John Saxon, born Carmine Orrico on August 5, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, was an Italian-American actor renowned for his extensive career in film and television. His journey in Hollywood began after being discovered by talent agent Henry Willson, famously known for representing Rock Hudson. Willson, impressed by Saxon’s magazine cover photo, brought the then 16-year-old to Los Angeles, changed his name to John Saxon, and set the stage for a career that would span over seven decades. Saxon’s early training with Stella Adler after graduating from New Utrecht High School provided him with a solid foundation for his acting pursuits.
Saxon’s professional acting debut came in 1954 with uncredited roles in Die unglaubliche Geschichte der Gladys Glover and Ein neuer Stern am Himmel. He transitioned to television in 1955 with an appearance on Medic, followed by his first credited role as a juvenile delinquent in Running Wild. An early highlight in his film career was co-starring in In den Fängen des Teufels (1956) alongside Esther Williams. The movie’s promotional material emphasized Saxon’s rising star, proclaiming him as “Co-starring the exciting new personality John Saxon.”
By the late 1950s, Actor John Saxon was securing supporting roles in significant productions, including Blake Edwards’ Männer über Vierzig (1958) and Vincente Minnelli’s Was weiß Mama von Liebe? (1958). The 1960s saw him continue to work with acclaimed directors in films like John Huston’s Denen man nicht vergibt (1960), James Stewart’s comedy Mr. Hobbs macht Ferien (1962), and Otto Preminger’s Der Kardinal (1963). During this period, he also took on leading roles in B-movies such as Cry Tough (1959) and Hinter feindlichen Linien (1962). His fluency in Italian opened doors to European cinema, leading to roles in Italian films like Agostino (1962) and Mario Bava’s La ragazza che sapeva troppo (1963). Despite consistent work and collaborations with renowned directors, mainstream stardom eluded him.
In the mid-1960s, actor John Saxon began to feature in films like The Night Caller (1965), where he received top billing. He also portrayed diverse characters, sometimes playing against type, as seen in Südwest nach Sonora (1966) and later in Sinola (1972) with Clint Eastwood. During this era, actors of Italian-American descent were often cast in roles representing various ethnicities, and Saxon’s roles ranged from an Indian chief in Bonanza to Marco Polo in Time Tunnel.
A significant phase of John Saxon’s career was his role as Dr. Theodore Stuart in the television series The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969-1972). This role brought him sustained television exposure. However, he is perhaps most widely recognized for his role as Roper in Der Mann mit der Todeskralle (1973) (Enter the Dragon). A black belt in Karate himself, Saxon’s martial arts skills were showcased alongside Bruce Lee. This film became a cultural phenomenon and remains one of his most memorable performances. Actor John Saxon continued to embrace diverse roles across genres, including notable appearances in the horror classics Jessy – Die Treppe in den Tod (1974) (Black Christmas), Nightmare – Mörderische Träume (1984) (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Freddy’s New Nightmare (1994), and From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), solidifying his place in cinematic history.
John Saxon passed away due to pneumonia on July 25, 2020, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, at the age of 83. His legacy is marked by a vast body of work, demonstrating his versatility and enduring presence in Hollywood across film and television for over half a century.
