Elliott Gould, born Elliott Goldstein on August 29, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York, is an American actor whose career has spanned over six decades, marked by iconic roles in both film and television. He rose to prominence in the late 1960s with a breakthrough performance in the comedy-drama Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The following year, Gould cemented his status as a leading man of the New Hollywood era by starring as Captain Trapper John McIntyre in Robert Altman's irreverent war film MAS*H (1970), a role that garnered him nominations for both the BAFTA Award and the Golden Globe Award. This collaboration with Altman proved fruitful, as Gould also starred in the director's neo-noir The Long Goodbye (1973) and the gambling drama California Split (1974), demonstrating his versatility and naturalistic acting style.

Gould's early career was defined by a string of notable films, including the counterculture comedy Getting Straight (1970), the dark satire Little Murders (1971) directed by Alan Arkin, and Ingmar Bergman's English-language drama The Touch (1971). He continued to work steadily throughout the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in major productions such as Richard Attenborough's war epic A Bridge Too Far (1977), the conspiracy thriller Capricorn One (1978), and the critically acclaimed thriller The Silent Partner (1978). Gould experienced a career resurgence in the 1990s, beginning with a role in Barry Levinson's Bugsy (1991), and later delivering a powerful performance as a neo-Nazi father in American History X (1998). He also became a familiar face to a new generation of television viewers through his recurring role as Jack Geller, the father of Jennifer Aniston's character, on the beloved NBC sitcom Friends (1994-2004).

In the 21st century, Gould reached new heights of popularity by joining the ensemble cast of Steven Soderbergh's heist comedy Ocean's Eleven (2001) as the wise and loyal Reuben Tishkoff. He reprised the role in the sequels Ocean's Twelve (2004), Ocean's Thirteen (2007), and the all-female spin-off Ocean's 8 (2018). His later film work includes roles in Soderbergh's pandemic thriller Contagion (2011) and the romantic comedy Ruby Sparks (2012). On television, Gould also played the recurring role of Ezra Goldman on the Showtime drama series Ray Donovan (2013-2016). A testament to his enduring appeal and comedic timing, Gould is a member of Saturday Night Live's Five Timers' Club, having hosted the show six times between 1976 and 1980. With a career defined by both critical acclaim and popular success, Elliott Gould remains a distinctive and respected figure in American entertainment.