From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
"Mitchell"!
(1975)
Walter Deaney
From Dusk Till Dawn
(1996)
FBI Agent
A Nightmare on Elm Street
(1984)
Lieutenant Donald Thompson
New Nightmare
(1994)
John Saxon / Donald Thompson
Enter the Dragon
(1973)
Roper
Beverly Hills Cop III
(1994)
Orrin Sanderson
Tenebre
(1982)
Bullmer
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
(1987)
Donald Thompson
Joe Kidd
(1972)
Luis Chama
The Unforgiven
(1960)
Johnny Portugal
Black Christmas
(1974)
Lt. Fuller
Animal Instincts
(1992)
Otto Van Horne
Raid on Entebbe
(1976)
Maj. Gen. Benny Peled
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
(2010)
Self
The Appaloosa
(1966)
Chuy
A Star Is Born
(1954)
Movie Premiere Usher (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
It Should Happen to You
(1954)
Boy Watching Argument in Park (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
(1954)
Movie Premiere Usher (uncredited)
Running Wild
(1955)
Vince Pomeroy
The Unguarded Moment
(1956)
Leonard Bennett
Rock, Pretty Baby
(1956)
Jimmy Daley
The Reluctant Debutante
(1958)
David Parkson
The Restless Years
(1958)
Will Henderson
This Happy Feeling
(1958)
Bill Tremaine
Summer Love
(1958)
Jimmy Daley
Cry Tough
(1959)
Miguel Antonio Enrico Francisco Estrada
The Big Fisherman
(1959)
Voldi
The Unforgiven
(1960)
Johnny Portugal
Portrait in Black
(1960)
Blake Richards
The Plunderers
(1960)
Rondo
Posse from Hell
(1961)
Seymour Kern
War Hunt
(1962)
Pvt. Raymond Endore
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation
(1962)
Byron Grant
Agostino
(1962)
Renzo
The Cardinal
(1963)
Benny Rampell
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
(1963)
Dr. Marcello Bassi
The Cavern
(1964)
Joe Cramer
The Night Caller
(1965)
Dr. Jack Costain
The Ravagers
(1965)
Capt. Kermit Dowling
The Appaloosa
(1966)
Chuy
Queen of Blood
(1966)
Allan Brenner
The Doomsday Flight
(1966)
George Ducette
Winchester '73
(1967)
Dakin McAdam
One Dollar Too Many
(1968)
Clay Watson
Western, Italian Style
(1968)
Self
For Singles Only
(1968)
Bret Hendley
Death of a Gunfighter
(1969)
Lou Trinidad
Istanbul Express
(1969)
Cheval
The Intruders
(1970)
Billy Pye
Company of Killers
(1970)
Dave Poohler
Joe Kidd
(1972)
Luis Chama
House Made of Dawn
(1972)
Tosamah
Mr. Kingstreet's War
(1973)
Mr. Kingstreet
Enter the Dragon
(1973)
Roper
Linda
(1973)
Jeff Braden
Family Killer
(1973)
Gaspare Ardizzone
Snatched
(1973)
Paul Maxvill
Location: Hong Kong with Enter the Dragon
(1973)
Self
Black Christmas
(1974)
Lt. Fuller
Planet Earth
(1974)
Dylan Hunt
Can Ellen Be Saved?
(1974)
James Hallbeck
"Mitchell"!
