On Saturday July 25, John Saxon, an actor who had more than 200 tv and movie credits to his name, died. His wife Gloria Martel announced he died from pneumonia in his Murfreesboro, Tennessee home. Saxon was 83 year old.
Saxon was born Carmine Orrico on August 5, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from New Utrecht High School he studied with known acting coach Stella Adler. Prior in his career he did some modeling and was spotted on the cover of a magazine by talent agent Henry Willson, who brought him to California. He was soon put on contract by Universal Studios and swapped his name to John Saxon.
He made his tv debut on Medic in 1955 and got his 1st substantial role in Running Wild the same year playing a juvenile delinquent.
He went on to appear in a number of films playing a teen idol, additionally Summer Love, The Reluctant Debutante, and This Happy Feeling.
In 1958 he received a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer Male, helping to cement his career. In 1966 he appeared in The Appaloosa, in which he played a Mexican bandito and the man who stole Marlon Brando’s character’s horse. He also received the nomination for a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe for the character.
From 1969 to 1972 he portrayed the brilliant surgeon Theodore Stuart on the tv series The Bold Ones: The New Doctors. His other major tv credits include the role of Rashid Ahmed on Dynasty from 1982 until 1984, and as Tony Cumson on Falcon Crest from 1984 until 1988. He was on the 1994 to 1995 season of Melrose Place as Henry Waxman.
But, he is most widely famous for his role as Roper in 1973 alongside Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon, and as playing Nancy’s father Lt. Thompson in the Wes Craven thriller A Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984.
His final movie project was the portrayal of Frank in the upcoming sci-fi thriller After the Thunderstorm.