Elliott Gould, born Elliott Goldstein on August 29, 1938, was one of the most prominent American film actors in the early '70s, best known for playing Trapper John in the satirical 1970 film M*A*S*H. Time magazine put him on its cover in 1970, when he was at the brief height of his long career, calling him a "star for an uptight age."

Other notable film roles include Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, A Bridge Too Far, Capricorn One and, The Lady Vanishes. Gould joined such distinguished company as Humphrey Bogart and Robert Mitchum when he played legendary shamus Phillip Marlowe in the 1973 film The Long Goodbye. He hosted Saturday Night Live six times through the 1980 season premiere, although he has not done so since (in the late 80's he had a cameo role in a sketch about a secret club for people who had hosted 5 or more times). Also in 1980, Gould filmed two movies for Walt Disney studios The Last Flight Of Noah's Ark and The Devil And Max Devlin , in this he co-starred with Bill Cosby.

His career slowed down after a series of critical and commercial flops in the mid to late 70's, but he has remained steadily employed in supporting and character roles in television and movies, including a recurring guest role on Friends. He appeared in an episode of the popular television series Touched By An Angel where he played a concentration camp survivor. Gould received critical praise for his role as an aging mobster in Warren Beatty's 1991 film Bugsy. He also co-starred in the popular "caper" film Ocean's 11 (2001) and its sequel Ocean's 12 (2004).

He was married to Barbra Streisand from 1963 to 1971. They have one son, Jason Gould.

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