Sam Elliott played Lee Hayden in the 2017 film, The Hero, which sparked speculations about his health.
In the movie, an aging veteran actor named Lee Hayden battles with pancreatic cancer while attempting to get back in touch with his estranged daughter and find love with a younger lady.
However, a lot of people believed Elliott genuinely had cancer because they mistakenly took the movie’s narrative as Elliott’s reality.
He appeared older and thinner later on in the movie, which raised the audience suspicions even further.
Elliott’s performance in the movie was hailed as one of his best by critics because of how real he made his role appear.
Hence, people assume he has a disease in real life. A lot of digital publications are also spreading this fake rumor.
Elliott is indeed well and healthy.
“The Hero (2017)” Storyline
Lee Hayden is a veteran actor of “The Western,” a genre of fiction set popular in North America during the late 18th and 19th century.
The prime of his career is nearing its end, but his distinct voice still helps him land voiceover jobs for commercials.
Lee is later on diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and couldn’t tell no one about it.
He meets stand-up comedienne, Charlotte Dylan, who becomes his lover and unintentionally raises his profile in the public.
His career once more began to flourish.
Lee ends up in a severe emotional conflict about the possibility of a career comeback while his impending death is in his face.
But he must come to final terms with both of his realities.
Watch “The Hero” (2017) free here.
Sam Elliott Before His Role In “The Hero”
Sam Elliott started off his career as a character actor, and featured in several mini-series and Western films back in the 60’s and 70’s.
However, Elliott’s background as a Western actor was coincidentally included in the film’s script.
Sam Elliott’s perfect performance in the film also led to rumors that the film is based on his life story. Thus, many viewers thought he had a disease in reality.
However, Elliott is very much well and healthy.
Sam Elliott After His Role In “The Hero”
After his role in The Hero (2017), Elliott starred in “The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot” and “A Star is Born” the following year.
His performance in A Star is Born earned him multiple award nominations, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Screen Actors Guild Award, and a win at the National Board of Review Award.
Elliott most current role play is in the 2022 Paramount+ mini-series, 1883. His performance earned him a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie.
Where is Sam Elliott Now?
The 79-year old actor popularly known for his deep voice, thick mustache, and his tall/lean physique lives with his wife, Katharine Ross, at their seaside ranch in Malibu, California.
The couple have a daughter named Cleo Rose Elliott, who is pursuing a career in music.
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