Sam Elliott’s villain in Justified season 6 reminded everybody just how good the veteran actor can be. Sam Elliott is instantly recognizable due to his trademark mustache and deep voice, and he’s appeared in just about every genre imaginable, from drama to comedy and comic book movies. His most iconic roles is probably The Stranger from The Big Lebowski, who acts as the narrator of the Coen brothers oddball comedy. Other cult favorites featuring the actor including 1989’s Road House and Tombstone alongside Kurt Russell.
Sam Elliott’s old-fashioned screen persona has also made him uniquely suited for Westerns, and he’s appeared in many TV movies in the genre, including You Know My Name, The Desperate Trail, Conagher and Shadow Riders with Tom Selleck. Over the span of a 50-year career, he’s always been a welcome presence no matter the size of the role, and he can even elevate duds like 2007’s Ghost Rider.
The last few years have seen him appear in several quality projects, including a heartbreaking supporting role in A Star Is Born. He also plays a main role in Netflix show The Ranch and movie dramas The Hero and The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot. It’s been a real treat seeing this screen icon get material worthy of his talents. It feels like his appearance as villain Avery Markham in the final season of Justified is to thank for this sudden Sam Elliott golden age.
Justified was acclaimed throughout its run, but Elliott’s Avery made for a perfect final villain. Markham is a famed gangster who returns to Kentucky with a plan to grow weed. Avery isn’t afraid to use scare tactics and violence to get his way, and he also seeks to rekindle a romance with Katherine Hale (Mary Steenburgen, Back To The Future Part III) – which has tragic consequences. Needless to say, his actions bring him into conflict with Raylan (Timothy Olyphant, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) and Boyd (Walton Goggins).
In addition to bringing his trademark coolness to Justified, Elliott excels at quiet menace. Avery is more than a one-note bad guy, however, and he brings a lot of depth to the character. Elliott was considered one of the major highlights of Justified’s final season and later won a Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series award from the Critics’ Choice TV Awards for his work. This soon led to a steady stream of great scripts coming his way, which will hopefully continue for a long time to come.