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IDemo

(16,926 posts) Mon Jan 27, 2014, 08:35 AM Jan 2014

Actor who played Marlboro Man in ads dies from smoking-related disease [View all]

Source: NBC News

Eric Lawson, a working actor who portrayed the Marlboro Man in cigarette ads during the late 1970s, has died. He was 72.

Lawson's wife, Susan Lawson, said Sunday that her husband died Jan. 10 at his California home. The cause was respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

The ruggedly handsome Lawson portrayed the smoking cowboy in Marlboro print ads from 1978 to 1981. He also had bit parts in such TV shows as "Baretta" and "Charlie's Angels" before injuries sustained on the set of a Western film ended his acting career.

A smoker since age 14, Lawson later appeared in an anti-smoking commercial that parodied the Marlboro Man and an "Entertainment Tonight" segment to discuss the negative effects of smoking.

Read more: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/27/22459778-actor-who-played-marlboro-man-in-ads-dies-from-smoking-related-disease?lite

25 replies

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Actor who played Marlboro Man in ads dies from smoking-related disease [View all] IDemo Jan 2014 OP

Wow! I thot this guy died a long time ago... TheDebbieDee Jan 2014 #1

I also thought he died long ago. Nt newfie11 Jan 2014 #2

More than one character actor played smoking cowboys in those ads. onehandle Jan 2014 #4

Marlboro Man started in 54. Several people have played the role, 3 died from Bluenorthwest Jan 2014 #7

+1 meegbear Jan 2014 #8

I thought that, too: here is an article that mentions the others who also died. xocet Jan 2014 #15

Joe Camel, a Giant in Tobacco Marketing, Is Dead at 23 warrant46 Jan 2014 #3

Here's a fun trick for the entire family ... meegbear Jan 2014 #9

So he smoked almost 60 years and died at 72. Bonobo Jan 2014 #5

I guess we're lucky then it was merely a news report and not an attempt to scare off smokers... LanternWaste Jan 2014 #11

Maybe they should have included video of him wheezing and coughing geek tragedy Jan 2014 #17

With maybe two exceptions, my friends who smoked have systematically it seems died JDPriestly Jan 2014 #6

Smoking was the basis for retirement at 65 Demeter Jan 2014 #10

Cut down in his prime... JohnnyRingo Jan 2014 #12

+1000 Tom Ripley Jan 2014 #16

My mom would have loved to live to 80. Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2014 #22

Lost my mother when she was 53 JohnnyRingo Jan 2014 #25

Died doing what he loved to do KansDem Jan 2014 #13

Huh? He did anti-smoking commercials before he died. geek tragedy Jan 2014 #18

I was referring to his acting career... KansDem Jan 2014 #20

ahh, that's much different. sorry for misunderstanding you nt geek tragedy Jan 2014 #21

COPD - Killing masculine, rugged, red-blooded, manly American he-men Aristus Jan 2014 #14

COPD = slow-motion asphyxiation 1000words Jan 2014 #23

my father shanti Jan 2014 #19

Maybe A Good Thing I'm Not Smoking Marlboro's....Or Wait, bkanderson76 Jan 2014 #24