copper Sky | Pokey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Black Whip | Thorny | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Attack | Ingersol | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Big Knife | Stillman | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Kiss Me Deadly | Harvey Wallace | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Strategic Air Command | Airman | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | Drum Beat | Scotty | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | A Star Is Born | Delivery Boy (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Storm Over Tibet | Co-pilot | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | The Red Badge of Courage | Corporal (voice) (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Damned Don't Cry | Springboard Diver (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Asphalt Jungle | William Doldy (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
Strother Martin - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Strother Martin?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Strother Martin is "The Black Whip" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Strother Martin acted in?
Strother Martin has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Strother Martin?
Other notable films include "One of Our Own", "Steel Cowboy", and "Better Late Than Never".