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Strother Martin (March 26, 1919 – August 1, 1980) was an American actor in numerous films and television programs. Martin is perhaps best known as the prison "captain" in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke, where he uttered the line, "What we've got here is...failure to communicate."
He was an American character actor active from 1950 until his death in 1980, recognized for his distinct portrayals in numerous Westerns and dramatic films.
He is most remembered for his role as the prison captain in Cool Hand Luke, as well as performances in The Wild Bunch, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and True Grit.
He was a frequent collaborator with Sam Peckinpah, appearing in several of the director's seminal Westerns, and also had notable roles in films directed by John Ford.