Dec. 15, 2013, 4:24 PM EST By Todd Cunningham TheWrap
Filmmaker Tom Laughlin, who shot to fame as the rugged half-breed action hero “Billy Jack,” died Thursday in Thousand Oaks, California surrounded by his family. He was 82 years old.
While involved at one point with just about every facet of the film business, Laughlin may be best known for his series of “Billy Jack” films. He had been married to Delores Taylor since 1954, and she co-produced and acted in all four of the “Billy Jack” movies.
In addition to acting, he was a producer, director and screenwriter, and drew attention for a groundbreaking promotion campaign on 1974's “The Trial of Billy Jack” that included TV trailers during national news and an “opening day” nationwide release.
The first film he directed was “The Proper Time” in 1957, followed by “The Young Sinner” in 1960, which marked the first time that he wrote, directed and starred in a film,
Laughlin was an iconoclast. In the early 1960s, he temporarily left his film career behind to start a Montessori preschool in Santa Monica that became the largest school of its kind in the United States.
Quote: Cincinnatus wrote in post #3And I always felt "Billy Jack" was a Leftist piece of crap.
So sue me.
I felt the same thing, but at least Billy used to kick some ass. He was the precursor of Chuck Norris style movies with a guy righting wrongs with his fists. The Norris movies are way better though. The one from the mid 70's when he is running around in a tricked out van is the best.
Quote: Cincinnatus wrote in post #3And I always felt "Billy Jack" was a Leftist piece of crap.
So sue me.
Looking back on it and aside from the Laughlin movie that Frank mentioned, those "Billy Jack" movies seemed to be nothing but left-wing hippy propaganda.
But as Frank also mentioned, Billy Jack did kick some ass on occasion which is the only thing that made those movies even bearable.
Never would've guessed that Laughlin was 82 years old, though.
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