| Silo Sam | |
| Birth Name: | John Elmo Harris |
| Birth Date: | 12 September 1952 |
| Birth Place: | Suitland, Maryland, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Manatee County, Florida |
| Names: | Silo Sam Trapper John Big John Harris Little John |
| Height: | 7 ft 5 in |
| Weight: | 475 lbs |
| Billed: | Sugarcreek, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Debut: | 1984 |
| Retired: | 1990 |
John Elmo Harris (September 12, 1952 – April 19, 2005) was an American professional wrestler and actor, who became known under his ring name Silo Sam under the American Wrestling Association and for a brief stint with the WWE he was known as Trapper Jon.
Harris played basketball before his wrestling career. In 1984, he started wrestling professionally and first appeared under the ring name "Big John Harris" in Jerry Jarrett's Memphis-based CWA.[1] In 1985, he worked as "Little John" for Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling and acted as the bodyguard for The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers).[2] He would guide The Fantastics to winning the tag team titles in March 1987.[3]
In 1986, he had a short appearance for the American Wrestling Association as Silo Sam. Because of his large size, he primarily wrestled in handicap matches. He was interviewed by AWA's Ken Rensick and replied to his questions with "Yup" every time. At one point in June 1987, he made an appearance in WWE as Trapper John and wrestled in a dark match, but was never used again.[4] He remained under the WWF’s payroll for about a year, unused and never brought into television tapings. He retired from professional wrestling by 1990.[1]
During the midst of his wrestling career, Harris played minor roles in several films. These films include Tell Me a Riddle, Blood Circus and Pee-wee's Big Adventure, as Andy, a jealous boyfriend who chased Pee Wee.
After leaving the wrestling life in 1990, he went back to every day life, he worked as a welder at some point in Calvert County Maryland. He was also said to have mainly been a truck driver, and was an owner of several small businesses in his post wrestling and acting life.
Harris married Rayola Johnson in the mid-'80s, and divorced a few years later in Calvert County, Maryland.
Harris died at the age of 52 in Manatee County, Florida on April 19, 2005.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Tell Me a Riddle | Mathew | ||
| 1985 | Pee-wee's Big Adventure | Andy | ||
| 1987 | Blood Circus | (final film role) |