biography

John Phillip Law Born in Hollywood on September 7, 1937, it's ironic that John Phillip Law had his first success as an actor in European films. Raised in the Los Angeles area, the 6'4" blonde youth spent a lot of time at movie studios as a child, where he found frequent but uncredited work as an extra. Upon graduating from high school, Law left California for the University of Hawaii in the mid 1950s. After dabbling in acting in college, Law went to New York after completing his studies and soon found roles on Broadway. Eventually, he found plum roles in the Broadway productions Come on Strong (1962), The Changeling (1964), and the comedy Tartuffe (1965).

John Phillip Law and Jane Fonda

With Jane Fonda in Law's breakthrough role as Pygar in the fantasy Barbarella (1968)


John Phillip Law
When he was between Broadway shows, on occasion Law would nab quick roles in Italian films, such as Smog (1962) and Three Nights of Love (1964; with Adolfo Celi). His breakthrough role came in the comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966; with Alan Arkin and Carl Reiner). With his well received performance in that film, Law's career took off in the late 1960s, when he was cast in such films as Barbarella (1968; with Jane Fonda), Danger: Diabolik (1968; with Marisa Mell), and The Sergeant (1968; with Rod Steiger). In 1970, when actor Brian Kelly was paralyzed following a motorcycle accident, Law stepped into Kelly's starring role in Columbia's then-shocking release The Love Machine, adapted from Jacqueline Susann's best-selling novel.

the films of john phillip law

The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966)

Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, John Phillip Law, and Alan Arkin

From the Cold War comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming with Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, and Alan Arkin

Hurry Sundown (1967)

John Phillip Law

From Paramount's seedy drama Hurry Sundown, directed by Otto Preminger

Danger: Diabolik (1968)

John Phillip Law and Marisa MellJohn Phillip Law and Marisa MellJohn Phillip Law and Marisa Mell

As the comic book antihero Diabolik in the Dino de Laurentiis production Danger: Diabolik with Marisa Mell. This film was directed by Mario Bava

Barbarella (1968)

John Phillip LawJohn Phillip Law and Jane Fonda

From the campy Dino de Laurentiis production Barbarella. LEFT: As Pygar the blind angel. RIGHT: With Jane Fonda as the title character

The Sergeant (1968)

John Phillip Law and Rod SteigerJohn Phillip Law and Philip Roye

From the then-controversial Warner Bros. release The Sergeant. LEFT: Law with Rod Steiger in the title role. RIGHT: With Philip Roye.

Death Rides a Horse (1968)

John Phillip Law and Lee Van CleefJohn Phillip Law

From the spaghetti western Death Rides a Horse. LEFT: With Lee Van Cleef. RIGHT: Law as Ryan

The Love Machine (1971)

John Phillip Law, Clinton Greyn, and Dyan CannonJohn Phillip Law, Dyan Cannon, and David Hemmings

Columbia's racy release The Love Machine was adapted from the novel by Jacqueline Susann. LEFT: With Clinton Greyn and Dyan Cannon. RIGHT: With Dyan Cannon and David Hemmings

The Red Baron (1971)

John Phillip Law

From Roger Corman's The Red Baron. Law stars as Baron Manfred Von Richthofen

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1974)

John Phillip LawJohn Phillip Law and Caroline Munro

LEFT: From The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, which features effects by Ray Harryhausen. RIGHT: With Caroline Munro

The Cassandra Crossing (1976)

Burt Lancaster and John Phillip Law

From the disaster thriller The Cassandra Crossing with Burt Lancaster

Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)

Richard Harris, Bo Derek, and John Phillip Law

With Richard Harris and Bo Derek in the adventure Tarzan, the Ape Man

later years

With his film career slowing down in the 1980s, John Phillip Law took roles in low budget productions and direct-to-video releases including Night Train to Terror (1985; with Richard Moll), Space Mutiny (1988; with Reb Brown), and Cold Heat (1989; with Britt Ekland). Active until the end of his life, his final release was the drama Vic (2006; with Clu Gulager). Sadly John Phillip Law passed away at home from pancreatic cancer in Los Angeles on May 13, 2008 at the age of 70. He was survived by his daughter Dawn and a grandson.

