John Saxon
Known for: Acting
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
Series
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Walter Gordon
2000
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
Bonanza
Chief Jocova
1959
Series
Bonanza
Blas
1959
Series
Bonanza
Steven Friday
1959
Series
Falcon Crest
Tony Cumson
1981
Series
Magnum, P.I.
Ed Russler
1980
Series
Melrose Place
Henry Waxman
1992
Series
Ironside
Eric Saginor
1967
Series
Ironside
Carter
1967
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Marco Gambini
1984
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Bernardo Bonelli
1984
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Jerry Lydecker
1984
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Audience Member
1944
Series
Hawaii Five-O
Harry Clive
1969
Series
The A-Team
Martin James
1983
Series
The A-Team
Kalem
1983
Series
Dynasty
Rashid Ahmed
1981
Series
Quincy, M.E.
Publisher Charles Desskasa
1976
Series
The Virginian
Dell Stetler
1962
Series
The Virginian
Ben Oakes
1962
Series
The Virginian
Sgt. Terence Mulcahy
1962
Series
The Rockford Files
Dave Delaroux
1974
Series
Matlock
John Franklin
1986
Series
Dr. Kildare
Richard Ross
1961
Series
American Playhouse
Epps
1982
Series
The Six Million Dollar Man
Maj. Frederick Sloan
1974
Series
The Six Million Dollar Man
Nedlick
1974
Series
Hotel
Jack Curtis
1982
Series
Starsky & Hutch
René Nadasy
1975
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Mario Silvetti
1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Augie
1963
Series
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Mike Tedesca
1970
Series
Fantasy Island
Roger Sullivan
1978
Series
Fantasy Island
Professor Harold DeHaven
1978
Series
Burke's Law
Bud Charney
1963
Series
Burke's Law
Gil Lynch
1963
Series
The Name of the Game
Peter Max
1968
Series
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Dirk Fredericks
1983
Series
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Garth December
1985
Series
The Rookies
Farley
1972
Series
Night Gallery
Ianto
1970
Series
The Streets of San Francisco
Vince Hagopian Jr.
1972
Series
In the Heat of the Night
Dalton Sykes
1988
Series
Gunsmoke
Virgil Stanley
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Pedro Manez
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Gristy Calhoun
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Dingo
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Cal Strom, Jr.
1955
Series
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Straker
1993
Series
Vega$
Michael Jennings
1978
Film
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Lt. Thompson
1984
Series
Masters of Horror
Jeb 'Pa' Jameson
2005
Series
The Bionic Woman
Nedlick
1976
Series
Hardcastle and McCormick
Martin Cody
1983
Series
The Time Tunnel
Marco Polo
1966
Series
Wonder Woman
Captain Radl
1975
Series
Monsters
Ben O'Connell
1988
Series
Police Story
Rick Calvelli
1973
Series
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Dudley Stone
1985
Film
Enter the Dragon
Roper
1973
Series
It Takes a Thief
Dead Man
1968
Film
From Dusk Till Dawn
FBI Agent Stanley Chase
1996
Series
Another World
Edward Gerard
1964
Series
Petrocelli
Richie Martin
1974
Series
The Dick Powell Show
Nick Giller
1961
Series
Cimarron Strip
Screamer
1967
Series
Banacek
Harry Harland
1972
Series
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
Dr. Theodore Stuart
1969
Series
Finder of Lost Loves
Zach Donahue
1984
Series
The Sixth Sense
Dr Harry Auden
1972
Film
Wes Craven's New Nightmare
John Saxon / Lt. Donald Thompson
1994
Film
Beverly Hills Cop III
Orrin Sanderson
1994
Series
Garrison's Gorillas
Janus
1967
Series
Masquerade
Joey Savane
1983
Series
The Fantastic Journey
Consul Tarant
1977
Series
Banyon
Johnny Clay
1972
Film
Old Dogs
Lee Robinson
2009
Series
Lucky Luke
1992
Series
Lucky Luke
The Man in Black
1992
Series
Once an Eagle
Capt. Townshend
1976
Film
A Star Is Born
Movie Premiere Usher (uncredited)
1954
Film
Black Christmas
Lt. Fuller
1974
Series
Medic
