American actor who began on Broadway at 18 as a song-and-dance man, who modeled and appeared on occasional TV spots before breaking into film in 1968 with “The Night They Raided Minsky’s,” 1968. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice” in 1969. Tall, but puffy and mournful looking, his popularity comes through in an adorable-puppy-dog appeal.
The only child of Eastern European immigrants, Bernie, a textile buyer, and Lucille Gould, a homemaker, Elliot’s childhood was directed by a “stage mother” who insisted that he take drama, diction, singing and dancing lessons by the time he was eight. He was left with memories of a childhood that was “positively terrifying,” leading to later biweekly therapy sessions.
He worked summers at comedy clubs in the Catskills. After graduating from the Professional Children’s School in Manhattan he made his Broadway debut as a chorus boy in the 1957 musical “Rumple” before landing the starring role opposite Barbra Streisand a few years later in “I Can Get It For You Wholesale.”
He and Streisand fell in love and married in 1963. Her career went up while his reached a peak and then foundered. During their turbulent five-years together he was at times referred to as “Mr. Streisand.” They had a son, Jason in 1967 and divorced in 1971. Moving to Los Angeles, he starred in the then-risqué “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice,” 1969, playing a swinger. This role brought him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He again found success as Trapper John in the movie version of “M*A*S*H” 1970 and “Little Murders,” 1971. These films showed his befuddled charm and domination of the scene with his electricity and expressive eyes. During the early ’70s he was the hottest property in Hollywood, before hitting a severe down-swing. After an unsuccessful venture with his own production company and a seven-year debt, Gould had a two year hiatus with a breakdown, dealing with his personal instabilities, drinking and doing drugs. During this time he did appear in three Robert Altman films, “The Long Goodbye,” 1973, “California Split,” 1974 and “Nashville,” 1975.
He married Jennifer Bogart, daughter of director Paul Bogart 1971. They had a daughter, Molly, and son, Sam, divorced in 1975 and then remarried in 1977. They have been separated since 1989.
Since winning rave reviews for his role as a hoodlum in “Bugsy,” 1991, Gould has rebounded with guest appearances on TV sitcoms and won admiration for his portrayal of a Jewish schoolteacher romantically involved with the mother of a neo-Nazi in “American History X.”
Family is very important to Gould. When his mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer he moved her into his home until her peaceful death. He remains close to all his children and Jenny. The only home he ever owned was given up in 1985 for failure to pay taxes. He lives in a simple rented house in Venice, California, and continues through many years with psychoanalysis which helps him maintain focus.
Link to Wikipedia biography