Burton Gilliam

Burton Gilliam is a highly regarded American actor, born on August 9, 1938. Known for memorable roles in several 1970s movies such as the much-acclaimed Blazing Saddles and Paper Moon, as well as comedic cameos in Back to the Future, Part III (1990) and Honeymoon in Vegas. Before his acting career took off, Gilliam showcased his skills in the boxing ring as a member of the Coast Guard's boxing team. He won 201 out of 217 fights, maintaining a deep connection with the boxing world for many years. Gilliam worked as a firefighter for the city of Dallas and his first foray into acting during this time was the role of 'Floyd', the desk clerk, in the film Paper Moon. This success led him to roles in popular movies including Blazing Saddles and Back to the Future Part III. His performance in Blazing Saddles was especially challenging due to the racism his character displayed. Despite the harsh language, he was reminded by fellow actor, Cleavon Little, that he was merely playing a character and the racial insults were unequivocally portrayed in a negative light. Other notable appearances include Honeymoon in Vegas, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Farewell, My Lovely, Fletch, Gator, Telefon and The Terror Within II. He has also appeared on several TV shows like Alice, Charlie's Angels, The A-Team, The Dukes of Hazzard, and The Fall Guy. He lives with his wife, Susan, in Allen, Texas, just north of Dallas. He's a proud father of two children and grandfather to four. His granddaughter Hollie Vise is an American former world champion artistic gymnast. His longstanding service to the arts was recognized when he was inducted into the Woodrow Wilson High School's hall of fame in 2004 and in 2018, he was named the grand marshal of the Dallas St. Patrick's Day parade.