John Saxon, the television and film actor known for his roles in three “Nightmare on Elm Street” movies and “Enter the Dragon” has died. He was 83.
Saxon died of pneumonia Saturday in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The Brooklyn-born Saxon was a familiar face on the small screen, too, having guest starred on numerous series, most notably “Falcon Crest,” “Dynasty” and “The A-Team” in the 1980s, as well as “Bonanza,” “Gunsmoke” and “The Virginian” in the 1960s. He portrayed Dr. Theodore Stuart on “The Bold Ones: The New Doctors” from 1969-1972.
In 1966 he received a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor for “The Appaloosa,” starring opposite Marlon Brando. In 2012, he spoke of the film in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “This was to me a terrific role and something I was ready for, but [Brando] was despondent,” Saxon said . “He said he had lent a whole bunch of money to his father, and what he was saying to me was that his father ruined his life by losing all of his money. He was kind of bored in the picture.”
Saxon was born Carmine Orrico on August 5, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian-American parents. He would go on to study acting with the legendary drama teacher Stella Adler, ultimately appearing in 200 roles in movies and on television in a career that spanned nearly 70 years. He made his feature film debut in 1954, according to IMDB.com in uncredited roles in “It Should Happen to You” and “A Star is Born.” He was also proficient in martial arts, notably judo and Shotokan karate, skills which served him well for his film work in “Enter the Dragon” opposite Bruce Lee in 1973.
Saxon was married three times and is survived by his wife Gloria, one son, and a sister.
