John Saxon (1936-2020) - Find a Grave Memorial (2025)

Actor and Martial Artist. His career stretched over seven decades with his film debut in 1954 in uncredited roles in It Should Happen to You and A Star Is Born. He was discovered by talent agent Henry Willson, the man most famous for creating and representing Rock Hudson who signed him up after he saw his picture on the cover of a magazine. Willson brought the 16-year-old to Southern California, changed his name to John Saxon, and launched his career. He made his television debut on Richard Boone's series Medic in 1954 and in 1955, he got his first credited role in Running Wild playing a juvenile delinquent. In Esther Williams' The Unguarded Moment in 1956, the film's marketing campaign spotlighted him, trumpeting the movie as "Co-starring the exciting new personality John Saxon." By 1958, he seemed to have established himself as a supporting player in A-List pictures, being featured in Blake Edwards's comedy This Happy Feeling headlined by Debbie Reynolds and Vincente Minnelli's The Reluctant Debutante with Rex Harrison and Sandra Dee.

In the next five years, he worked steadily, including supporting roles in John Huston's The Unforgiven (1960), the James Stewart comedy Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962) and Otto Preminger'sThe Cardinal (1963) while having first billing in the B-movies Cry Tough (1959) and War Hunt (1962). Fluent in Italian, he made his first pictures in Italy in Agostino (1962) and Mario Bava's The Evil Eye (1963). By 1965, he was appearing in the likes of Blood Beast from Outer Space. He also appeared in Sidney J. Furie's The Appaloosa (1966), where he played a Mexican bandito who steals the horse of Marlon Brando. Saxon would reprise the role, of sorts, in John Sturges Joe Kidd (1972) in support of superstar Clint Eastwood. He played a variety of roles including everything from an Indian chief on Bonanza (1959) to Marco Polo on The Time Tunnel (1966). From the 1969 to 1972 season, he was a star of the television series The Bold Ones: The New Doctors playing the brilliant surgeon Theodore Stuart. When the series ended, he took one of his most famous roles when Bruce Lee demurred over casting Rod Taylor as he was too tall. A black belt in karate, Saxon appeared as Roper in Enter the Dragon (1973). He continued to play a wide variety of roles on television and in motion pictures, with key roles in 1974's classic slasher Black Christmas, 1984's groundbreaking A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) and From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). He also made his directorial debut in 1987 with the horror movie Zombie Death House which starred Dennis Cole and Anthony Franciosa. In recent years, he was in a number of independent movies and played in several television series, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and the Showtime series Masters of Horror. He was a special guest on the Creation Entertainment – Weekend of Horrors 2010 on May 21, 2010, in Los Angeles. His last acting role was the 2015 film The Extra.

Actor and Martial Artist. His career stretched over seven decades with his film debut in 1954 in uncredited roles in It Should Happen to You and A Star Is Born. He was discovered by talent agent Henry Willson, the man most famous for creating and representing Rock Hudson who signed him up after he saw his picture on the cover of a magazine. Willson brought the 16-year-old to Southern California, changed his name to John Saxon, and launched his career. He made his television debut on Richard Boone's series Medic in 1954 and in 1955, he got his first credited role in Running Wild playing a juvenile delinquent. In Esther Williams' The Unguarded Moment in 1956, the film's marketing campaign spotlighted him, trumpeting the movie as "Co-starring the exciting new personality John Saxon." By 1958, he seemed to have established himself as a supporting player in A-List pictures, being featured in Blake Edwards's comedy This Happy Feeling headlined by Debbie Reynolds and Vincente Minnelli's The Reluctant Debutante with Rex Harrison and Sandra Dee.

In the next five years, he worked steadily, including supporting roles in John Huston's The Unforgiven (1960), the James Stewart comedy Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962) and Otto Preminger'sThe Cardinal (1963) while having first billing in the B-movies Cry Tough (1959) and War Hunt (1962). Fluent in Italian, he made his first pictures in Italy in Agostino (1962) and Mario Bava's The Evil Eye (1963). By 1965, he was appearing in the likes of Blood Beast from Outer Space. He also appeared in Sidney J. Furie's The Appaloosa (1966), where he played a Mexican bandito who steals the horse of Marlon Brando. Saxon would reprise the role, of sorts, in John Sturges Joe Kidd (1972) in support of superstar Clint Eastwood. He played a variety of roles including everything from an Indian chief on Bonanza (1959) to Marco Polo on The Time Tunnel (1966). From the 1969 to 1972 season, he was a star of the television series The Bold Ones: The New Doctors playing the brilliant surgeon Theodore Stuart. When the series ended, he took one of his most famous roles when Bruce Lee demurred over casting Rod Taylor as he was too tall. A black belt in karate, Saxon appeared as Roper in Enter the Dragon (1973). He continued to play a wide variety of roles on television and in motion pictures, with key roles in 1974's classic slasher Black Christmas, 1984's groundbreaking A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) and From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). He also made his directorial debut in 1987 with the horror movie Zombie Death House which starred Dennis Cole and Anthony Franciosa. In recent years, he was in a number of independent movies and played in several television series, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and the Showtime series Masters of Horror. He was a special guest on the Creation Entertainment – Weekend of Horrors 2010 on May 21, 2010, in Los Angeles. His last acting role was the 2015 film The Extra.

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