RIP John Phillip Law, 70; actor played blind angel in 'Barbarella'

christopher · May 15, 2008

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-law15-2008may15,0,4156367.story

later, chris

John Phillip Law, 70; actor played blind angel in 'Barbarella'
By Claire Noland
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

May 15, 2008

John Phillip Law, a tall, blond actor who cut a striking figure as the blind angel opposite Jane Fonda in 1968's "Barbarella" and in other film roles, has died. He was 70.

Law died Tuesday at his Los Angeles home, his former wife, Shawn Ryan, said. The cause of death was not announced.

Born in Los Angeles on Sept. 7, 1937, to L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy John Law and actress Phyllis Sallee, Law decided to become an actor after taking drama classes at the University of Hawaii.

He moved to New York in the early 1960s, studied with Elia Kazan at the Lincoln Center Repertory Theater and landed bit parts on Broadway. He went to Europe and found work in a handful of Italian films, where he caught the attention of Norman Jewison. The director cast Law as Alexei Kolchin, a young Soviet submariner who wins the heart of a teenage baby-sitter in "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming," his 1966 Cold War comedy set in New England.

Law's next break came in Roger Vadim's science fiction fantasy starring Fonda, who was then married to the director.

Equipped with oversize, feathery wings, Law's bronzed angel, Pygar, shields Fonda's gun-toting, go-go-boot-wearing heroine in her intergalactic adventures.

After gaining notice for his roles in "Hurry Sundown" (1967), "The Sergeant" (1968) opposite Rod Steiger, and "The Red Baron" (1970), Law starred as the ruthless Robin Stone in "The Love Machine," a 1971 version of Jacqueline Susann's pulp novel. The movie flopped.

Law, who mastered Italian and Spanish in his European travels, worked steadily in Hollywood and abroad, appearing in such action-adventure movies as "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" (1974), "The Cassandra Crossing" (1977) and "Tarzan the Ape Man" (1981), among others. He also had a stint playing Jim Grainger on the daytime television drama "The Young and the Restless."

At the beginning of his career in the '60s, Law lived in a 1924 Los Feliz mansion with his brother, Tom, who had been the road manager for Peter, Paul and Mary.

The brothers rented rooms to up-and-coming singers and artists, including Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol and Tiny Tim, turning the home into a vibrant salon of emerging pop-culture icons. Life at the Castle, as it was known, was documented in “Flashing on the Sixties,” a 1987 collection of photos and text by Tom's former wife, Lisa Law.

Besides his brother, Law is survived by a daughter, Dawn, and a grandson.

Services will be private.

claire.noland@latimes.com
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Jackson · May 15, 2008

Sad to hear it ''Death Rides A Horse'' will always be one of my favorite spaghetti westerns.He was good in other roles as well.

BradF · May 15, 2008

I liked him in Mario Bava's Danger: Diabolik. Brilliant fun, adapted from an Italian comic book series.

christopher · May 15, 2008

BradF said: ↑

I liked him in Mario Bava's Danger: Diabolik. Brilliant fun, adapted from an Italian comic book series.
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and savaged on MST3K.

later, chris

wayneklein · May 16, 2008

He also was the best actor to play "Sinbad" and looked the part (unlike, say, Patrick Wayne).

Vivaldinization · May 16, 2008

Kalgan, take me away...

Barnabas Collins · May 16, 2008

BradF said: ↑

I liked him in Mario Bava's Danger: Diabolik. Brilliant fun, adapted from an Italian comic book series.
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Great film! And I think John Philip Law is on the DVD commentary track.

Walt · May 16, 2008

BradF said: ↑

I liked him in Mario Bava's Danger: Diabolik. Brilliant fun, adapted from an Italian comic book series.
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I love that film. One of my favorite comic book films - killer soundtrack by Morricone as well. The DVD does indeed have a commentary track with Law and Bava biographer and expert Tim Lucas.

So sad to hear he passed away.

MilesSmiles · May 17, 2008

RIP John.

b8375629 · May 28, 2008

Jackson said: ↑

Sad to hear it ''Death Rides A Horse'' will always be one of my favorite spaghetti westerns.He was good in other roles as well.
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True that. It happens to have one of the best Morricone soundtracks of all time, imo...

GKH · May 28, 2008

R.I.P.

I loved, "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad"! And, who could forget Caroline Munro in that movie?!

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RIP John Phillip Law, 70; actor played blind angel in 'Barbarella'

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