Tom Laughlin, who died of complications from pneumonia Dec. 12 in Thousand Oaks at age 82, was one of those only-in-Hollywood stories. After acting in small parts on films and TV shows in the 1950s and 1960s, he turned filmmaker with a series of “Billy Jack” films, whose anti-establishment attitude captured the zeitgeist of the 1970s.
The fourth film in the series, the 1977 “Billy Jack Goes to Washington,” floundered at the box office, but Laughlin’s life imitated his art, as he became a political and social advocate, running for president three times. He also founded a Montessori school and became a political activist.
Laughlin was a true Hollywood maverick, tackling topics in his 1970s films that reflected the disenfranchised Americans who embraced his films. But he also battled the studios’ distribution and marketing systems. Following the leads of such diverse influences as John Cassavetes and Roger Corman, Laughlin embraced the American indie movement,...
The fourth film in the series, the 1977 “Billy Jack Goes to Washington,” floundered at the box office, but Laughlin’s life imitated his art, as he became a political and social advocate, running for president three times. He also founded a Montessori school and became a political activist.
Laughlin was a true Hollywood maverick, tackling topics in his 1970s films that reflected the disenfranchised Americans who embraced his films. But he also battled the studios’ distribution and marketing systems. Following the leads of such diverse influences as John Cassavetes and Roger Corman, Laughlin embraced the American indie movement,...
- 12/16/2013
- by Tim Gray
- Variety - Film News
Similar News
The Haunting (1999) – The Test of Time
- 4/23/2024
- by Andrew Hatfield
- JoBlo.com
“Personally my favorite Tarantino movie”: This May be Your Last Chance to Watch Walton Goggins’ Iconic Movie, That Won Oscar For Best Original Score, on Netflix
- 4/20/2024
- by Sreshtha Roychowdhury
- FandomWire
‘Palm Royale’ Star Laura Dern on Getting Trippy With Dad Bruce for Apple TV+ Series (Video)
- 4/10/2024
- TV Insider
The Only Major Actors Still Alive From Lost In Space
- 4/22/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Jack Nicholson movies: 45 greatest films ranked worst to best
- 4/20/2024
- by Susan Wloszczyna, Chris Beachum and Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
Pam Grier Says She Still Has Injuries From ‘Foxy Brown’ Because She “Didn’t Have a Stunt Double”
- 4/19/2024
- by Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A Jaded Jester Discovers a Sinister Plot Against Him in Gareth Bowen’s Darkly Comic ‘The Licensed Fool’
- 4/23/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Kate Middleton's Lindo Wing Look and Its Creepy 'Rosemary's Baby' Connection
- 4/22/2024
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
‘Abigail’ Review: A Remake of ‘Dracula’s Daughter’ Turns Into a Brutally Monotonous Genre Mashup
- 4/18/2024
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
Lily Gladstone and Bowen Yang to Star in ‘The Wedding Banquet’ Remake From Director Andrew Ahn (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Jennifer Aniston to Produce ‘9 to 5’ Reimagining for 20th Century Studios
- 4/25/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
New Harry Potter Audiobook Series in the Works With 100-Plus Actors
- 4/25/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
’28 Years Later’ Adds Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes
- 4/24/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
American Black Film Festival 2024 Lineup Includes Vivica A. Fox and Jussie Smollett-Starring Drama (Exclusive)
- 4/24/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety - Film News
“It was really curious”: Tom Hiddleston is Done Playing Loki But Recently Revealed a Peculiar Clause in His MCU Contract
- 4/25/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
Australian Police Arrest ‘Home and Away’ Actor Orpheus Pledger After Manhunt
- 4/25/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - TV News
’28 Years Later’ Adds Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes
- 4/24/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Julio Torres's "Problemista" Shows the US Immigration System Is a Relentless Maze
- 4/24/2024
- by Johanna Ferreira
- Popsugar.com
Chuwi Is the Voice of a New Puerto Rican Generation
- 4/23/2024
- by Juan Arroyo
- Popsugar.com
Bella Ramsey, Louis Partridge, Ruby Stokes to Star in Coming-of-Age Comedy ‘Sunny Dancer’ From Rising Brit Director George Jaques (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
Chris Jericho’s Wrestling Action Horror Film ‘Dark Match’ Sales to Be Launched at Cannes Market by Blue Finch (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety - Film News
Michael Cera Christmas Movie Boarded by Magnify Ahead of Cannes’ Directors Fortnight Premiere (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety - Film News
‘Expats’ Star Ruby Ruiz to Lead James J. Robinson’s Directorial Debut ‘First Light’ (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
‘Goodbye Julia,’ ‘Four Daughters’ Lead Critics Awards for Arab Films Nominations Ahead of Cannes Ceremony
- 4/25/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety - Film News
‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ Producer Bill Kong Aims to Reset Martial Arts Genre With ‘The Furious,’ Directed by Tanigaki Kenji (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Bella Ramsey, Louis Partridge, Ruby Stokes to Star in Coming-of-Age Comedy ‘Sunny Dancer’ From Rising Brit Director George Jaques (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
Fred Schepisi Sets Israeli Thriller ‘The Dimona Affair’ as Next Directorial Project (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety - Film News
’28 Years Later’ Adds Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes
- 4/24/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
American Black Film Festival 2024 Lineup Includes Vivica A. Fox and Jussie Smollett-Starring Drama (Exclusive)
- 4/24/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety - Film News
Peabody Awards 2024: ‘Fellow Travelers,’ ‘The Last of Us,’ ‘The Bear,’ and More Are Nominated
- 4/25/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
‘The Equalizer’ Grabs Season 5 Renewal at CBS
- 4/25/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Beef,’ ‘A Small Light,’ ‘Heartstopper’ Among 2024 Television Academy Honors Recipients
- 4/25/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety - TV News
‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Casts Thandiwe Newton (Exclusive)
- 4/23/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
‘Three Wise Men & a Baby’ Sequel Coming to Hallmark: Get the First Details
- 4/25/2024
- TV Insider