Posted on 07/25/2020 6:23:25 PM PDT by Galactic Overlord-In-Chief
John Saxon, the rugged actor who kicked around with Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon and appeared in three Nightmare on Elm Street movies for director Wes Craven, died Saturday. He was 83.
Saxon died of pneumonia in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, his wife, Gloria, told The Hollywood Reporter.
An Italian-American from Brooklyn, Saxon played characters of various ethnicities during his long career.
His portrayal of a brutal Mexican bandit opposite Marlon Brando in The Appaloosa (1966) earned him a Golden Globe, and he had a recurring role on ABC's Dynasty as Rashid Ahmed, a powerful Middle East tycoon who romanced Alexis Colby (Joan Collins). And on another 1980s primetime soap, CBS' Falcon Crest, he played the father of Lorenzo Lamas' character.
Years earlier, Saxon starred from 1969-72 as the surgeon Theodore Stuart on "The New Doctors" rotating segment of the NBC drama series The Bold Ones.
Discovered by the same agent who launched the careers of Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter, Saxon first gained notice for his performance as a disturbed high school football star who taunts Esther Williams in The Unguarded Moment (1956). In the film's credits, he's billed as "the exciting new personality John Saxon."
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I liked his performances, and if he was really the one doing the fight scenes in Bruce Lee movies, he was quite good.... for a white guy. (joke)
Loved him in Battle Beyond the Stars as a kid, also got to see him in The A-Team (in two varying episodes, I think) and Nightmare on Elm Street. Sad to hear he passed. RIP.
He also played a Mexican in “Joe Kidd” with Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall.
I remember him in a lot of stuff.
A Gathering Of Eagles where he was a ruthless coin obsessed killer is a memorable one.
He was one of those guys I know I saw in a hundred things, but can’t name any of them. May he RIP.
Thanks for the memories John Saxon!
I agree, he did a fine performance in “Joe Kidd.”
He was a heart throb in his day. RIP John.
Outer Limits was another good series.
He would have made a great Vulcan in Star Trek
He was one of those hundreds & hundreds of character actors from the 60s & 70s who’s name is on the edge of your tongue, but you can’t quite remember it.
He did a lot of SyFy if I remember back in the day.
Yop notch B-movie actor.
Has a huge page on IMDB, but I think some of his sci-fi performances are missing.
When Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed an episode of CSI, he made room for several veteran actors to have cameos. Saxon was cast as the episode's villain (I think--haven't seen it in 15 years)
It seemed like in the ‘70’s, he was everywhere, especially on TV. Ya done good, John.
Kind of like A. Martinez.
He seemed to guest star on everything.
With the late great Jim Kelly from Enter the Dragon. RIP.
Discovered by the same agent who launched the careers of Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter...Hmmm...
Yup. There are so many faces I remember from watching TV as a kid in the 60s & 70s. He was always a solid actor.
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