John Phillip Law

John Phillip Law
Born	September 7, 1937(1937-09-07) Hollywood, California
Died	13 May 2008 (aged 70) Los Angeles, California
Occupation	Film, television actor
Spouse(s)	Shawn Ryan (divorced)
Official website

John Phillip Law (September 7, 1937 – May 13, 2008) was an American film actor, with more than a hundred movie roles to his credit.

Biography

Law was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of actress Phyllis Sallee, and the brother of actor Thomas Augustus Law (also known as Tom Law).

He was best known for his roles as the blind angel Pygar in the 1968 science fiction cult classic Barbarella, and as news anchor Robin Stone in the 1971 movie The Love Machine. (The latter reteamed him with Alexandra Hay, his costar from the 1968 "acid comedy" Skidoo.) He also gained attention in the title role of the 1968 thriller Danger: Diabolik and as a Russian sailor stranded in a New England village in The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming.

Tall (six-foot-five) and handsome, with steel blue eyes, Law became a male sex symbol in the 1960s. He was a VIP guest at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion and in Hollywood society. While he never achieved superstar status, he became a popular action hero, particularly in the Italian movie market, with movies ranging from science fiction and fantasy to comedy, westerns, drama, and war movies.

Law co-starred in Roger Corman's 1971 film Von Richthofen and Brown, playing Manfred von Richthofen opposite Don Stroud's Roy Brown. Corman used Lynn Garrison's Irish aviation facility, complete with replica World War I aircraft. Garrison taught Law the basics of flying so that he could take off and land, making some of the footage more realistic.

Several of Law's movies have become cult classics, including Barbarella, Von Richthofen and Brown, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Death Rides a Horse and Attack Force Z.

Two of Law's films, Danger: Diabolik and Space Mutiny, were also featured in the movie-mocking TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000.

In 2001 he appeared in Roman Coppola's directorial debut CQ, a homage to the Italian spy/sci-fi B-movies in which Law often starred during the 1960s.

In his personal life, he was once married to actress Shawn Ryan, and they had a daughter, named Dawn.

Law died May 13, 2008, at his Los Angeles home.

External links

• John Phillip Law at the Internet Movie Database
• John Phillip Law at Allmovie
• John Phillip Law at Find a Grave

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