John Saxon

John Saxon

Known for
Acting
Born
August 5, 1935
Died
July 25, 2020 (aged 84)
Birthplace
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Biography

John Saxon (born Carmine Orrico; August 5, 1935 – July 25, 2020) was an American actor and martial artist who worked on more than 200 projects during a span of 60 years. Saxon is 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 (1956) and Portrait in Black (1961). During the 1970s and 1980s, he established himself as a character actor, frequently portraying law enforcement officials in horror movies such as Black Christmas (1974), Dario Argento's Tenebrae (1982), and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). In addition to his roles in horror movies, Saxon co-starred with Bruce Lee in the martial arts movie Enter the Dragon (1973), and has supporting roles in the westerns Death of a Gunfighter (1969) and Joe Kidd (1972), as well as the adventure thriller Raid on Entebbe (1977). In the 1990s, Saxon occasionally appeared in movies, with small roles in Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) and From Dusk till Dawn (1996). Saxon died of pneumonia in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on July 25, 2020.

Known For

Photos

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Filmography

—
New Line: Independent Legacies

New Line: Independent Legacies

Movie · as Self (archive footage)

2018
The Green Fog poster

The Green Fog

Movie · as Self

2015
Black Christmas Legacy poster

Black Christmas Legacy

Movie · as Self (archive footage)

2015
The Dentros poster

The Dentros

Movie · as George Dentro

2012
Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s poster

Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s

Movie · as Self

2010
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy poster

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy

Movie · as Self

2010
Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen poster

Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen

Movie · as John

2009
War Wolves poster

War Wolves

Movie · as Tony Ford

2009
Clarkworld poster

Clarkworld

Movie · as Self

2009
How Bruce Lee Changed the World poster

How Bruce Lee Changed the World

Movie · as Self

2009
The Mercy Man poster

The Mercy Man

Movie · as Father McMurray

2009
Old Dogs poster

Old Dogs

Movie · as Lee Robinson

2008
God's Ears poster

God's Ears

Movie · as Lee Robinson

2006
Stanley's Girlfriend

Stanley's Girlfriend

Movie · as Leo

2006
Trapped Ashes poster

Trapped Ashes

Movie · as Leo (segment "Stanley's Girlfriend")

2006
The Craving Heart

The Craving Heart

Movie · as Richard Tom

2006
Pelts poster

Pelts

Movie · as Jeb 'Pa' Jameson

2006
The 12 Days of Black Christmas poster

The 12 Days of Black Christmas

Movie · as Self

2005
Masters of Horror poster

Masters of Horror

TV · as Jeb 'Pa' Jameson · 1 ep

2004
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen poster

Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen

Movie · as Self

2004
Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon poster

Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon

Movie · as Self

2003
Pitcher and the Pin-Up poster

Pitcher and the Pin-Up

Movie · as Michael Curtis

2002
Black Christmas Revisited poster

Black Christmas Revisited

Movie · as Self

2002
Outta Time poster

Outta Time

Movie · as Darabont

2002
'Cannibal Apocalypse' Redux

'Cannibal Apocalypse' Redux

Movie · as Sarge

2001
Night Class poster

Night Class

Movie · as Murphy

2001
Final Payback poster

Final Payback

Movie · as Police Chief George Moreno

2001
The Unbeatable Bruce Lee poster

The Unbeatable Bruce Lee

Movie · as Self

2000
Living in Fear poster

Living in Fear

Movie · as Rev. Leo Hausman

2000
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre poster

Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre

Movie · as Self

2000
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation poster

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

TV · as Walter Gordon · 1 ep

1999
Welcome to Primetime poster

Welcome to Primetime

Movie · as Self

1999
Joseph's Gift poster

Joseph's Gift

Movie · as Jacob Keller

1998
The GREATEST : Bruce Lee poster

The GREATEST : Bruce Lee

Movie · as Comentador

1998
The Party Crashers poster

The Party Crashers

Movie · as Mr. Foster

1998
Bottom Feeders

Bottom Feeders

Movie · as Antonio DiPaolo Jr.

1998
The Path of the Dragon poster

The Path of the Dragon

Movie · as Self

1997
Lancelot: Guardian of Time poster

Lancelot: Guardian of Time

Movie · as Wolvencroft

1996
From Dusk Till Dawn poster

From Dusk Till Dawn

Movie · as FBI Agent Stanley Chase

1995
Jonathan of the Bears poster

Jonathan of the Bears

Movie · as Fred Goodwin

1995
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities

Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities

Movie · as Self

1995
The Killers Within poster

The Killers Within

Movie · as Detective Lewis

1995
Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story poster

Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story

TV · as Richard Brooks · 2 eps

1994
Beverly Hills Cop III poster

Beverly Hills Cop III

Movie · as Orrin Sanderson

1994
Wes Craven's New Nightmare poster

Wes Craven's New Nightmare

Movie · as John Saxon / Lt. Donald Thompson

1994
Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon poster

Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon

Movie · as Self

1994
Frame-Up II: The Cover-Up poster

Frame-Up II: The Cover-Up

Movie · as Charles Searage

1994
Killing Obsession poster

Killing Obsession

Movie · as Dr. Sachs

1993
The Baby Doll Murders poster

The Baby Doll Murders

Movie · as John Maglia

1993
No Escape, No Return poster

No Escape, No Return

Movie · as James Mitchell

1993
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues poster

Kung Fu: The Legend Continues

TV · as Straker · 1 ep

1992
Animal Instincts poster

Animal Instincts

Movie · as Otto Van Horne

1992
Lucky Luke 2 poster

Lucky Luke 2

Movie · as The Man in Black (archive footage)

1992
Hellmaster poster

Hellmaster

Movie · as Professor Jones

1992
Maximum Force poster

Maximum Force

Movie · as Captain Fuller

1992
Lucky Luke poster

Lucky Luke

TV · as The Man in Black

1992
Melrose Place poster

Melrose Place

TV · as Henry Waxman · 5 eps

1991
The Arrival poster

The Arrival

Movie · as Agent Miils

1991
Blackmail poster

Blackmail

Movie · as Gene

1991
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker poster

Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker

Movie · as Self (archive footage)

