You’re watching the third season of The White Lotus, soaking in the humid tension of Thailand, and then he appears. A face that looks like a roadmap of American cinema. You know those eyes. You know that gravelly, authoritative voice. But your brain is doing that annoying thing where it can't quite place the name.
So, who played Jim Hollinger?
The man behind the mysterious, frail, yet intimidating resort co-owner is none other than Scott Glenn.
Honestly, if you didn’t recognize him immediately, don't feel bad. He’s one of those legendary character actors who disappears into his roles so completely that you forget you’re watching a Hollywood veteran with a sixty-year career. In The White Lotus, Glenn plays Jim Hollinger, the wealthy land baron and secret antagonist who becomes the focal point of Rick’s (Walton Goggins) obsessive quest for vengeance.
The Man Behind Jim Hollinger: Scott Glenn’s Wild Career
Scott Glenn isn’t just some guy they found to look old and rich in a linen suit. He’s 86 years old, a former Marine, and a poet. He’s the kind of actor who actually does his own stunts even now. When he was cast as Jim Hollinger, he initially almost turned it down because the script described the character as a man who used a cane. Glenn, who is famously fit and still practices martial arts, didn't want to play someone "decrepit."
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He changed his mind after seeing the first season. Smart move.
Before he was Jim Hollinger, Glenn was everywhere. If you’re a fan of 90s thrillers, you know him as Jack Crawford, the FBI boss who sends Clarice Starling to meet Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. Or maybe you remember him as the commander of the USS Dallas in The Hunt for Red October.
His range is actually pretty insane:
- The Right Stuff: He played astronaut Alan Shepard.
- Urban Cowboy: He was the terrifying Wes Hightower.
- The Leftovers: He played Kevin Garvey Sr., which is probably his most "White Lotus-adjacent" performance in terms of pure intensity.
- Daredevil: He was Stick, the blind martial arts mentor who beat the crap out of Charlie Cox.
Why Scott Glenn was the Perfect Choice for Jim Hollinger
Mike White, the creator of The White Lotus, has a knack for casting actors who carry a specific kind of "baggage" from their previous roles. When we see Scott Glenn, we instinctively expect a man of action. We expect a hero or a hardened veteran.
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By casting him as the elusive, morally bankrupt Jim Hollinger, the show plays with our expectations. Hollinger is a man who built an empire in Thailand on top of secrets and, quite possibly, blood. When Rick finally confronts him, the tension works because Glenn doesn't play Hollinger as a cartoon villain. He plays him with a quiet, dismissive arrogance that is way more chilling.
What Actually Happened with Jim Hollinger in Season 3?
The search for who played Jim Hollinger usually starts right after that explosive confrontation with Rick Hatchett. The plot line was basically a slow-burn powder keg. Rick arrives in Koh Samui convinced that Hollinger murdered his father years ago. It’s a classic revenge setup, but this is The White Lotus, so nothing is ever that simple.
The twist—that Hollinger was actually Rick's biological father—is the kind of Greek tragedy writing that requires an actor of Glenn’s caliber to pull off. You need someone who can look at Walton Goggins with a mix of recognition and utter lack of remorse.
Wait, did Jim Hollinger actually die? If you've finished the season, you know the answer is a messy "yes." The finale was a bloodbath that felt more like a Shakespearean tragedy than a vacation comedy. Rick kills Jim, only to find out from Sritala (Jim's wife) that he just murdered his own father. It’s a brutal ending for a character that Scott Glenn made feel genuinely imposing despite his limited screen time.
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Facts vs. Fan Theories
There was a lot of noise online while the season was airing. Some people were convinced Jim Hollinger was going to be played by Billy Bob Thornton or even Sam Rockwell (who ended up playing Frank).
The rumors were everywhere:
- The Voice: In episode 5, we only heard Hollinger's voice. It sounded so much like a classic Western star that the "Scott Glenn" theories started immediately on Reddit.
- The Location: Because Jim was "being treated in Bangkok" for part of the season, fans thought the character might be a surprise cameo from a previous season.
- The Stunts: Glenn actually did the scene where he gets pushed over in his chair. He told GQ that his background in martial arts made it easy for him to take the fall safely.
Looking Beyond the Character
If you’re just discovering Scott Glenn through his role as Jim Hollinger, you’ve got a massive backlog of incredible performances to catch up on. He’s the definition of a "working actor" who never quite became a household name like De Niro or Pacino, but he’s arguably just as talented.
His performance in The Leftovers (also on HBO) is probably the closest thing to his work here. He plays a man who might be crazy or might be talking to God—it’s never quite clear, and Glenn plays that ambiguity perfectly.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Watch The Leftovers: If you liked the "mysterious old man" energy Glenn brought to The White Lotus, start here. Season 3 in particular is a masterpiece.
- Check out Urban Cowboy: See Glenn in his prime as one of the most hated movie villains of the 1980s.
- Follow the Cast: Walton Goggins and Scott Glenn together were a masterclass in acting. If you haven't seen Goggins in Justified, put that on your list next.
The mystery of who played Jim Hollinger ends with Scott Glenn, but the impact of that character—and the way he dismantled Rick’s life—will probably be discussed by fans of the show for years. It was a perfect piece of casting that grounded a wild, Thai-set conspiracy in real, visceral human emotion.