Classic Films

By Mike Barnes/The Hollywood Reporter

Elliot Silverstein, who helmed episodes of such acclaimed TV shows as Naked City, The Twilight Zone and Route 66 before guiding Lee Marvin to a best actor Oscar in Cat Ballou, his feature directorial debut, died Friday in Los Angeles, his family announced. He was 96.

The Boston native also helmed A Man Called Horse (1970), which starred Richard Harris in the title role as an English aristocrat who eventually becomes the leader of the Native tribe that had captured and tortured him. The action movie spawned a couple of sequels.

Most importantly, Silverman was instrumental in the formation of the milestone Bill of Creative Rights for directors.

It was Silverstein who suggested that Marvin be cast as Kid Shelleen in Columbia Pictures’ Cat Ballou (1965) after Kirk Douglas had turned down the role in the comic Western. He later threatened to quit when a producer wanted to replace Marvin at the start of production with José Ferrer.