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."
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Strother Martin reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Western
The majority of Strother Martin's filmography leans towards the Western genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 54% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Strother Martin remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Strother Martin Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Strother Martin's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Strother Martin.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Secret of Nikola Tesla | George Westinghouse | Average | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Villain | Parody Jones | Average | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Champ | Riley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Love and Bullets | Louis Monk | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy | Turtle Ranch Boss | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Up in Smoke | Mr. Stoner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | The End | Dr. Waldo Kling | Average | Similar → |
| 1977 | Slap Shot | Joe McGrath | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Rooster Cogburn | Shanghai McCoy | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | Hard Times | Poe | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Hannie Caulder | Rufus Clemens | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Fools' Parade | Lee Cottrill | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Brotherhood of Satan | Doc Duncan | Average | 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 | Super 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 → |
| 1961 | The Deadly Companions | Parson | Average | 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 | Cowboy | Trailhand Bitten by Rattlesnake | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | Copper Sky | Pokey | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Attack | Ingersol | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | World Without End | Nihka (uncredited) | Average | 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 → |
| 1953 | The Magnetic Monster | Co-Pilot | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Androcles and the Lion | Soldier (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Storm Over Tibet | Co-pilot | Average | 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 Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" with a rating of 7.8/10.
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 "Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade", "Cool Hand Luke", and "Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy".