John Saxon
Acting • Born 1935-08-05 – Died 2020-07-25
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.
Filmography
208 credits
Beverly Hills Cop III
Movie • 1994
Orrin Sanderson
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Movie • 1984
Lt. Donald Thompson
From Dusk Till Dawn
Movie • 1996
FBI Agent Stanley Chase
My Mom's a Werewolf
Movie • 1989
Harry Thropen
The Cardinal
Movie • 1963
Benny Rampell
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
Movie • 1987
Thompson
Mr. Kingstreet's War
Movie • 1973
Mr. Kingstreet
The Electric Horseman
Movie • 1979
Hunt Sears
Zombie Death House
Movie • 1988
Colonel Gordon Burgess
The Unforgiven
Movie • 1960
Johnny Portugal
Wes Craven's New Nightmare
Movie • 1994
John Saxon / Lt. Donald Thompson
Wrong Is Right
Movie • 1982
Homer Hubbard
Raid on Entebbe
Movie • 1976
Maj. Gen. Benny Peled
Cannibal Apocalypse
Movie • 1980
Norman Hopper
War Hunt
Movie • 1962
Pvt. Raymond Endore
Mitchell
Movie • 1975
Walter Deaney
Enter the Dragon
Movie • 1973
Roper
The Appaloosa
Movie • 1966
Chuy
Shalimar
Movie • 1978
Colonel Columbus
Queen of Blood
Movie • 1966
Allan Brenner
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
Movie • 1963
Dr. Marcello Bassi
Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon
Movie • 1994
Self
Stanley's Girlfriend
Movie • 2006
Leo
War Wolves
Movie • 2009
Tony Ford
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation
Movie • 1962
Byron Grant
The Bees
Movie • 1978
John Norman
Battle Beyond the Stars
Movie • 1980
Sador
Trapped Ashes
Movie • 2006
Leo (segment "Stanley's Girlfriend")
Jonathan of the Bears
Movie • 1995
Fred Goodwin
The Night Caller
Movie • 1965
Dr. Jack Costain
Joe Kidd
Movie • 1972
Luis Chama
The Swiss Conspiracy
Movie • 1976
Robert Hayes
Cry Tough
Movie • 1959
Miguel Antonio Enrico Francisco Estrada
House Made of Dawn
Movie • 1972
Tosamah
Blood Beach
Movie • 1980
Captain Pearson
Fast Company
Movie • 1979
Phil Adamson
The Craving Heart
Movie • 2006
Richard Tom
The Reluctant Debutante
Movie • 1958
David Parkson
Scorpion with Two Tails
Movie • 1982
Arthur Barnard
Black Christmas
Movie • 1974
Lt. Fuller
Portrait in Black
Movie • 1960
Blake Richards
Hands of Steel
Movie • 1986
Francis Turner
Animal Instincts
Movie • 1992
Otto Van Horne
The Glove
Movie • 1979
Sam Kellog
Agostino
Movie • 1962
Renzo
Prisoners of the Lost Universe
Movie • 1983
Kleel
Mark Strikes Again
Movie • 1976
Altman
The Cynic, the Rat & the Fist
Movie • 1977
Frank Di Maggio
The GREATEST : Bruce Lee
Movie • 1998
Comentador
Clarkworld
Movie • 2009
Self
Planet Earth
Movie • 1974
Dylan Hunt
Death of a Gunfighter
Movie • 1969
Lou Trinidad
Shadows in an Empty Room
Movie • 1976
Sgt. Ned Matthews
Black Christmas Legacy