1991
Payoff poster

Payoff

Movie · as Rafael Concion

1991
Solomon Northup's Odyssey poster

Solomon Northup's Odyssey

Movie · as Epps

1990
Blood Salvage poster

Blood Salvage

Movie · as Clifford Evans

1990
Aftershock poster

Aftershock

Movie · as Oliver Quinn

1990
The Final Alliance poster

The Final Alliance

Movie · as Ghost

1990
The Best of the Martial Arts Films poster

The Best of the Martial Arts Films

Movie · as Self - Host

1990
Crossing the Line poster

Crossing the Line

Movie · as Jack Kagan

1990
The Last Samurai poster

The Last Samurai

Movie · as Haroun Al-Hakim

1989
My Mom's a Werewolf poster

My Mom's a Werewolf

Movie · as Harry Thropen

1989
Criminal Act poster

Criminal Act

Movie · as Herb Tamplin

1989
Nightmare Beach poster

Nightmare Beach

Movie · as Strycher

1988
Zombie Death House poster

Zombie Death House

Movie · as Colonel Gordon Burgess

1988
Stephen King's Monster Stories poster

Stephen King's Monster Stories

Movie

1988
Monsters poster

Monsters

TV · as Ben O'Connell · 1 ep

1988
In the Heat of the Night poster

In the Heat of the Night

TV · as Dalton Sykes · 1 ep

1987
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors poster

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

Movie · as Thompson

1986
Hands of Steel poster

Hands of Steel

Movie · as Francis Turner

1986
Matlock poster

Matlock

TV · as John Franklin · 1 ep

1985
Fever Pitch poster

Fever Pitch

Movie · as Sports Editor

1985
Brothers-in-Law poster

Brothers-in-Law

Movie · as Royal Cane

1985
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents poster

The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents

TV · as Garth December · 1 ep

1985
Half Nelson poster

Half Nelson

TV · as Actor · 1 ep

1985
The Ray Bradbury Theater poster

The Ray Bradbury Theater

TV · as Dudley Stone · 1 ep

1984
A Nightmare on Elm Street poster

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Movie · as Lt. Thompson

1984
Murder, She Wrote poster

Murder, She Wrote

TV · as Marco Gambini, Bernardo Bonelli, Jerry Lydecker · 1 ep

1984
Finder of Lost Loves poster

Finder of Lost Loves

TV · as Zach Donahue · 1 ep

1984
Glitter poster

Glitter

TV · as Judd Kovac · 1 ep

1983
Prisoners of the Lost Universe poster

Prisoners of the Lost Universe

Movie · as Kleel

1983
The Big Score poster

The Big Score

Movie · as Davis

1983
Masquerade poster

Masquerade

TV · as Joey Savane · 1 ep

1983
The A-Team poster

The A-Team

TV · as Martin James, Kalem · 1 ep

1983
Hardcastle and McCormick poster

Hardcastle and McCormick

TV · as Martin Cody · 2 eps

1983
Scarecrow and Mrs. King poster

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

TV · as Dirk Fredericks · 2 eps

1982
Wrong Is Right poster

Wrong Is Right

Movie · as Homer Hubbard

1982
Scorpion with Two Tails poster

Scorpion with Two Tails

Movie · as Arthur Barnard

1982
Desire poster

Desire

Movie · as Joe Hale

1982
One Too Many poster

One Too Many

Movie · as Sergio Puccini

1982
Tenebre poster

Tenebre

Movie · as Bullmer

1982
Rooster poster

Rooster

Movie · as Jerome Brademan

1982
Lo Scorpione a Due Code poster

Lo Scorpione a Due Code

Movie · as Arthur Barnard

1982
Hotel poster

Hotel

TV · as Jack Curtis · 1 ep

1982
American Playhouse poster

American Playhouse

TV · as Epps · 1 ep

1981
Golden Gate poster

Golden Gate

Movie · as Monty Sager

1981
Falcon Crest poster

Falcon Crest

TV · as Tony Cumson · 32 eps

1981
Dynasty poster

Dynasty

TV · as Rashid Ahmed · 6 eps

1980
Cannibal Apocalypse poster

Cannibal Apocalypse

Movie · as Norman Hopper

1980
Battle Beyond the Stars poster

Battle Beyond the Stars

Movie · as Sador

1980
Blood Beach poster

Blood Beach

Movie · as Captain Pearson

1980
Beyond Evil poster

Beyond Evil

Movie · as Larry Andrews

1980
Running Scared poster

Running Scared

Movie · as Captain Munoz

1980
Magnum, P.I. poster

Magnum, P.I.

TV · as Ed Russler · 1 ep

1979
The Electric Horseman poster

The Electric Horseman

Movie · as Hunt Sears

1979
Fast Company poster

Fast Company

Movie · as Phil Adamson

1979
The Glove poster

The Glove

Movie · as Sam Kellog

1978
Shalimar poster

Shalimar

Movie · as Colonel Columbus

1978
The Bees poster

The Bees

Movie · as John Norman

1978
Fantasy Island poster

Fantasy Island

TV · as Roger Sullivan, Professor Harold DeHaven · 1 ep

1978
The Immigrants poster

The Immigrants

TV · as Alan Brocker · 2 eps

1978
Greatest Heroes of the Bible poster

Greatest Heroes of the Bible

TV · as Adonijah · 1 ep

1978
Vega$ poster

Vega$

TV · as Michael Jennings · 2 eps

1977
The Cynic, the Rat & the Fist poster

The Cynic, the Rat & the Fist

Movie · as Frank Di Maggio

1977
Moonshine County Express poster

Moonshine County Express

Movie · as J.B. Johnson

1977
79 Park Avenue poster

79 Park Avenue

TV · as Harry Vito · 2 eps

1977
The Fantastic Journey poster

The Fantastic Journey

TV · as Consul Tarant · 1 ep

1977
Westside Medical poster

Westside Medical

TV · as Bob Farrow · 1 ep

1976
Raid on Entebbe poster

Raid on Entebbe

Movie · as Maj. Gen. Benny Peled

1976
The Swiss Conspiracy poster

The Swiss Conspiracy

Movie · as Robert Hayes

1976
Mark Strikes Again poster

Mark Strikes Again

Movie · as Altman

1976
Shadows in an Empty Room poster

Shadows in an Empty Room

Movie · as Sgt. Ned Matthews

1976
Violent Naples poster

Violent Naples

Movie · as Francesco Capuano

1976
A Special Cop in Action poster

A Special Cop in Action

Movie · as Albertelli

1976
Cross Shot poster

Cross Shot

Movie · as Commissario Jacovella

1976
Once an Eagle poster

Once an Eagle

TV · as Capt. Townshend · 7 eps

1976
Quincy, M.E. poster

Quincy, M.E.

