Strother Martin

Strother Douglas Martin Jr. (March 26, 1919 – August 1, 1980) was an American character actor known for his roles in Western films directed by John Ford and Sam Peckinpah. He frequently appeared in support of actors like John Wayne and Paul Newman. One of Martin's most memorable performances was as the warden in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke, where he delivered the iconic line, 'What we've got here is failure to communicate.' Born in Kokomo, Indiana, Martin excelled in swimming and diving as a child, earning the nickname 'T-Bone Martin.' He later served as a swimming instructor in the United States Navy during World War II.