Tom Laughlin (actor)
| Tom Laughlin | |
|---|---|
Laughlin in 1978
|
|
| Born |
Thomas Robert Laughlin, Jr. August 10, 1931 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | December 12, 2013 (aged 82) Thousand Oaks, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Tommy Laughlin, T.C. Frank, Don Henderson, Mary Rose Solti, Frank Laughlin, Frank Christina, Lloyd E. James |
| Occupation | Actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, political activist, educator |
| Years active | 1955–2010 |
| Spouse(s) | Delores Taylor (m. 1954–2013) (his death); 3 children |
| Website | billyjack |
Thomas Robert "Tom" Laughlin, Jr. (August 10, 1931 – December 12, 2013) was an American actor and director, screenwriter, author, educator, and political activist.
Laughlin was best known for his series of Billy Jack films. He was married to actress Delores Taylor from 1954 until his death. Taylor co-produced and acted in all four of the Billy Jack films. His unique promotion of The Trial of Billy Jack (TV trailers during national news and an "opening day" nationwide release) was a major influence on the way films are marketed.
In the early 1960s, Laughlin put his film career on hiatus to start a Montessori preschool in Santa Monica, California; it became the largest school of its kind in the United States. In his later years, he sought the office of President of the United States in 1992, 2004, and 2008. He was involved in psychology and domestic abuse counseling, writing several books on Jungian psychology and developing theories on the causes of cancer.
Laughlin was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Margaret and Thomas Laughlin. He attended Washington High School, where he was involved in an athletics controversy that made headlines throughout the city. It was caused by Laughlin being forced to attend another school for a brief period, making him ineligible to play football at his former school on his return. Laughlin attended college at the University of Wisconsin, before transferring to Marquette University; he played football at both. He played safety and halfback at Marquette.
Laughlin decided to become an actor after seeing a production of A Streetcar Named Desire. According to a 1956 newspaper interview, he became involved in the drama program at Marquette after being encouraged by a university professor, Father John J. Walsh. While a student he formed a stock group and directed and starred in a production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons. He finally transferred to the University of South Dakota, where he majored in radio acting, directing and producing. He met his future wife Delores Taylor in South Dakota.
...
Wikipedia