“Couldn’t Stand Them” — At 80, Sam Elliott Finally Names 6 Actors He Refused to Work With Again!

With his deep voice, rugged charm, and iconic mustache, Sam Elliott has long been considered one of the most respected (and low-drama) men in Hollywood. But now, at 80 years old, the Tombstone and 1883 star is shedding his stoic image — and dropping a bombshell list that’s lighting up the entertainment world: six actors he says he “couldn’t stand” working with.

Known for playing strong, silent cowboys and wise father figures, Elliott surprised everyone when he got brutally honest in a new feature interview with Legends Unfiltered, a YouTube docu-series that asks Hollywood veterans to “spill what they’ve held back for decades.” And Sam? He held nothing back.

“Some Folks Just Rub You Wrong” — The Confession That Started It All

The now-viral moment came during the last 10 minutes of the episode, when the host gently asked: “You’ve worked with just about everyone… but were there any you’d never want to work with again?”

Sam chuckled and said, “You know, I’m too old to care who gets mad now. So yeah — there were a few I just couldn’t stand.”

Here are the 6 names he dropped, one by one — and the reasons behind them:

Ashton Kutcher “Kid never turned off the clown act. We were filming a serious scene, and he kept cracking jokes between takes. It drove me up the wall.”

Shia LaBeouf “Brilliant actor, sure. But way too intense. Wouldn’t say hello, wouldn’t look you in the eye. I’m all for method acting — until it turns into arrogance.”

Katherine Heigl “She came in with a list of demands and acted like she was above everyone. Never saw her talk to the crew once.”

Val Kilmer “We worked together on Tombstone. He’s a legend, but back then? Difficult as hell. Moody, temperamental — and always needed the spotlight.”

Edward Norton “One of the smartest guys I’ve met. Also one of the most controlling. He wanted to direct every scene, even when he wasn’t supposed to.”

Lindsay Lohan “I felt bad for her, honestly. So much talent, but zero focus. She’d show up late, forget lines, and blame everyone else.”

Internet Reactions: “Sam Said WHAT?”

As soon as the clip hit YouTube, fans were shocked. The man who built a reputation on old-school professionalism and gentlemanly calm had finally snapped — and fans couldn’t get enough.

The hashtag #SamSaidIt began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with fans sounding off in every direction:

“Not Sam Elliott dragging Val Kilmer after 30 years ” — @RetroRanchQueen

“I’m crying at the Ashton Kutcher one. Imagine trying to cowboy while someone’s doing Punk’d impressions.” — @DustySaddle

“Honestly, this makes me love Sam even more. He kept it classy and real.” — @WesternCinemaClub

On TikTok, creators began acting out imagined scenes between Sam and his “least favorite six,” while YouTube flooded with reaction breakdowns of the full interview.

Old Tensions, Now Confirmed?

Interestingly, many of Elliott’s choices aren’t entirely surprising. Katherine Heigl has been the subject of multiple “difficult to work with” rumors throughout her career, including disputes with Grey’s Anatomy and Knocked Up directors. Val Kilmer, too, has a long-documented history of clashing with co-stars — even his Batman Forever director once called him “psychotic.”

As for Edward Norton, insiders from The Incredible Hulk set have previously described him as “frustratingly hands-on,” while Shia LaBeouf has had a string of controversial on-set moments over the years.

But hearing it from Sam Elliott? That hits different.

Why Now?

When asked if he was worried about backlash, Sam simply shrugged: “Nah. If they want to come after an old cowboy, they’re welcome to try. I’ve said my piece.”

He went on to clarify that his criticism wasn’t personal — it was about work ethic and respect.

“You don’t have to like everyone. But if you’re gonna be on set, you show up, you do the work, and you treat people right. Simple as that.”

One Final Note of Positivity

Before ending the interview, Sam made sure to give love where it was due. He praised Kevin Costner, Frances McDormand, Jeff Bridges, and Tim McGraw, calling them “true professionals” and “a damn pleasure to work with.”

“Those are the kind of folks that remind you why you fell in love with this business in the first place,” he said with a smile.

So… were you surprised by Sam Elliott’s no-holds-barred honesty? Did one of your favorite actors make the list? Let us know what YOU think in the comments below!