filmography

FILM
Chinaman's Chance (2008) with Timothy Bottoms, Jason Connery, Coolio, Ernest Borgnine, Olivia Hussey, Lorenzo Lamas, Christopher Atkins, Geoffrey Lewis, Martin Kove, Edward Albert, Bo Svenson, Theresa Russell, and Tommy Chong
Vic (2006) with Clu Gulager, Tom Gulager, Carol Lynley, Gregory Sierra, Gary Frank, and Peter Mark Richman; directed by Sage Stallone
Three Tales of Terror (2004) with Lamberto Bava
Miner's Massacre (2003) with Richard Lynch, Jeff Conaway, Karen Black, and Martin Kove
CQ (2001) with Gerard Depardieu, Giancarlo Giannini, Billy Zane, and Dean Stockwell
Citizens of Perpetual Indulgence (2000) with Udo Kier, Joe Dallesandro, Holly Woodlawn, Mary Woronov, Mink Stole, and Alexis Arquette
Wanted (1999)
My Magic Dog (1997) with Russ Tamblyn
Hindsight (1996) with Robert Forster and Ron Jeremy
Burning Heart (1995)
Angel Eyes (1993) with Erik Estrada, Monique Gabrielle, Richard Harrison, and Fred Olen Ray
Marilyn Alive and Behind Bars (1992) with Richard Moll and Francine York
Shining Blood (1992)
Alaska Stories (1991)
Little Women of Today (1990)
Nerds of a Feather (1990) with Charles Pierce
Alienator (1989) with Jan-Michael Vincent, Ross Hagen, P.J. Soles, and Robert Clarke
Cold Heat (1989) with Britt Ekland
Gorilla (1989)
Quattro piccole donne (1989)
A Case of Honor (1988) with Timothy Bottoms
The Overthrow (1988)
Blood Delirium (1988) with Gordon Mitchell
Space Mutiny (1988) with Reb Brown and Cameron Mitchell; once featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000
Thunder Warrior III (1988)
Una grande storia d'amore (1987) with Claudine Auger and Sylva Koscina
Moon in Scorpio (1987) with Britt Ekland and William Smith
Striker (1987)
Johann Strauss: The King Without a Crown (1986) with Oliver Tobias, Mary Crosby, Audrey Landers, Karin Dor, and Zsa Zsa Gabor
American Commandos (1985) with Christopher Mitchum
L.A. Bad (1985) with Esai Morales, Janice Rule, and Carrie Snodgress
Night Train to Terror (1985) with Richard Moll and Cameron Mitchell
No Time to Die (1984) with Christopher Mitchum
Tin Man (1983) with Timothy Bottoms, Deana Jurgens, and Troy Donahue
Attack Force Z (1982) with Mel Gibson and Sam Neill
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) with Miles O'Keeffe, Bo Derek, and Richard Harris; directed by John Derek
The Best Place to Be (1979) with Donna Reed, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Betty White, Gregory Harrison, Timothy Hutton, Lloyd Bochner, and Madlyn Rhue
Satan's Wife aka Ring of Darkness (1979) with Anne Heywood, Marisa Mell, and Irene Papas
Der Schimmelreiter (1978) with Gert Frobe
Eyes Behind the Wall (1977) with Fernando Rey
A Whisper In the Dark (1976) with Joseph Cotten
Target of an Assassin (1976) with Anthony Quinn
The Devil's Bed (1976)
The Cassandra Crossing (1976) with Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Martin Sheen, O.J. Simpson, Lionel Stander, Ava Gardner, and Burt Lancaster
Doctor Justice (1975) with Gert Frobe
Your God My Hell (1975)
The Spiral Staircase (1975) with Jacqueline Bisset and Christopher Plummer
Open Season (1974) with Peter Fonda, Richard Lynch, William Holden, and Helga Line
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1974) with Caroline Munro
Stardust (1973)
The Last Movie (1971) with Dennis Hopper, Julie Adams, Sylvia Miles, and Toni Basil
The Love Machine (1971) with Dyan Cannon, Robert Ryan, Jackie Cooper, David Hemmings, and Shecky Greene
The Red Baron (1971) with Don Stroud and Robert La Tourneaux
Strogoff (1971) with Mimsy Farmer and Hiram Keller
The Hawaiians (1970) with Charlton Heston, Geraldine Chaplin, Keye Luke, Lyle Bettger, and Chris Robinson
Diary of a Telephone Operator (1969) with Claudia Cardinale
The Sergeant (1968) with Rod Steiger
Skidoo (1968) with Jackie Gleason, Carol Channing, Frankie Avalon, and Frank Gorshin
Barbarella (1968) with Jane Fonda, Anita Pallenberg, and David Hemmings
Death Rides a Horse (1968) with Lee Van Cleef
Danger: Diabolik (1968) with Marisa Mell and Adolfo Celi; featured in the final episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Hurry Sundown (1967) with Michael Caine, Jane Fonda, George Kennedy, Robert Hooks, and Burgess Meredith
The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966) with Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Alan Arkin, Brian Keith, and Jonathan Winters
Three Nights of Love (1964) with Adolfo Celi
High Infidelity (1964) with Claire Bloom and Ugo Tognazzi
Smog (1962)

TELEVISION SERIES
The Young and the Restless, 1973-present CBS TV series. Law portrayed Jim Gringer from 1998-1999

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
It's a Living, episode Cassie's Cowboy, originally aired October 5, 1985
Murder, She Wrote, episode Widow, Weep for Me, originally aired September 29, 1985
The Love Boat, episode Green, But Not Jolly/Past Perfect Love/Instant Family, originally aired January 30, 1982
Password Plus, five episodes, originally aired May 21-25, 1979

john phillip law trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for John Phillip Law's 1968 thriller Danger: Diabolik

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Watch John Phillip Law's 1980 war drama Attack Force Z

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