TV · as Publisher Charles Desskasa · 1 ep

1976
The Bionic Woman poster

The Bionic Woman

TV · as Nedlick · 1 ep

1976
Most Wanted poster

Most Wanted

TV · as Randall Mason · 1 ep

1975
Mitchell poster

Mitchell

Movie · as Walter Deaney

1975
Strange New World poster

Strange New World

Movie · as Capt. Anthony Vico

1975
Fight to the Death poster

Fight to the Death

Movie · as Mariano Beltrán

1975
Crossfire poster

Crossfire

Movie · as Dave Ambrose

1975
Wonder Woman poster

Wonder Woman

TV · as Captain Radl · 2 eps

1975
Starsky & Hutch poster

Starsky & Hutch

TV · as René Nadasy · 1 ep

1974
Black Christmas poster

Black Christmas

Movie · as Lt. Fuller

1974
Planet Earth poster

Planet Earth

Movie · as Dylan Hunt

1974
Can Ellen Be Saved? poster

Can Ellen Be Saved?

Movie · as James Hallbeck

1974
The Six Million Dollar Man poster

The Six Million Dollar Man

TV · as Maj. Frederick Sloan, Nedlick · 1 ep

1974
The Rockford Files poster

The Rockford Files

TV · as Dave Delaroux · 1 ep

1974
Petrocelli poster

Petrocelli

TV · as Richie Martin · 1 ep

1973
Mr. Kingstreet's War poster

Mr. Kingstreet's War

Movie · as Mr. Kingstreet

1973
Enter the Dragon poster

Enter the Dragon

Movie · as Roper

1973
Family Killer poster

Family Killer

Movie · as Gaspare Ardizzone

1973
Linda poster

Linda

Movie · as Jeff Braden

1973
Snatched poster

Snatched

Movie · as Paul Maxvill

1973
Location: Hong Kong with Enter the Dragon poster

Location: Hong Kong with Enter the Dragon

Movie · as Self

1973
Police Story poster

Police Story

TV · as Rick Calvelli · 1 ep

1972
Joe Kidd poster

Joe Kidd

Movie · as Luis Chama

1972
House Made of Dawn poster

House Made of Dawn

Movie · as Tosamah

1972
Banyon poster

Banyon

TV · as Johnny Clay · 1 ep

1972
Banacek poster

Banacek

TV · as Harry Harland · 1 ep

1972
The Streets of San Francisco poster

The Streets of San Francisco

TV · as Vince Hagopian Jr. · 1 ep

1972
Kung Fu poster

Kung Fu

TV · as Raven · 1 ep

1972
The Sixth Sense poster

The Sixth Sense

TV · as Dr Harry Auden · 1 ep

1972
The Rookies poster

The Rookies

TV · as Farley · 1 ep

1970
The Intruders poster

The Intruders

Movie · as Billy Pye

1970
Company of Killers poster

Company of Killers

Movie · as Dave Poohler

1970
The Mary Tyler Moore Show poster

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

TV · as Mike Tedesca · 1 ep

1970
Night Gallery poster

Night Gallery

TV · as Ianto · 1 ep

1969
Death of a Gunfighter poster

Death of a Gunfighter

Movie · as Lou Trinidad

1969
Istanbul Express poster

Istanbul Express

Movie · as Cheval

1969
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors poster

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

TV · as Dr. Theodore Stuart · 29 eps

1969
Hawaii Five-O poster

Hawaii Five-O

TV · as Harry Clive · 1 ep

1968
One Dollar Too Many poster

One Dollar Too Many

Movie · as Clay Watson

1968
Western, Italian Style poster

Western, Italian Style

Movie · as Self

1968
For Singles Only poster

For Singles Only

Movie · as Bret Hendley

1968
The Name of the Game poster

The Name of the Game

TV · as Peter Max · 1 ep

1968
It Takes a Thief poster

It Takes a Thief

TV · as Dead Man · 1 ep

1967
Winchester '73 poster

Winchester '73

Movie · as Dakin McAdam

1967
Ironside poster

Ironside

