Ned Beatty, born in 1937 in Louisville, Kentucky, carved a niche in cult cinema with his compelling performances. He is best remembered for his role as the terrified Bobby Trippe in Deliverance (1972), which showcased his ability to convey vulnerability amidst chaos. Beatty also starred in Gator (1976) as the corrupt sheriff, further establishing himself in the realm of exploitation films. His work in The Last American Hero (1973) and White Lightning (1973) solidified his status as a versatile actor in the gritty landscapes of 1970s cinema.
White Lightning
Bobby "Gator" McKlusky is serving time in an Arkansas prison for running moonshine when he learns that his younger brother Donny was murdered and that Sheriff J.C. Connors was the one behind it. Gator knows the sheriff is taking money from local moonshiners, so he agrees to go undercover for an unnamed federal agency (presumably the IRS or BATF) to try to expose the sheriff. His handlers force him onto Dude Watson, a local stock car racer and low-level whiskey runner. Watson has no choice but to cooperate because he himself is on federal probation or parole. To infiltrate the local moonshine industry, Gator lands a job running moonshine with Roy Boone. He also starts an affair with Boone's girlfriend, Lou. When the sheriff discovers Gator is working for the federal government, Connors sends his enforcer, Big Bear, after him. Gator decides to go after the sheriff, leading to a car chase, in the course of which the sheriff is killed, thereby completing Gator's revenge.