Movie • 2015
Self (archive footage)
Posse from Hell
Movie • 1961
Seymour Kern
The Unguarded Moment
Movie • 1956
Leonard Bennett
Violent Naples
Movie • 1976
Francesco Capuano
Blood Salvage
Movie • 1990
Clifford Evans
Beyond Evil
Movie • 1980
Larry Andrews
The Restless Years
Movie • 1958
Will Henderson
A Special Cop in Action
Movie • 1976
Albertelli
Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s
Movie • 2012
Self
The Big Score
Movie • 1983
Davis
Moonshine County Express
Movie • 1977
J.B. Johnson
One Dollar Too Many
Movie • 1968
Clay Watson
The Cavern
Movie • 1964
Joe Cramer
The Baby Doll Murders
Movie • 1993
John Maglia
Lucky Luke 2
Movie • 1992
The Man in Black (archive footage)
Western, Italian Style
Movie • 1968
Self
This Happy Feeling
Movie • 1958
Bill Tremaine
The Arrival
Movie • 1991
Agent Miils
Hellmaster
Movie • 1992
Professor Jones
Fever Pitch
Movie • 1985
Sports Editor
Strange New World
Movie • 1975
Capt. Anthony Vico
Aftershock
Movie • 1990
Oliver Quinn
The Plunderers
Movie • 1960
Rondo
The Big Fisherman
Movie • 1959
Voldi
Cross Shot
Movie • 1976
Commissario Jacovella
The Final Alliance
Movie • 1990
Ghost
Blackmail
Movie • 1991
Gene
Rock, Pretty Baby
Movie • 1956
Jimmy Daley
Summer Love
Movie • 1958
Jimmy Daley
No Escape, No Return
Movie • 1993
James Mitchell
Can Ellen Be Saved?
Movie • 1974
James Hallbeck
Night Class
Movie • 2001
Murphy
Welcome to Primetime
Movie • 1999
Self
The Intruders
Movie • 1970
Billy Pye
Running Scared
Movie • 1980
Captain Munoz
Running Wild
Movie • 1955
Vince Pomeroy
The Doomsday Flight
Movie • 1966
George Ducette
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
Movie • 2010
Self
Fight to the Death
Movie • 1975
Mariano Beltrán
Family Killer
Movie • 1973
Gaspare Ardizzone
Linda
Movie • 1973
Jeff Braden
Company of Killers
Movie • 1970
Dave Poohler
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen
Movie • 2004
Self
Istanbul Express
Movie • 1969
Cheval
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
Movie • 1995
Self
Pelts
Movie • 2006
Jeb 'Pa' Jameson
For Singles Only
Movie • 1968
Bret Hendley
Frame-Up II: The Cover-Up
Movie • 1994
Charles Searage
Winchester '73
Movie • 1967
Dakin McAdam
A Star Is Born
Movie • 1954
Movie Premiere Usher (uncredited)
The Ravagers
Movie • 1965
Capt. Kermit Dowling
Maximum Force
Movie • 1992
Captain Fuller
Criminal Act
Movie • 1989
Herb Tamplin
The Best of the Martial Arts Films
Movie • 1990
Self - Host
Desire
Movie • 1982
Joe Hale
It Should Happen to You
Movie • 1954
Boy Watching Argument in Park (uncredited)
Snatched
Movie • 1973
Paul Maxvill
Living in Fear
Movie • 2000
Rev. Leo Hausman
The Party Crashers
Movie • 1998
Mr. Foster
Bottom Feeders
Movie • 1998
Antonio DiPaolo Jr.