Danny Ortega
1954
Series
Glitter
Judd Kovac
1984
Film
Animal Instincts
Otto Van Horne
1992
Series
General Electric Theater
Martin Glass
1953
Film
Tenebre
Bullmer
1982
Film
The Unforgiven
Johnny Portugal
1960
Film
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
Thompson
1987
Film
Battle Beyond the Stars
Sador
1980
Series
Most Wanted
Randall Mason
1976
Film
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
Self
2010
Film
Joe Kidd
Luis Chama
1972
Series
79 Park Avenue
Harry Vito
1977
Series
Half Nelson
Actor
1985
Film
The Electric Horseman
Hunt Sears
1979
Film
Blood Beach
Captain Pearson
1980
Film
The Cardinal
Benny Rampell
1963
Series
Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story
Richard Brooks
1995
Series
The Immigrants
Alan Brocker
1978
Film
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
Dr. Marcello Bassi
1963
Film
Death of a Gunfighter
Lou Trinidad
1969
Film
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation
Byron Grant
1962
Series
Westside Medical
Bob Farrow
1977
Film
The Appaloosa
Chuy
1966
Film
Hands of Steel
Francis Turner
1986
Film
My Mom's a Werewolf
Harry Thropen
1989
Film
It Should Happen to You
Boy Watching Argument in Park (uncredited)
1954
Film
Posse from Hell
Seymour Kern
1961
Series
Greatest Heroes of the Bible
Adonijah
1978
Film
Raid on Entebbe
Maj. Gen. Benny Peled
1976
Film
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
Self
2009
Film
Wrong Is Right
Homer Hubbard
1982
Film
Queen of Blood
Allan Brenner
1966
Film
Nightmare Beach
Strycher
1989
Film
Portrait in Black
Blake Richards
1960
Film
Scorpion with Two Tails
Arthur Barnard
1982
Film
Pitcher and the Pin-Up
Michael Curtis
2003
Film
Violent Naples
Francesco Capuano
1976
Film
The Best of the Martial Arts Films
Self - Host
1990
Film
Cannibal Apocalypse
Norman Hopper
1980
Film
Trapped Ashes
Leo (segment "Stanley's Girlfriend")
2006
Film
Criminal Act
Herb Tamplin
1989
Film
Prisoners of the Lost Universe
Kleel
1983
Film
Fast Company
Phil Adamson
1979
Film
Moonshine County Express
J.B. Johnson
1977
Film
The Cynic, the Rat & the Fist
Frank Di Maggio
1977
Film
Pelts
Jeb 'Pa' Jameson
2006
Film
War Wolves
Tony Ford
2009
Film
The Unbeatable Bruce Lee
Self
2001
Film
Istanbul Express
Cheval
1969
Film
Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon
Self
1994
Film
Shadows in an Empty Room
Sgt. Ned Matthews
1976
Film
War Hunt
Pvt. Raymond Endore
1962
Film
The Path of the Dragon
Self
1998
Film
The Bees
John Norman
1978
Film
Can Ellen Be Saved?
James Hallbeck
1974
Series
Kung Fu
Raven
1972
Film
Joseph's Gift
Jacob Keller
1999
Film
Zombie Death House
Colonel Gordon Burgess
1988
Film
The Big Fisherman
Voldi
1959
Film
A Special Cop in Action
Albertelli
1976
Film
Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen
John
2010
Film
The Glove
Sam Kellog
1979
Film
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
Self (archive footage)
1991
Film
Blood Salvage
Clifford Evans
1990
Film
Mr. Kingstreet's War
Mr. Kingstreet
1973
Film
Maximum Force
Captain Fuller
1992
Film
Planet Earth
Dylan Hunt
1974
Film
One Dollar Too Many
Clay Watson
1968
Film
Final Payback
Police Chief George Moreno
2001
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
Self
1995
Film
Fight to the Death
Mariano Beltrán
1975
Film
Solomon Northup's Odyssey
Epps
1991
Film
The Unguarded Moment
Leonard Bennett
1956
Film
The Night Caller
Dr. Jack Costain
1965
Film
The Swiss Conspiracy
Robert Hayes
1976
Film
Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s
Self
2012
Film
Lancelot: Guardian of Time
Wolvencroft
1997
Film
Strange New World
Capt. Anthony Vico
1975
Film
The Cavern
Joe Cramer
1964
Film
The Reluctant Debutante
David Parkson
1958
Film
Winchester '73
Dakin McAdam
1967
Film
No Escape, No Return
James Mitchell
1993
Film
Jonathan of the Bears
Fred Goodwin
1995
Film
Beyond Evil
Larry Andrews
1980
Film
Frame-Up II: The Cover-Up
Charles Searage
1994
Film
The Green Fog
Self
2018
New Line: Independent Legacies
Self (archive footage)
Bottom Feeders
Antonio DiPaolo Jr.
