Born in London, England; educated at Malvern College and RADA, London. Served in the RAF during WW II. His plane was shot down over Germany in 1942, and he spent the rest of the war in Stalag 8B POW camp in Silesia. Consummate character player who began his screen career playing earnest, dependable young Englishmen in films like THE CRUEL SEA (1953). Over the next four decades, Elliott perfected the image of the slightly disreputable, often boozy ex-public school type, expertly playing a succession of rumpled conmen, journalists and professors. He won three British Film Awards, for his roles in TRADING PLACES (1983), A PRIVATE FUNCTION (1985) and DEFENCE OF THE REALM (1985), and earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Julian Sands's slightly shabby academic father in A ROOM WITH A VIEW (1985). Modern American audiences know Elliott best as Marcus Brody, Harrison Ford's mentor and colleague in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981) and INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989). He appeared in over 125 films and television movies. Among the most notable are BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER (1952), KING RAT (1965), ALFIE (1966, as the abortionist), THE SEA GULL (1968), ROBIN AND MARIAN (1976, as Will Scarlett), VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED (also 1976), THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL (1978), ZULU DAWN (1979), BRIMSTONE AND TREACLE (1982), MAURICE (1987), HANNA'S WAR (1988), SUNDAY PURSUIT (1990), TOY SOLDIERS and SCORCHERS (both 1991) and his last film, NOISES OFF (1992). He was appointed a C.B.E. (Commander of the British Empire) in Queen Elizabeth II's 1988 New Year's Honours List. Elliott was married to first wife, actress Virginia McKenna, from 1954 to 1956. He married Susan Elliott around 1962 and they remained married until his death from AIDS in 1992.  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1986: A ROOM WITH A VIEW 1 nomination