John Saxon

At 84 years old, John Saxon physical status not available right now. We will update John Saxon's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Born Carmine Orrico, 1935), John Saxon (born August 5, 1935) is an American actor and martial artist who has worked on more than 200 projects in a span of 60 years.

Saxon is best known for his appearances in westerns and horror films, often as police officers and detectives. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Saxon studied acting with Stella Adler before starting his career as a Universal Pictures contract actor, appearing in films including Rock, Pretty Baby (1956) and Portrait in Black (1961).

He'd firmly portray law enforcement officers in horror films such as Black Christmas (1974), Dario Argento's Tenebrae (1982), and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). Saxon co-starred with Bruce Lee in the martial arts film Enter the Dragon (1973), as well as the adventure drama Raid on Entebbe (1977).

Saxon appeared in films in the 1990s, but not in Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) or From Dusk to Dawn (1996).

Early life

Saxon was born Carmine Orrico in Brooklyn, New York, 1936, of Italian descent. Antonio Orrico, his father, a New York-born dockette, and his mother, Anna (née Prottore), was an immigrant from Calabria. At home, Italian was the primary language, though Saxon also spoke some Spanish. He attended New Utrecht High School and studied acting with legendary acting coach Stella Adler. When he was discovered by a modeling scout at a movie theater as an adolescent, he began to show business as a teenager.

According to Robert Hofler's 2005 biography The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson The Pretty Boys and Dirty Deals of Henry Willson, where Saxon posed as "a Puerto Rican guy" who falls over a garbage can while his girlfriend gazed on. Willson contacted the boy's family in Brooklyn right away. The 17-year-old Orrico contracted with Willson, with his parents' permission, and he was given the stage name John Saxon. In April 1954, he joined Universal Studios for $800 a week.

Personal life

John Saxon was married three times, first to Mary Ann Saxon, a screen writer and television director of development. Saxon, a former investment banker, airline union negotiator, and psychologist, second, to Elizabeth (Phillips). Gloria (Potts) Martel Saxon, a model and esthetician, was John Saxon's last wife. He had one child with Mary Ann Saxon, a son named Antonio. He was a Democrat.

Saxon earned his black belt in Shotokan Karate, having trained under Hidetaka Nishiyama and Judo.

Source

Career

Saxon spent 18 months in Universal before being used in a film for the first time. In Running Wild (1955), Mamie Van Doren co-starring Bahris O'Donnell, his first major role was as a juvenile delinquent. "Young Saxon had a scowling, broody teen beauty that was in fashion in mid-'50s Hollywood," Filmink says.

He was later given a good role in The Unguarded Moment (1956), playing a youth who seems to be stalking Esther Williams. Universal exercised its option on Saxon during February 1956, earning him $225 a week.

Saxon took lead in a low budget teen film, Rock, Pretty Baby (1956), which became an unexpected hit and established Saxon as a teen idol. Universal executives were thrilled, and Ross Hunter announced that he would be in Teach Me How To Cry. In a sequel called Summer Love (1958), first Saxon recalled his Rock, Pretty Baby role. About 3,000 fan letters a week by now, he was getting about 3,000.

He then made Teach Me How to Cry with Sandra Dee, which was renamed The Restless Years (1958).

He appeared in "A film" This Happy Feeling (1958), directed by Blake Edwards, where Saxon romanced Debbie Reynolds in favour of Curt Jurgens. MGM loaned him to appear opposite Sandra Dee in The Reluctant Debutante (1958), which was widely distributed by the time. Saxon came in third place, after Rex Harrison and Kay Kendall.

He appeared as a support actor in a large budget Biblical drama starring Howard Keel starring Simon Peter. It was a financial disappointment for Buena Vista instead of Universal-International.

Saxon signed a three-picture contract with Hecht-Lancaster in August 1958, the first of which was to be the principal role in Cry Tough (1959), a film about juvenile delinquents. He was supposed to attend the Ballad at Cat Ballou but not until years later with Jane Fonda). He did not appear in the Western The Unforgiven (1960), as an Indian in favour of Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn, but not for HHL.

He stayed in a supporting role for Portrait in Black (1960), reunited with Dee, Lana Turner and Anthony Quinn, with Lana Turner and Anthony Quinn.

In The Plunderers (1960), he was essentially a juvenile delinquent cowboy, chastising Jeff Chandler. He appeared in the Western Posse from Hell (1961) with Audie Murphy, and guest stars in television series such as GM's and The Dick Powell Theatre.

In 1960, he said, "I want to do all sorts of character parts."

Saxon appeared as a serial killer soldier in War Hunt (1962) and played a small part in the comedy's success Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962). "Universal seemed to have lost enthusiasm for him as a prospective actor," says Filmink. He may have been too 'ethnic' looking. Too many teen roles are portrayed. It's likely that he didn't want it. Perhaps there weren't any suitable parts. It was certainly better for Saxon in the long run, but it was unlikely that he would be as popular at the box office as teen idols such as Sandra Dee, Pat Boone, or Troy Donahue, but he'd have a much more versatile, rich career than either" in the long run.

Saxons travelled to Italy to make Agostino (1962).

In Mario Bava's Italian giallo film The Girl Who Knew Too Much in 1963, Saxon co-starred Leta Román.

He returned to Hollywood to appear in Otto Preminger's The Cardinal (1963) and an episode of Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre is now back to Europe for the Cavern (1964).

The Ravagers (1965) was shot in the Philippines; Night Caller from Outer Space (1965) was a science fiction film shot in Britain.

