Sam Peckinpah

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Lore & Background

Peckinpah was born in Fresno, California, to David Edward and Fern Louise Peckinpah. He spent much time skipping classes with his brother to engage in cowboy activities on their grandfather Denver Church's ranch, including trapping, branding, and shooting. This exposure is believed to have affected his Western films later in life. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1943, and his battalion was sent to China to disarm Japanese soldiers. While his duty did not include combat, he claimed to have witnessed acts of war, including several acts of torture and the murder of a laborer by sniper fire. His experiences in China reportedly deeply affected him and may have influenced his depictions of violence in his films. After being discharged, he attended California State University, Fresno, studying history. While a student, he met and married his first wife, Marie Selland, in 1947. A drama major, Selland introduced him to the theater department and he became interested in directing. After graduation in 1948, he enrolled in graduate studies in drama at University of Southern California. In 1954, he was hired as a dialogue coach for the film Riot in Cell Block 11, working as an assistant for director Don Siegel. He worked as a dialogue coach on four additional Siegel films, including Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), in which he appeared as Charlie the meter reader. Peckinpah claimed to have done an extensive rewrite on that film's screenplay, a statement which remains controversial.

Reader's Guide

Peckinpah's films deal with the conflict between values and ideals, as well as the corruption and violence in human society. His characters are often loners or losers who desire to be honorable but are forced to compromise in order to survive in a world of nihilism and brutality. He was given the nickname 'Bloody Sam' owing to the violence in his films. His combative personality, along with years of alcohol and drug abuse, affected his professional legacy. The production of many of his films included battles with producers and crew members, damaging his reputation and career during his lifetime. His notable films included Ride the High Country (1962), Major Dundee (1965), The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970), Straw Dogs (1971), The Getaway (1972), Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974), Cross of Iron (1977), and Convoy (1978). After divorcing Selland in 1960, he married Mexican actress Begoña Palacios in 1964. A stormy relationship developed, and over the years they married on three separate occasions. He spent a great deal of his life in Mexico after his marriage, eventually buying property there. From 1979 until his death, Peckinpah lived at the Murray Hotel in Livingston, Montana. He died of heart failure at age 59 on December 28, 1984, in Inglewood, California.

Did You Know?

• Peckinpah's great-grandfather changed the spelling of the family name from Peckinpaugh to Peckinpah.
• Peckinpah Meadow and Peckinpah Creek, where his family ran a lumber mill, have been officially named on U.S. geographical maps.
• He was a cousin of former New York Yankees shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh.
• Peckinpah claimed he was shot during an attack by Communist forces while serving as a Marine in China.
• He was reportedly kicked off the set of The Liberace Show for not wearing a tie.