John Saxon


John Saxon was an American actor who worked on more than 200 projects during a span of 60 years. He was known for his work in Westerns and horror movies, often playing police officers and detectives.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Saxon studied acting with Stella Adler before beginning his career as a contract actor for Universal Pictures, playing in such movies as Rock, Pretty Baby and Portrait in Black, which earned him a reputation as a teen idol and won him a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor. During the 1970s and 1980s, he established himself as a character actor, frequently portraying law enforcement officials in horror movies such as Black Christmas, Dario Argento's Tenebrae, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
In addition to his roles in horror movies, Saxon co-starred with Bruce Lee in the martial arts movie Enter the Dragon, and had supporting roles in the westerns The Appaloosa, Death of a Gunfighter and Joe Kidd, as well as the made-for-television thriller Raid on Entebbe. In the 1990s, Saxon occasionally appeared in movies, with small roles in Wes Craven's New Nightmare and From Dusk till Dawn.

Early life

Saxon, a second-generation Italian American, was born Carmine Orrico in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Antonio Orrico, a dock worker, and Anna. Both were immigrants from Italy. He attended New Utrecht High School, graduating in 1953. He then studied acting with Stella Adler. He started acting in movies during the mid-1950s, playing teenage roles.
According to Robert Hofler's 2005 biography The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson: The Pretty Boys and Dirty Deals of Henry Willson, agent Henry Willson saw Saxon's picture on the cover of a detective magazine and immediately contacted the boy's family in Brooklyn. With his parents' permission, the 17-year-old Orrico contracted with Willson, and he was given the stage name John Saxon. He contracted with Universal Studios in April 1954 at $150 a week.

Career

Universal Pictures

Saxon spent 18 months at Universal before the studio first used him for a movie. His first significant role was a juvenile delinquent in Running Wild, co-starring Mamie Van Doren. According to Filmink, "young Saxon had a scowling, broody teen quality that was in fashion in mid-‘50s Hollywood."
He was then given a good role in The Unguarded Moment, playing a youth who seemingly stalks Esther Williams. During February 1956 Universal exercised its option on Saxon and he was paid $225 a week.

Teen idol

Saxon had the main part in a low budget teen movie, Rock, Pretty Baby which became an unexpected success and established Saxon as a teen idol. Universal executives were pleased, and Ross Hunter announced he would be in Teach Me How To Cry. First Saxon quickly reprised his Rock, Pretty Baby role in a sequel, Summer Love. By now he was getting about 3,000 fan letters a week.
He then made Teach Me How to Cry with Sandra Dee, which was retitled The Restless Years.
Universal put him in an "A film", This Happy Feeling, directed by Blake Edwards, where Saxon romanced Debbie Reynolds in support of Curt Jurgens. MGM borrowed him to appear opposite Sandra Dee in The Reluctant Debutante, for director Vincente Minnelli, which was widely seen. Saxon was billed third, beneath Rex Harrison and Kay Kendall.
He had a support role in a large budget Biblical drama about Simon Peter, The Big Fisherman for director Frank Borzage, featuring Howard Keel. It was a financial disappointment.
In August 1958 Saxon signed a three picture deal with Hecht Hill Lancaster the first of which was to be the main role in Cry Tough, a movie about juvenile delinquents. He was meant to follow it with The Ballad at Cat Ballou. Instead for HHL he worked with another major director, John Huston, in the Western, The Unforgiven, playing an Indian in support of Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn.
Back at Universal, he remained in a supporting role for Portrait in Black, reunited with Dee, with Lana Turner and Anthony Quinn.
He was essentially a juvenile delinquent cowboy in The Plunderers, tormenting Jeff Chandler. He played in the Westerns Posse from Hell with Audie Murphy and guest featured in television series like General Electric Theater and The Dick Powell Theatre.
"I want to do all sorts of character parts," he said in 1960.
Saxon played a serial killer soldier in War Hunt, and had a small role in the comedy success Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation. According to Filmink "Universal seemed to lose enthusiasm for him as a potential star. Maybe he was too “ethnic” looking. Too associated with teen roles. Maybe he didn’t want it. Maybe there were no suitable parts. In the long run, it probably worked out best for Saxon – he never would be as popular at the box office as teen idols like, say, Sandra Dee, Pat Boone or Troy Donahue, but he would go on to have a far more versatile, rich career than either."

