Tom Laughlin
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- 10 August 1931 · Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
- Died
- 12 December 2013
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Thomas Robert Laughlin Jr. (August 10, 1931 – December 12, 2013) was an American actor, director, screenwriter, author, educator, and activist. Laughlin was best known for his series of Billy Jack films. He was married to actress Delores Taylor from 1954 until his death. Taylor co-produced and acted in all four Billy Jack films. His unique promotion of The Trial of Billy Jack (TV trailers during national news and an "opening day" nationwide release) was a major influence on the way films are marketed. In the early 1960s, Laughlin put his film career on hiatus to start a Montessori preschool in Santa Monica, California; it became the largest school of its kind in the United States. In his later years, he sought the office of President of the United States in 1992, 2004, and 2008. He was involved in psychology and domestic abuse counseling, writing several books on Jungian psychology and developing theories on the causes of cancer.
Known for
Acting 19
- 2026The Return of Billy Jack as Billy Jack
- 2004The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made as Billy Jack (archive footage)
- 1977Billy Jack Goes to Washington as Billy Jack
- 1976Voyage of the Damned as Engineering Officer (uncredited)
- 1975The Master Gunfighter as Finley
- 1974The Trial of Billy Jack as Billy Jack
- 1971Billy Jack as Billy Jack
- 1967The Born Losers as Billy Jack
- 1965Like Father, Like Son as Chris Wotan
- 1960Tall Story as Fred Jensen
- 1960The Proper Time as Mickey Henderson
- 1959Battle of the Coral Sea as Ens. Franklin
- 1959Gidget as Lover Boy
- 1958Senior Prom as Carter Breed III
- 1958South Pacific as Lt. Buzz Adams
- 1958Lafayette Escadrille as Arthur Blumenthal
- 1957The Troublemakers
- 1957The Delinquents as Scotty White
- 1956Tea and Sympathy as Ralph
Writing 7
- 2026The Return of Billy Jack · writer
- 1977Billy Jack Goes to Washington · writer
- 1975The Master Gunfighter · writer
- 1974The Trial of Billy Jack · writer
- 1971Billy Jack · writer
- 1965Like Father, Like Son · screenplay
- 1960The Proper Time · screenplay
Directing 8
- 2026The Return of Billy Jack · director
- 1977Billy Jack Goes to Washington · director
- 1975The Master Gunfighter · director
- 1974The Trial of Billy Jack · director
- 1971Billy Jack · director
- 1967The Born Losers · director
- 1965Like Father, Like Son · director
- 1960The Proper Time · director
Production 6
- 2026The Return of Billy Jack · producer
- 1974The Trial of Billy Jack · executive producer
- 1971Billy Jack · producer
- 1967The Born Losers · producer
- 1965Like Father, Like Son · producer
- 1960The Proper Time · producer