"Nightmare on Elm Street" star John Saxon has died at age 83. His wife, Gloria, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, explaining that Saxon had died from pneumonia on Saturday in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Saxon's career spanned over half a century and included nearly 200 film and TV roles, according to IMDB. He appeared alongside some of Hollywood's greats, including Clint Eastwood in "Sturges Joe Kidd" (1972) and Bruce Lee in "Enter The Dragon" (1983), and was awarded a Golden Globe and Golden Globe nomination for his roles in the 1958 film "This Happy Feeling" and 1966's "The Appaloosa."
In 1984, Saxon was cast in his most memorable role, as the cop Donald Thompson in "A Nightmare on Elm Street," and in Wes Craven's "New Nightmare" (1994). He was also the star of the television series "The Bold Ones: The New Doctors" (1969).
Saxon was born to Italian-American parents in Brooklyn, New York. He studied acting after graduating from New Utrecht High School and was snatched up by a talent agent who had seen his picture on the cover of True Romances magazine.
Saxon was 16 years old when he moved to Southern California to pursue a career in film. He made his TV debut in 1954 on Richard Boone's series "Medic," and the following year he landed a more solid role as a juvenile delinquent role in "Running Wild." By 1958, he was an established Hollywood A-lister.
Saxon was married three times and is survived by his son, Antonio, and his sister, Dolores.
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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