The Immigrants
Movie • 1978
Alan Brocker
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre
Movie • 2000
Self
Crossing the Line
Movie • 1990
Jack Kagan
God's Ears
Movie • 2008
Lee Robinson
The Killers Within
Movie • 1995
Detective Lewis
Killing Obsession
Movie • 1994
Dr. Sachs
Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen
Movie • 2010
John
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
Movie • 2009
Self
The Path of the Dragon
Movie • 1998
Self
Black Christmas Revisited
Movie • 2002
Self
One Too Many
Movie • 1982
Sergio Puccini
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
Movie • 1991
Self (archive footage)
Crossfire
Movie • 1975
Dave Ambrose
Final Payback
Movie • 2001
Police Chief George Moreno
The Last Samurai
Movie • 1990
Haroun Al-Hakim
Outta Time
Movie • 2002
Darabont
Joseph's Gift
Movie • 1999
Jacob Keller
Nightmare Beach
Movie • 1989
Strycher
Tenebre
Movie • 1982
Bullmer
Brothers-in-Law
Movie • 1985
Royal Cane
Pitcher and the Pin-Up
Movie • 2003
Michael Curtis
Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon
Movie • 2004
Self
'Cannibal Apocalypse' Redux
Movie • 2002
Sarge
Golden Gate
Movie • 1981
Monty Sager
Lancelot: Guardian of Time
Movie • 1997
Wolvencroft
Rooster
Movie • 1982
Jerome Brademan
The 12 Days of Black Christmas
Movie • 2006
Self
Payoff
Movie • 1991
Rafael Concion
Solomon Northup's Odyssey
Movie • 1991
Epps
Location: Hong Kong with Enter the Dragon
Movie • 1973
Self
The Dentros
Movie • 2015
George Dentro
Stephen King's Monster Stories
Movie • 1988
Lo Scorpione a Due Code
Movie • 1982
Arthur Barnard
The Mercy Man
Movie • 2009
Father McMurray
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV • 2000
Walter Gordon
Masters of Horror
TV • 2005
Jeb 'Pa' Jameson
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Virgil Stanley
Wonder Woman
TV • 1975
Captain Radl
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
TV • 1969
Dr. Theodore Stuart
Lucky Luke
TV • 1992
Masquerade
TV • 1983
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Marco Gambini
The A-Team
TV • 1983
Martin James
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
TV • 1970
Mike Tedesca
Night Gallery
TV • 1970
Ianto
The Six Million Dollar Man
TV • 1974
Maj. Frederick Sloan
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Pedro Manez
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Gristy Calhoun
Hawaii Five-O
TV • 1968
Harry Clive
The Six Million Dollar Man
TV • 1974
Nedlick
Once an Eagle
TV • 1976
Capt. Townshend
Starsky & Hutch
TV • 1975
René Nadasy
The Name of the Game
TV • 1968
Peter Max
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Chief Jocova
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Blas
The Rockford Files
TV • 1974
Dave Delaroux
Ironside
TV • 1967
Eric Saginor
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Steven Friday
The A-Team
TV • 1983
Kalem
Banyon
TV • 1972
Johnny Clay
Quincy, M.E.
TV • 1976
Publisher Charles Desskasa
Finder of Lost Loves
TV • 1984
Zach Donahue
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TV • 1963
Mario Silvetti
Melrose Place
TV • 1992
Henry Waxman
Lucky Luke
TV • 1992
The Man in Black
It Takes a Thief
TV • 1968
Dead Man
Fantasy Island
TV • 1978
Roger Sullivan
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Dingo
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Bernardo Bonelli
79 Park Avenue
TV • 1977
Harry Vito
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1985
Garth December
Matlock
TV • 1986
John Franklin
Petrocelli
TV • 1974
Richie Martin
Hotel
TV • 1982
Jack Curtis
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
TV • 1983
Dirk Fredericks
Hardcastle and McCormick
TV • 1983
Martin Cody
Banacek
TV • 1972
Harry Harland
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Sgt. Terence Mulcahy
Kung Fu
TV • 1972
Raven
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Ben Oakes
Burke's Law
TV • 1963
Bud Charney
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Dell Stetler
The Streets of San Francisco
TV • 1972
Vincent 'Vince' Hagopian Jr.
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Martin Glass
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Cal Strom, Jr.
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Jerry Lydecker
Falcon Crest
TV • 1981
Tony Cumson
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Presenter
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Audience Member
Magnum, P.I.
TV • 1980
Ed Russler
Burke's Law
TV • 1963
Gil Lynch
The Fantastic Journey
TV • 1977
Consul Tarant
Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story
TV • 1995
Richard Brooks
The Time Tunnel
TV • 1966
Marco Polo