John Saxon

One of the most dependable and recognizable character actors of the 20th century, John Saxon played intense men of action on both sides of the law in a wide range of films, including "The Appaloosa" (1966), "Enter the Dragon" (1973) and "The Electric Horsemen" (1979). A teen idol in the 1950s, his darkly handsome looks allowed him to tackle a wide variety of ethnic types, from Arab princes in "The Big Fisherman" (1959) to Mexican bandits in Joe Kidd (1972) and Italian mobsters and cops in a long list of gangster films from that country. His team-up with Bruce Lee in "Enter the Dragon" and the proto-slasher "Black Christmas" (1974) gave him cult cache, which led to a second career as a horror star from the 1970s onward, most notably in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984). Still active in his seventies, Saxon remained an audience favorite for tough guys, bad men and those who generally meant business.