He appeared in Curtis Harrington's science fiction/horror classic Queen of Blood with Basil Rathbone and Dennis Hopper, and later appeared in The Appaloosa (1966), receiving a Golden Globe Best Support Actor award for his portrayal of a Mexican bandit. "This was to me a fantastic job and something I was excited for," Saxon recalls, but "Brando" was dispondent. He said he lent a substantial amount of money to his father, but he told me that his father ended his life by losing all of his money. He was obviously ill in the picture.

The Doomsday Flight (1966) was a made-for-television film made in the United Kingdom. "I never felt secure being a teen dreamboat," he said in a 1966 interview. I see myself as a craftsman."

Marco Polo appeared in episode 26 of The Time Tunnel ("Attack of the Barbarians"), first broadcast on March 10, 1967, and he appeared in Bonanza in 1967 ("The Conquistadores"). In episode 19, season 5 of The Virginian ("The Modoc Kid"), Saxon appeared alongside Harrison Ford in one of his first speaking appearances. He appeared in Bonanza for the second time in 1969 ("My Friend, My Enemy")

Saxon appeared in some Westerns, One Dollar Too Many (1968), The Men from Shiloh (rebranded name for The Virginian, 1971), and Joe Kidd (1972), "Assemblance of a Gunfighter (1969), Saxon was in a sex comedy for Sam Katzman, For Singles Only (1968). I Kiss the Hand (1973) was a dramatic masterpiece made in Italy.

Dr. Theodore Stuart appeared on television show The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969–1972).

Saxon, who had been practicing martial arts since 1957, appeared as the martial artist Roper in 1973's Enter the Dragon. It was Bruce Lee's first big role in a Hollywood film. The script was almost out of Enter the Dragon because the script was too light. In a 2002 interview, Saxon said, "It was a sixty-page treatment." "I thought: there aren't enough resources to act here." A stunt man could play it. However, they entangled me in a debate, promising that they would work with my ideas. Some things they shot and saved in the film were shot, but the bulk of it was deleted." Saxon had no more interest in appearing in martial arts films after Enter the Dragon.

Mitchell (1975), The Swiss Conspiracy (1975), Strange Shadows in an Empty Room (1976), Mark Strikes Again (1976), The Cynic, the Fist (1977).

In the 1974 horror film Black Christmas, he appeared as Police Lieutenant Fuller. He appeared in The Six Million Dollar Man from 1974 to 1976, first as Major Frederick Sloan and then as Nedlick. The Bionic Woman was also included in this role. The actor's likeness was later used for the Kenner action figure doll "Maskatron" that was based on the series.

Dylan Hunt appeared in the 1974 Gene Roddenberry television pilot Planet Earth, replacing Alex Cord from Genesis II. In the 21st century's post-nuclear world, a scientist in 20th Century science is unfrozen, he leads a team of explorers and encounters a matriarchical society. Despite ABC's cancellation of the series, Saxon played a very similar role in the 1975 television film Strange New World.

In the Season Two Starsky & Hutch episode "Vampire" (2007), Saxon depicted a homicidal strangler. In the two-part Wonder Woman episode "The Feminum Mystique" (1976), he appeared as Captain Radl. Raid on Entebbe (1977) was a high-end television film for him. Moonshine County Express was a big success for Roger Corman's New World Pictures, although Saxon made another for the Bees (1978). Shalimar (1978), then a Bollywood film, before returning to exploitation: Fast Company (1979), The Glove (1979).

Hunt Sears, CEO of a breakfast cereal conglomerate, coexisted with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda in the 1979 Oscar-nominated film The Electric Horseman.

He appeared in the 1982 television film Rooster, and he was a regular celebrity guest on the short-lived game show Whew!, including during the series's final week. Tony Cumson on Falcon Crest (1982, 1986–1988) as well as the recurring role of Rashid Ahmed on Dynasty (1982–84). In 1983 and 1985, he appeared on The A-Team twice (in different capacities).

Saxon appeared in Tenebrae (1982) as the writer hero's shifty agent; in Cannibal Apocalypse (1980) as Sador; as an alternate-universe warlord; and in Wes Craven's A Nightmare (1984) as the heroine's (Nancy Thompson's) father. He reprised his role in Dream Warriors (1987) and Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) as he portrayed himself in two roles. Dennis Cole and Anthony Franciosa appeared in the horror film Zombie Death House in 1987, making him his directorial debut in 1987. "Few other actors of his generation have as good a track record in" horror films," Filmink wrote.

"Why did he appear in so many?

I'm sure he was keen but not snobby. In a slasher film, he made a good on-screen cop, and there are always roles for a cop in a slasher film. He may have been scary before, but he made an excellent red herring/villain."

Captain Fuller appeared in Maximum Force (1992) as Captain Fuller and also appeared in From Dusk to Dawn (1996).

Saxon continued to appear in most independent films and appeared in several television series in later years. He appeared in "Grave Danger," the 5th-season finale of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation starring From Dusk to Dawn screenwriter and actress Quentin Tarantino, as the lead. Saxon appeared in the episode opposite fellow cult film legend Andrew Prine. He appeared in an episode ("Pelts") of the anthology horror film Masters of Horror, which reunited him with Tenebrae director Dario Argento.

Saxon appeared at horror and cult film festivals, including the Creation Entertainment – Weekend of Horrors 2010 in Los Angeles on May 21, 2010. Lance Henriksen's last acting role was in the film Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen, which at the time of his death was in post-production.

Source