John Saxon - Wikipedia
John Saxon - Wikipedia
John Saxon - Wikipedia
Saxon in 1958
Occupation Actor
Years active 1954–2015
Children 1
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York,
Saxon studied acting with Stella Adler
before beginning his career as a contract
actor for Universal Pictures, appearing in
such films as Rock, Pretty Baby (1956) and
Portrait in Black (1961), 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 films such
as Black Christmas (1974), Dario Argento's
Tenebrae (1982), and A Nightmare on Elm
Street (1984).
In addition to his roles in horror films,
Saxon co-starred with Bruce Lee in the
martial arts film Enter the Dragon (1973),
and he had supporting roles in the
westerns The Appaloosa (1966; for which
he was nominated for a Golden Globe for
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture),
Death of a Gunfighter (1969) and Joe Kidd
(1972), as well as the made-for-television
thriller Raid on Entebbe (1977). In the
1990s, Saxon occasionally appeared in
films, with small roles in Wes Craven's New
Nightmare (1994) and From Dusk till Dawn
(1996).
Early life
Saxon, an Italian American,[2] was born
Carmine Orrico in Brooklyn, New York,[3]
the son of Antonio Orrico, a dock worker,
and Anna (née Protettore).[4] Both were
immigrants from Italy. He attended New
Utrecht High School, graduating in 1953.
He then studied acting with famous acting
coach Stella Adler. He started acting in
films 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.[5]
With his parents' permission, the 17-year-
old Orrico contracted with Willson, and he
was given the stage name John Saxon.[6]
He contracted with Universal Studios in
April 1954 at $150 a week.[7] John Saxon
is proficient in Judo and Shotokan
Karate.[8]
Career
Universal Pictures …
Saxon (right) with Sal Mineo and Sue George a
publicity still photo for Rock, Pretty Baby (1956).
Teen idol …
Europe …
1980s-1990s …
Later career …
Personal life
Saxon was married three times, first to
screenwriter Mary Ann Saxon, then to
actress Elizabeth Saxon, and finally to
Gloria Martel Saxon, esthetician, author,
and speaker. He had one child with Mary
Ann, a son named Antonio. Step-son
named Lance[56]
Death
Saxon died of pneumonia in Murfreesboro,
Tennessee on July 25, 2020, shortly before
his 84th birthday.[56][57] His remains were
cremated and interred by his family.
Filmography
Film …
Year Title Role Notes
Agostino Renzo
1996 From Dusk till Dawn FBI Agent Stanley Chase Cameo appearance
Television …
Year Title Role Notes
General
1961 Electric Martin Glass — "Cate in the Cradle"
Theater
The Dick
1962 Powell Nick Giller — "A Time to Die"
Theatre
2 episodes
Another
1964 Edward Gerard #1 (1985–1986)
World
2 episodes
1965– Gunsmoke Gristy Calhoun / Pedro Manez / Virgil Stanley / Cal 5 episodes
1975 Strom, Jr. / Dingo — "Dry Road to
Nowhere" (1965)
— "The Avengers"
(1965)
— "The Whispering
Tree" (1966)
— "The Pillagers"
(1967)
— "The Squaw"
(1975)
2 episodes
The
Doomsday George Ducette Television film
Flight
Winchester
Dakin McAdam Television film
73
1967
Cimarron — "Journey to a
Screamer
Strip Hanging"
Garrison's
Janus — "20 Gallons to Kill"
Gorillas
3 episodes
— "Black Friday"
(1967)
1967– — "The
Bonanza Chief Jocova / Blas / Steven Friday
1969 Conquistadores"
(1967)
— "My Friend, My
Enemy" (1969)
— "Ransom" (1970)
3 episodes
— "The Regimental
Line" (1971)
It Takes a
Dead Man — "A Thief Is a Thief"
Thief
The Name of
1968 Peter Max — "Collector's Edition"
the Game
Istanbul
Cheval Television film
Express
The Bold
recurring role (29
1969 Ones: The Dr. Theodore Stuart
episodes)
New Doctors
Company of
Dave Poohler Television film
Killers
1970
The
Billy Pye Television film
Intruders
The Streets
— "A Collection of
of San Vincent "Vince" Hagopian, Jr.
Eagles"
1973 Francisco
— "The Vanishing
Banacek Harry Harland
Chalice"
Can Ellen Be
James Hallbeck Television film
Saved?
1974
Planet Earth Dylan Hunt Television film
The Mary
Tyler Moore Mike Tedesca — "Menage-a-Phyllis"
Show
2 episodes
Strange New
1975 Captain Anthony Vico Television film
World
Starsky and
Rene Nadasy — "The Vampire"
Hutch
Wonder
Captain Radl 2 episodes
Woman
Once an Miniseries (4
Captain Townshend
Eagle episodes)
Raid on
General Benny Peled Television film
Entebbe
Most
Randall Mason — "The Insider"
Wanted
The
— "A Dream of
Fantastic Consul Tarant
Conquest"
Journey
Westside
1977 Bob Farrow — "Intensive Care"
Medical
— "Sullied By Thy
Quincy M.E. Publisher Charles Desskasa
Name"
Harold
Miniseries (3
Robbins' 79 Harry Vito
episodes)
Park Avenue
The
Alan Brocker Television film
Immigrants
1978 Greatest
— "The Judgement of
Heroes of Adonijah
Solomon"
the Bible
— "Aloha, You're
1980 Vega$ Michael Jennings
Dead"
Savage in
Nick Costa Television film
the Orient
Hardcastle
and Martin Cody — "Rolling Thunder"
1983 McCormick
2 episodes
Scarecrow
— "The First Time"
and Mrs. Dirk Fredericks
King — "Saved by the Bells"
2 episodes
— "Children of
1983– Jamestown" (1983)
The A-Team Kalem / Martin James
1985
— "Moving Targets"
(1985)
— "The French
Masquerade Joey Savane
Correction"
Finder of
Commander Zach Donahue — "White Lies"
Lost Loves
American Epps — "Solomon
Playhouse Northup's Odyssey"
Presents
3 episodes
— "Hooray for
Homicide" (1984)
— "Proof in the
Pudding" (1994)
— "Diplomatic
Half Nelson unknown role
Immunity"
1985 Brothers-in-
Royal Cane Television film
Law
Alfred
— "The Specialty of
Hitchcock Garth December
1987 the House"
Presents
— "The Waiting
Monsters Benjamin O'Connell
Room"
In the Heat
Dalton Sykes — "Liar's Poker"
of the Night
Liz: The
1995 Elizabeth Richard Brooks Television film
Taylor Story
Living in
2001 Reverend Leo Hausman Television film
Fear
CSI: Crime
— "Grave Danger: Part
2005 Scene Walter Gordon
1"
Investigation
Masters of
2006 Jeb "Pa" Jameson — "Pelts"
Horror
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External links
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=John_Saxon&oldid=972013831"