Actor / Director Profile

Jack Starrett was a superbly talented and versatile actor and director who specialized in making hugely enjoyable down'n'dirty low-budget drive-in exploitation pictures. Starrett was born on November 2nd, 1936 in Refugio, Texas. He attended San Marcos Academy in the 40s and the 50s. He made his acting debut as "Coach Jennings" in Like Father, Like Son (1965). Starrett made his debut as a director with two superior biker features starring legendary B-movie tough guy William Smith: Run, Angel, Run! (1969) and The Losers (1968). The latter movie proved to be highly influential to subsequent action films made in the 80s; its "bring the boys back home" Vietnam prisoners of war rescue operation premise was reused in the 80s features Uncommon Valor (1983), Missing in Action (1984) and Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985). His follow-up films Cry Blood, Apache (1970) and The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie (1972) were both regrettably mediocre, but Starrett bounced back with the exciting Jim Brown blaxploitation vehicle Slaughter (1972) and the delightful Cleopatra Jones (1973). The Gravy Train (1974) was an amiable tongue-in-cheek crime caper romp while the terrific Devil worship/car chase/horror/action winner Race with the Devil (1975) was Starrett's biggest ever drive-in hit and one of his most well-regarded movies. A Small Town in Texas (1976) was a solid entry in the popular redneck exploitation genre which was hot in the 70s. Kiss My Grits (1982) rates as one of Starrett's most atypical and underrated films; it's a really sweet and low-key character study of two likable cowpokes. In addition to his film work, Starrett also directed episodes of such TV shows as "Hill Street Blues" (1981), "The A-Team" (1983), "The Dukes of Hazzard" (1979), "Knight Rider" (1982), "Planet of the Apes" (1974) and "Starsky and Hutch" (1975). Big and burly, with a rough, ruddy complexion, thinning hair, a thick, furry mustache, and a deep, booming, resonant rumble of a growly voice, Jack Starrett had an extremely strong and commanding screen presence which he put to exceptionally fine use as an actor. Starrett was hilarious as the stuttering cowboy, "Gabby Johnson", in Blazing Saddles (1974) and gave an outstanding performance as "Galt", the mean small-town deputy who ruthlessly antagonizes Sylvester Stallone in the fantastic First Blood (1982). Starrett was likewise memorable as strict factory foreman, "Swick", in The River (1984). Starrett often had small roles in his own pictures. He was married to soap opera actress Valerie Starrett. Their daughter, Jennifer Starrett, was also an actress. Alas, Jack Starrett had problems with alcoholism which led to his tragic and untimely death at age 52 from kidney failure on March 27th, 1989.