Career
He is credited as Claude Ennis Starrett, Junior. in some of his films. Starrett is perhaps best known for his role as Gabby Johnson, a parody of George "Gabby" Hayes, in the 1974 classic parody film Blazing Saddles and is also known for his role as the brutal deputy Art Galt in the 1982 action film First Blood. He also played the cruel foreman Swick in The River.
Starrett was often typecast as a tough-talking police officer and played essentially the same character in a trio of biker films: The Born Losers (the film that introduced Billy Jack), Hells Angels on Wheels (both from 1967), and
He acted in another biker film,, and directed two more: Run, Angel, Run in 1969 and Nam"s Angels (1970) as well as the horror film Race with the Devil (1975), in which he also played a gas station attendant. Starrett was born Claude Ennis Starrett, Junior.
He was raised in Refugio, Texas and worked in the oil fields before coming to Hollywood. Valerie Starrett, Jack"s wife at one time, stated that Jack had always wished to direct rather than acting
He made an uncredited first attempt at direction when the original director of The Girls from Thunder Strip.
Through his career, Starrett directed feature films and episodes of television programs. In addition, he made guest appearances on television shows including Hill Street Blues, Hunter, The A-Team, and Knight Rider (in which he made three guest appearances as different characters) Starrett starred in three short films directed by Tony Schweikle, "Legend of the Durango Kid," "Colorado Rid"n High" and "Nolo Bait." Starrett died from renal failure in Sherman Oaks, California at the age of 52.