Europe

Saxon traveled to Italy to make Agostino.
In 1963 Saxon co-featured with Letícia Román in Mario Bava's Italian giallo movie The Girl Who Knew Too Much.
He returned to Hollywood to perform in Otto Preminger's The Cardinal and an episode of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre then was back to Europe for The Cavern.
The Ravagers was filmed in the Philippines; Night Caller from Outer Space was a science fiction movie filmed in Britain.
In 1966, he featured in Curtis Harrington's science fiction/horror classic Queen of Blood with Basil Rathbone and Dennis Hopper, then played opposite Marlon Brando in The Appaloosa, winning a Golden Globe Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of a Mexican bandit. Saxon recalls, "This was to me a terrific role and something I was ready for, but he was despondent. He said he had lent a whole bunch of money to his father, and what he was saying to me was that his father ruined his life by losing all of his money. He was kind of bored in the picture."
The Doomsday Flight was a made-for-television movie. In an interview in 1966 he said "I never felt comfortable being a teenage dreamboat... I regard myself as a craftsman."
He portrayed Marco Polo in episode 26 of The Time Tunnel, originally broadcast on March 10, 1967, and was a guest actor on Bonanza in 1967. In episode 19, season 5 of The Virginian Saxon appeared in the title role alongside a young actor, appearing in one of his first speaking roles, Harrison Ford. And in 1969 he appeared in.
Saxon was in a sex comedy for Sam Katzman, For Singles Only and played in some Westerns, One Dollar Too Many, Death of a Gunfighter, "The Men From Shiloh", and Joe Kidd . I Kiss the Hand was a thriller made in Italy.
He spent three years playing Dr. Theodore Stuart for the television series .

''Enter the Dragon''

He played the martial artist Roper in 1973's Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee's first major role in a Hollywood feature. He was in action movies: Mitchell, The Swiss Conspiracy, Strange Shadows in an Empty Room, Napoli violenta, Mark Strikes Again, A Special Cop in Action, Cross Shot, The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist.
In 1974 he played police Lieutenant Fuller in the Canadian production of Black Christmas; from 1974–76, he appeared in The Six Million Dollar Man, first as Major Frederick Sloan and then as Nedlick. This role also extended into The Bionic Woman. The actor's likeness was later used for the Kenner action-figure doll called 'Maskatron' which was based on the series.
In 1976, Saxon portrayed a homicidal vampire-like strangler in the Season Two Starsky & Hutch episode, 'Vampire'. He played Captain Radl in the two-part Wonder Woman episode "The Feminine Mystique". Raid on Entebbe was a prestige television movie for him. Moonshine County Express was a big success for Roger Corman's New World Pictures; Saxon made another for that company, The Bees. He appeared in a Bollywood movie, Shalimar then it was back to exploitation: Fast Company, The Glove.
Saxon played Hunt Sears, chief of a breakfast cereal conglomerate, opposite Robert Redford and Jane Fonda in the 1979, Oscar-nominated film The Electric Horseman.

1980s-1990s

He appeared in the 1982 television movie Rooster, and was an occasional celebrity guest on the short-lived game show Whew!, including during the series' final week. His extensive television credits include two years as Tony Cumson on Falcon Crest as well as the recurring role of Rashid Ahmed on Dynasty. He appeared twice on The A-Team, in 1983 and 1985.
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Saxon played in Dario Argento's Tenebrae as the writer hero's shifty agent; in Mitchell as the murderous union lawyer and prostitute provider Walter Deaney; in Battle Beyond the Stars as Sador; in Cannibal Apocalypse where he played a Vietnam veteran tormented because his worthless pal bit him and years later, he is starting to get the urge to do the same; in Prisoners of the Lost Universe as an alternate-universe warlord, and in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street as the heroine's father. He reprised his role in and Wes Craven's New Nightmare as he played himself in a dual role. He also made his directorial debut in 1987 with the horror movie Zombie Death House, which starred Dennis Cole and Anthony Franciosa. Filmink wrote "Few other actors of his generation have as fine a track record in" horror movies. "Why did he appear in so many? I guess for starters he was willing – he wasn’t snobby. He made a good on-screen cop and there’s always roles for a cop actor in a slasher film. He could also seem scary so made an excellent red herring/villain."
He starred in Beverly Hills Cop III as and also made a cameo appearance in From Dusk till Dawn.

Later career

In later years, Saxon continued to appear mostly in independent films and played in several television series. He had a notable guest part in "Grave Danger", the 5th season finale of , which was directed by From Dusk till Dawn screenwriter and star Quentin Tarantino. Saxon starred in the episode opposite fellow cult film luminary Andrew Prine. He also appeared in an episode of the anthology horror series Masters of Horror, which reunited him with Tenebrae director Dario Argento.
Saxon was a regular guest at horror and cult film conventions, including the Creation Entertainment – Weekend of Horrors 2010 on May 21, 2010, in Los Angeles. His last acting role was in the film Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen, which as of his passing was in post-production.

Personal life

Saxon was married three times, first to screenwriter Mary Ann Saxon, then to actress Elizabeth Saxon, and finally to Gloria Martel. He had one child with Mary Ann, a son named Antonio.
Saxon was proficient in Judo and Shotokan Karate, and studied Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee in the early 1970s.
He was a lifelong member of the Democratic Party.

Death

Saxon died of pneumonia in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on July 25, 2020, shortly before his 84th birthday. His remains were cremated and interred to his family.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Golden Globe Awards
Action On Film International Film Festival
Beverly Hills Shorts Festival
FAIF International Film Festival
Method Fest Independent Film Festival
New Media Film Festival
Western Heritage Awards