(1975)
Walter Deaney
Strange New World
(1975)
Captain Anthony Vico
Fight to the Death
(1975)
Mariano Beltrán
Crossfire
(1975)
Dave Ambrose
Raid on Entebbe
(1976)
Maj. Gen. Benny Peled
The Swiss Conspiracy
(1976)
Robert Hayes
Mark Strikes Again
(1976)
Altman
Shadows in an Empty Room
(1976)
Sgt. Ned Matthews
Violent Naples
(1976)
Francesco Capuano
A Special Cop in Action
(1976)
Albertelli
Cross Shot
(1976)
Commissario Jacovella
The Cynic, the Rat & the Fist
(1977)
Frank Di Maggio
Moonshine County Express
(1977)
J.B. Johnson
Shalimar
(1978)
Colonel Columbus
The Bees
(1978)
John Norman
The Immigrants
(1978)
Alan Brocker
The Electric Horseman
(1979)
Hunt Sears
Fast Company
(1979)
Phil Adamson
The Glove
(1979)
Sam Kellog
Invasion of the Flesh Hunters
(1980)
Norman Hopper
Battle Beyond the Stars
(1980)
Sador
Blood Beach
(1980)
Captain Pearson
Beyond Evil
(1980)
Larry Andrews
Running Scared
(1980)
Captain Munoz
Golden Gate
(1981)
Monty Sager
Wrong Is Right
(1982)
Homer Hubbard
Scorpion with Two Tails
(1982)
Arthur Barnard
Desire
(1982)
Joe Hale
Una di troppo
(1982)
Sergio Puccini the notary
Tenebre
(1982)
Bullmer
Rooster
(1982)
Jerome Brademan
Prisoners of the Lost Universe
(1983)
Kleel
The Big Score
(1983)
Davis
A Nightmare on Elm Street
(1984)
Lieutenant Donald Thompson
Solomon Northup's Odyssey
(1984)
Epps
Fever Pitch
(1985)
Sports Editor
Brothers-in-Law
(1985)
Royal Cane
Hands of Steel
(1986)
Francis Turner
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
(1987)
Donald Thompson
Zombie Death House
(1988)
Colonel Gordon Burgess
My Mom's a Werewolf
(1989)
Harry Thropen
Criminal Act
(1989)
Herb Tamplin
Nightmare Beach
(1989)
Strycher
Blood Salvage
(1990)
Clifford Evans
Aftershock
(1990)
Oliver Quinn
The Best of the Martial Arts Films
(1990)
Narrator
The Final Alliance
(1990)
Ghost
Crossing the Line
(1990)
Jack Kagan
The Last Samurai
(1990)
Haroun Al-Hakim
The Arrival
(1991)
Agent Miils
Blackmail
(1991)
Gene
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
(1991)
Self (archive footage)
Payoff
(1991)
Rafael Concion
Animal Instincts
(1992)
Otto Van Horne
Lucky Luke 2
(1992)
The Man in Black
Hellmaster
(1992)
Professor Jones
Maximum Force
(1992)
Captain Fuller
The Baby Doll Murders
(1993)
John Maglia
No Escape, No Return
(1993)
James Mitchell
Beverly Hills Cop III
(1994)
Orrin Sanderson
New Nightmare
(1994)
John Saxon / Donald Thompson
Frame-Up II: The Cover-Up
(1994)
Charles Searage
Killing Obsession
(1994)
Dr. Sachs
Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon
(1994)
Self
Jonathan of the Bears
(1995)
Fred Goodwin
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
(1995)
Self
The Killers Within
(1995)
Detective Lewis
From Dusk Till Dawn
(1996)
FBI Agent
Lancelot: Guardian Of Time
(1997)
Wolvencroft
Criminal Minds
(1998)
Antonio DiPaolo Jr.
Bruce Lee: In His Own Words
(1998)
Self (archive footage)
The Path of the Dragon
(1998)
Himself
Bruce Lee: The Intercepting Fist
(1998)
Himself
The GREATEST : Bruce Lee
(1998)
Comentador
Welcome to Primetime
(1999)
Self
Bruce Lee: The Legend Lives On
(1999)
(archive footage)
Joseph's Gift
(1999)
Jacob Keller
Living in Fear
(2000)
Rev. Leo Hausman
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre
(2000)
Self
Night Class
(2001)
Murphy
Final Payback
(2001)
Police Chief George Moreno
Black Christmas Revisited
(2002)
Outta Time
(2002)
Darabont
'Cannibal Apocalypse' Redux
(2002)
Sarge
Pitcher and the Pin-Up
(2003)
Michael Curtis
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen
(2004)
Self
Blood and Steel: The Making of 'Enter the Dragon'
(2004)
Self
Trapped Ashes
(2006)
Leo
Pelts
(2006)
Jeb 'Pa' Jameson
The 12 Days of Black Christmas
(2006)
Self
Stanley's Girlfriend
(2006)
Leo
The Craving Heart
(2006)
Richard Tom
God's Ears
(2008)
Lee Robinson
War Wolves
(2009)
Tony Ford
Clarkworld
(2009)
himself
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
(2009)
Self
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
(2010)
Self
Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen
(2010)
John
Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s
(2012)
Self
Black Christmas Legacy
(2015)
Self (archive footage)
Directing