His martial arts skill inspired me to take Karate and earn my Black Belt. Published by Charleston Post & Courier on Jul. We invite you to share condolences for John Saxon in our Guest Book. In addition to his wife and son, from his first marriage, survivors include a sister. Among other characters, Saxon portrayed a Native American chief on the popular TV western series Bonanza and Marco Polo on the futuristic hit TV show The Time Tunnel. In 1966, he appeared in the Marlon Brando western The Appaloosa and earned a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal as a Mexican bandit. We pray that God continues to strengthen and comfort the family during this extremely difficult time. Our condolences to the Saxon family. JOHN SAXON OBITUARY John Saxon was an actor known for roles in films including "Enter the Dragon" alongside Bruce Lee and two of Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street" movies. Mr. Saxon also guest-starred on the long-running NBC series Bonanza and portrayed bandits or cowhands in movies such as The Unforgiven (1960), directed by John Huston; Joe Kidd (1972), starring Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall; and The Electric Horseman (1979), with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. I went over to him and told him that at 14 I had a mad crush on him and loved his movie. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Brooklyn was a tough place to grow up in, but it taught you survival, and if you were ambitious, it taught you to want better things, he once said. We invite you to share condolences for My condolences to the family of Mr. Saxon. His martial arts skill inspired me to take Karate and earn my Black Belt. Great actor! He joined SAG in 1954 and AFTRA in 1957. By Drew Gillis. John Saxon was an actor known for roles in films including Enter the Dragon alongside Bruce Lee and two of Wes Cravens A Nightmare on Elm Street movies. Read Full Obituary. So many memorable roles that added a great depth to the movies that he was in. We invite you to share condolences for . While his leading-man status was brief, he became a fixture of B-movies and guest-starred on TV shows including The Six Million Dollar Man, Starsky & Hutch and The A-Team.. To me, John Saxon was more than just an actor, but also a true humanitarian with some of the roles he played on film and TV. A self-educated man, Mr. Saxon spoke three languages and followed all of the happenings of America and the world. Early in his career he often played teenage-heartthrob types. Saxon played the cop Donald Thompson in the first and third films in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, where hes eventually killed by Freddy Kruegers skeleton. After the early success of Enter the Dragon and Black Christmas made him ubiquitous to genre fans, Saxons work took off more than ever. You will be missed! American actor John Saxon, who starred opposite Bruce Lee in the classic film "Enter the Dragon," has died at 83. We invite you to share condolences for John Saxon in our Guest Book. He was married three times. My condolences to the family. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. My sincere condolences to the family of a great actor, you're in my prayers. If Mr. Saxon rarely had a leading role in his long career, he did work with top directors, including John Huston, and he had stories about all of them. Thank you so much for everything you have given to the entertainment industry. He was charming. Godspeed John, and thank you for sharing a part of your life with us, and the wonderful film and TV memories. The interviews I saw with him were such an inspiration. Unforgettable. Mr. Saxon was born on. He will be missed by family and friends. His name was changed to John Saxon, and he signed a contract that paid him $150 a week for 40 weeks a year. Mr. Saxons first marriage, to Mary Ann Murphy, ended in divorce. He was nominated for the 1966 Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe opposite Marlon Brando inThe Appaloosa. Apparently he had done this many times. He will be missed by family and friends. Condolences to the family. You will be missed! My friend said he may not see him there, but he would keep his eyes peeled and keep in touch with me. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. In loving memory of a wonderful person. So iconic during the 60's 70's and 80's. RIP John Thanks for being part of my youth. May his family find some comfort in these loving messages for him. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. Mr. Saxon was later featured on the soap operas Dynasty and Falcon Crest; directed a zombie horror film, Death House (1988); and appeared in movies such as Beverly Hills Cop III (1994). May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief. Soon after Universal Studios contracted him and requested he be renamed to John Saxon. Thank you for your talent, John. He won a Golden Globe in 1958 as Most Promising Newcomer Male. He was 77. We will love you and miss you always. The fight at the end of the show was awesome. In The New York Times, Bosley Crowther called his character in This Happy Feeling (1958), which starred Debbie Reynolds, a junior Marlon Brando.. We invite you to share condolences for John Saxon in our Guest Book. His striking, angular profile and dark eyes led to roles playing Mexicans, Native Americans and Mongols. We invite you to share condolences for John Saxon in our Guest Book. Saxon said he loved working in Hong Kong with Lee in Enter the Dragon because he took me seriously. This handsome gentleman can now rest in peace as his journey continues on to heaven----Jane M., Austerlitz, NY. As Saxon aged, he transitioned into a character actor, working across Europe in the 60s, including roles in Mario Bavas seminal giallo The Girl Who Knew Too Much, and other films shot in Italy, the Philippines and Britain. Survivors also include his son, Antonio, and his sister, Dolores. Read Full Obituary. Thoughts and prayers are with the family. The memory of him will be cherished by the legacy he left behind. (He was Italian-American.) A face from my childhood. Share Obituary. Mr. Saxon leaves behind his wife Gloria Martel Saxon; a son Antonio Saxon, stepson; Lance, grandson; Mitchell, and great grandson; Little John. Let me show you how to do it, Lee said, before handing Mr. Saxon a shield to hold for protection. He was 83. He was so nice and he asked me my full name. John never got the credit for his many outstanding talents. I saw his movie: The Reluctant Debutante and loved it. Died:. Mr. Saxon in The Reluctant Debutante (1958). My deepest, He was a wonderful character actor, he seemed like a down to earth humble person,R.I.P. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. Their efficiency and their competence meant something to me.. He said he did see Mr Saxon at the show and sent me a photo of him with a personal message, which read "THANKS FOR BEING SUCH A BIG FAN, GINA-MARIA!" Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. We invite you. What an incredible actor he was. Pour moi John vous avez toujours t et vous serez toujours Mr ROPER !!! As I search the sky at night, I will look for the new star that is his. I did about a dozen of them in one year, he told the Los Angeles Times in 2012. Also six million dollar man comes to mind. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Saxon died Saturday at his home in Murfreesboro,. Rest In Peace. Mr. Saxon, who died July 25 at age 83, went on to appear in nearly 200 television and film roles over the next six decades, often playing brooding lawmen or gunslinging bandits. Guest appearances on 70s television staples such as The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Starsky and Hutch and The Rockford Files brought him small-screen recognition. 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Before appearing in Wes Cravens Nightmare on Elm Street films and fighting alongside Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon, John Saxon was just a high school student playing hooky, skipping class to see a movie at New Yorks Paramount Theatre. That film gave him a chance to employ the martial arts skills he had been honing for years, but the work, he told Black Belt magazine, was harder than he expected. Saxon died of pneumonia in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, his wife, Gloria, told The Hollywood Reporter. John Saxon was an actor known for roles in films including "Enter the Dragon" alongside Bruce Lee and two of Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street" movies. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. All Rights Reserved. Such a great actor. May you treasure fond memories and may the comfort God gives be with you. He was more concerned about the chair than me. John had a cameo as Straker in "Escape" of 1996 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. 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