Tom Laughlin

Born on August 10, 1931 in Milwaukee (Wisconsin), Thomas Robert Laughlin began as a secondary in 1954, appearing in numerous series and films such as Tea and Sympathy , South Pacific or I’ll Marry You .

In 1968 his career took a radical turn, writing, directing and producing Billy Jack , about a former Green Beret who defends a progressive school against a group of racists. Although he made the film for Warner Bros, since the studio delayed its release by two years, he decided to sue this company. After the court granted him the rights, he made an unusual decision: distribute the film himself, and rent theaters to screen it.

Without being a great commercial success, the film generated many unconditional followers, which is why it had three continuations, although only two came to see the light. The character is considered by some to be the predecessor of Rambo.

Later he continued to appear as a minor occasionally, in titles such as Voyage of the Damned , by Stuart Rosenberg . In addition, Tom Laughlin was an activist against nuclear energy and in favor of Native Americans, along with Marlon Brando , with whom he was a close friend. Apart from all this, he ran for various political offices, both within the Democratic and Republican parties.

At the time of his death he was accompanied by his wife, also an actress Delores Taylor, whom he married in 1954, and who was the mother of his three children.