John Saxon, a character actor known for his roles in western and horror movies, died Saturday. His career spanned more than sixty years counting over 200 film credits. He co-starred with Bruce Lee in Enter the dragon and starred in Wes Craven’s a nightmare on Elm Street in 1984. He was 83 years old.
His wife stated that she died of pneumonia in her Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in a statement to THR.
Saxon was born as Carmine Orrico in Brooklyn, New York, in 1935. After graduating from high school, she studied with famed acting coach Stella Adler. Shortly after Universal Studios hired him and asked him to change his name to John Saxon. He was also remarkably adept at judo and karate.
In the mid to late 1950s, Saxon worked as a teenage idol with film credits. Rock, Pretty Baby, Summer Love, The reluctant rookie, this happy sentiment, and Cry Tough. He won a Golden Globe in 1958 as the Most Promising Newcomer Male.
In 1960 Saxon worked with director John Huston on The Unforgiven. He played an Indian in support of Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in 1966 alongside Marlon Brando in The Appaloosa
Saxon said in an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune in 1960 that “he wanted to do all kinds of character parts.”
Among his main Hollywood roles was playing a martial artist alongside Bruce Lee in Enter the dragon. He also starred in Wes Craven’s. a nightmare on Elm Street in 1984 as the father of heroin. He later reprized his role in Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.
Married three times. He was married to Mary Ann Murphy from 1967 to 1979, Elizabeth Saxon from 1987 to 1992 and, since 2008, to Gloria Martel. Survivors also include his son, Antonio, and his sister, Dolores.