1998
Film
Fever Pitch
Sports Editor
1985
Film
Living in Fear
Rev. Leo Hausman
2000
Film
Cross Shot
Commissario Jacovella
1976
Film
The GREATEST : Bruce Lee
Comentador
1998
Film
The Doomsday Flight
George Ducette
1966
Film
This Happy Feeling
Bill Tremaine
1958
Film
The Baby Doll Murders
John Maglia
1993
Film
House Made of Dawn
Tosamah
1972
Film
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen
Self
2004
Film
The Intruders
Billy Pye
1970
Film
Company of Killers
Dave Poohler
1970
Film
The 12 Days of Black Christmas
Self
2006
Film
Aftershock
Oliver Quinn
1990
Film
Running Scared
Captain Munoz
1980
Film
Family Killer
Gaspare Ardizzone
1973
Film
Night Class
Murphy
2001
Film
The Arrival
Agent Miils
1991
Film
The Final Alliance
Ghost
1990
Film
Brothers-in-Law
Royal Cane
1985
Film
Agostino
Renzo
1962
Film
Cry Tough
Miguel Antonio Enrico Francisco Estrada
1959
Film
The Plunderers
Rondo
1960
Film
The Last Samurai
Haroun Al-Hakim
1990
Film
Welcome to Primetime
Self
1999
Film
The Big Score
Davis
1983
Film
Clarkworld
Self
2009
Film
Mark Strikes Again
Altman
1976
Film
The Restless Years
Will Henderson
1958
Film
Blackmail
Gene
1991
Film
Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon
Self
2004
Film
For Singles Only
Bret Hendley
1968
Film
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre
Self
2000
Film
Crossing the Line
Jack Kagan
1990
Film
Running Wild
Vince Pomeroy
1955
Film
Linda
Jeff Braden
1973
Film
Rock, Pretty Baby
Jimmy Daley
1956
Film
The Killers Within
Detective Lewis
1995
Film
Location: Hong Kong with Enter the Dragon
Self
1973
Film
Shalimar
Colonel Columbus
1978
Film
Mitchell
Walter Deaney
1975
Film
Summer Love
Jimmy Daley
1958
Film
Lucky Luke 2
The Man in Black (archive footage)
1992
Film
God's Ears
Lee Robinson
2008
Film
Desire
Joe Hale
1982
Film
Black Christmas Revisited
Self
2002
Film
Killing Obsession
Dr. Sachs
1994
Film
Western, Italian Style
Self
1968
Film
Payoff
Rafael Concion
1991
Stanley's Girlfriend
Leo
2006
Film
Stephen King's Monster Stories
1988
Film
Snatched
Paul Maxvill
1973
Film
Outta Time
Darabont
2002
Film
Lo Scorpione a Due Code
Arthur Barnard
1982
'Cannibal Apocalypse' Redux
Sarge
2002
Film
Golden Gate
Monty Sager
1981
Film
Hellmaster
Professor Jones
1992
Film
Rooster
Jerome Brademan
1982
Film
Black Christmas Legacy
Self (archive footage)
2015
Film
One Too Many
Sergio Puccini
1982
Film
The Party Crashers
Mr. Foster
1998
Film
Crossfire
Dave Ambrose
1975
The Craving Heart
Richard Tom
2006
Film
The Ravagers
Capt. Kermit Dowling
1965
Film
The Mercy Man
Father McMurray
2009
Film
The Dentros
George Dentro
2015