TV · as Eric Saginor, Carter · 1 ep

1967
Cimarron Strip poster

Cimarron Strip

TV · as Screamer · 1 ep

1967
Garrison's Gorillas poster

Garrison's Gorillas

TV · as Janus · 1 ep

1966
The Appaloosa poster

The Appaloosa

Movie · as Chuy

1966
Queen of Blood poster

Queen of Blood

Movie · as Allan Brenner

1966
The Doomsday Flight poster

The Doomsday Flight

Movie · as George Ducette

1966
The Time Tunnel poster

The Time Tunnel

TV · as Marco Polo · 1 ep

1965
The Night Caller poster

The Night Caller

Movie · as Dr. Jack Costain

1965
The Ravagers poster

The Ravagers

Movie · as Capt. Kermit Dowling

1964
The Cavern poster

The Cavern

Movie · as Joe Cramer

1964
Another World poster

Another World

TV · as Edward Gerard · 6 eps

1963
The Cardinal poster

The Cardinal

Movie · as Benny Rampell

1963
The Girl Who Knew Too Much poster

The Girl Who Knew Too Much

Movie · as Dr. Marcello Bassi

1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

TV · as Mario Silvetti, Augie · 1 ep

1963
Burke's Law poster

Burke's Law

TV · as Bud Charney, Gil Lynch · 1 ep

1962
War Hunt poster

War Hunt

Movie · as Pvt. Raymond Endore

1962
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation poster

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation

Movie · as Byron Grant

1962
Agostino poster

Agostino

Movie · as Renzo

1962
The Virginian poster

The Virginian

TV · as Dell Stetler, Ben Oakes, Sgt. Terence Mulcahy · 1 ep

1961
Posse from Hell poster

Posse from Hell

Movie · as Seymour Kern

1961
The Mike Douglas Show poster

The Mike Douglas Show

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1961
The Dick Powell Show poster

The Dick Powell Show

TV · as Nick Giller · 1 ep

1961
Dr. Kildare poster

Dr. Kildare

TV · as Richard Ross · 2 eps

1960
The Unforgiven poster

The Unforgiven

Movie · as Johnny Portugal

1960
Portrait in Black poster

Portrait in Black

Movie · as Blake Richards

1960
The Plunderers poster

The Plunderers

Movie · as Rondo

1959
Cry Tough poster

Cry Tough

Movie · as Miguel Antonio Enrico Francisco Estrada

1959
The Big Fisherman poster

The Big Fisherman

Movie · as Voldi

1959
Bonanza poster

Bonanza

TV · as Chief Jocova, Blas, Steven Friday · 1 ep

1958
The Reluctant Debutante poster

The Reluctant Debutante

Movie · as David Parkson

1958
The Restless Years poster

The Restless Years

Movie · as Will Henderson

1958
This Happy Feeling poster

This Happy Feeling

Movie · as Bill Tremaine

1958
Summer Love poster

Summer Love

Movie · as Jimmy Daley

1956
The Unguarded Moment poster

The Unguarded Moment

Movie · as Leonard Bennett

1956
Rock, Pretty Baby poster

Rock, Pretty Baby

Movie · as Jimmy Daley

1955
Running Wild poster

Running Wild

Movie · as Vince Pomeroy

1955
Gunsmoke poster

Gunsmoke

TV · as Virgil Stanley, Pedro Manez, Gristy Calhoun, Dingo, Cal Strom, Jr. · 1 ep

1954
A Star Is Born poster

A Star Is Born

Movie · as Movie Premiere Usher (uncredited)

1954
It Should Happen to You poster

It Should Happen to You

Movie · as Boy Watching Argument in Park (uncredited)

1954
Medic poster

Medic

TV · as Danny Ortega · 1 ep

1953
General Electric Theater poster

General Electric Theater

TV · as Martin Glass · 1 ep

1944
Golden Globe Awards poster

Golden Globe Awards

TV · as Self - Presenter, Self - Audience Member · 2 eps