Sam Elliott says his Landman character T.L. Norris' struggles with aging and physical decline are “very true” to his own life
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The actor, 81, reflected on the emotional pool scene in season 2, in which T.L. opens up to his son Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) about watching his body fail him
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Despite six decades in Hollywood, Elliott also revealed he’s still learning from his costars
Sam Elliottknows a thing or two aboutplaying hard-living characters— and these days, he says the role feels increasingly familiar.
The Oscar-nominated actor, 81, opened up about his role as T.L. Norris in the hit dramaLandman, revealing that some of his character’sstruggles with aging and physical declinehit particularly close to home.
Elliott reflected on one of season 2’s most heart-wrenching storylines, in which T.L., the father ofBilly Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris, grapples with the realities of a body that can no longer keep up with him.
“The truth of it is, [that scene] is very true to where I am at this point in my life physically,” Elliott said in a new interview withVariety. “Not mentally, but physically. I’ve had a hard life. I’ve been an athlete all my life, and I’ve been a laborer all my life, and I’m paying for it now.”
The moment Elliott referenced came during a heartbreaking scene in the Jan. 4 episode, when T.L. found himself trapped in a swimming pool after realizing he could no longer pull himself out on his own.
“With my knees and my hip, I can’t f---ing stand right now,” T.L. told Tommy as his son prepared to help him from the water.
The conversation quickly turned emotional as T.L. reflected on living in a retirement home before moving in with Tommy and Angela (Ali Larter).
“It’s a curse my mind is sharp,” T.L. told his son through tears. “I get to sit here and process all the ways my body is failing me.”
The exchange marked a turning point in the father-son relationship, culminating in a hug between the pair as Tommy encouraged his father to consider physical therapy.
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Earlier this year, Elliott toldPEOPLEthat the season would focus heavily on the fractured relationship between father and son as they attempt to rebuild years of lost trust.
“This character I’m playing is a fractured man,” Elliott said at the time. “It’s gone on for him for years, since his wife turned inward, and he waited forever for her to come out of it, and she never really did. But consequently, [Tommy] paid for it, while [T.L.] checked out.”
“We’re going to spend much of this season seeing T.L. early on, but then it becomes both of us, I think, healing that relationship that’s falling apart,” he added.
Despite a career spanning more than six decades, Elliott said he’s still finding new ways to grow as an actor, including from his onscreen son.
“I’m working with Billy Bob Thornton, so I’m going to be learning something from him this time around,” Elliott toldVariety. “Even though he’s playing my son, he’s still got something to offer. He’s been in this game for a long time. He’s not only a brilliant actor, but he’s not a bad director or a writer.”
Elliott also praisedFrancesca Xuereb, who appears this season as Cheyenne, a stripper hired by Tommy to help T.L. with physical therapy, calling the experience of working with the actress a highlight.
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New episodes ofLandmanpremiere Sundays on Paramount+.
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