Biff Elliot (born Leon Shalek, July 26, 1923 â€" August 15, 2012) was
an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as popular
detective Mike Hammer in the 1953 version of I, the Jury, and for his
guest appearance as Schmitter in the Star Trek episode "The Devil in
the Dark".Elliot was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, the son of Susan M.
(née Bernstein) and Israel Michael Shalek. All of his grandparents
were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. His father was a former
semi-pro baseball player who had, after retiring, opened a burlap-bag
manufacturing business in Presque Isle, Maine.Elliot had a childhood
nickname "Bith" but later adapted it to "Biff" when he went into
boxing, which he did when he was 16 and his family had moved to
Presque Isle. He then became known as Biff Harris. Eventually Elliot
went on to become the North Maine champion and even reached the New
England regional championship, but once his mother found out about his
boxing, she refused to allow him to continue. In 1943, Elliot signed
up for the United States Army, was placed in the 34th Infantry
Division and later stationed to North Africa.Once the war finished,
Elliot was discharged and decided to return to the University of Maine
in 1945. In college Elliot wrote column for The Maine Campus entitled
Scotch and Soda. He graduated in 1949 and moved to New York City in
hopes of pursuing a writing career. After failing as a writer, Elliot
switched his attention to acting, and began taking courses at the
actors' studio.
an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as popular
detective Mike Hammer in the 1953 version of I, the Jury, and for his
guest appearance as Schmitter in the Star Trek episode "The Devil in
the Dark".Elliot was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, the son of Susan M.
(née Bernstein) and Israel Michael Shalek. All of his grandparents
were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. His father was a former
semi-pro baseball player who had, after retiring, opened a burlap-bag
manufacturing business in Presque Isle, Maine.Elliot had a childhood
nickname "Bith" but later adapted it to "Biff" when he went into
boxing, which he did when he was 16 and his family had moved to
Presque Isle. He then became known as Biff Harris. Eventually Elliot
went on to become the North Maine champion and even reached the New
England regional championship, but once his mother found out about his
boxing, she refused to allow him to continue. In 1943, Elliot signed
up for the United States Army, was placed in the 34th Infantry
Division and later stationed to North Africa.Once the war finished,
Elliot was discharged and decided to return to the University of Maine
in 1945. In college Elliot wrote column for The Maine Campus entitled
Scotch and Soda. He graduated in 1949 and moved to New York City in
hopes of pursuing a writing career. After failing as a writer, Elliot
switched his attention to acting, and began taking courses at the
actors' studio.
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