Tom Laughlin

Acting

Tom Laughlin

Born 1931-08-10 · Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.

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.

Acting credits

Voyage of the Damned poster
6.0

A luxury liner carries Jewish refugees from Hitler's Germany in a desperate fight for survival.

Voyage of the Damned

1976

Billy Jack Goes to Washington poster
6.5

After a senator suddenly dies after completing (and sealing) an investigation into the nuclear power industry, the remaining senator and the state governor must decide on a person who will play along with their shady deals and not cause any problems. They decide on Billy Jack, currently sitting in prison after being sent to jail at the end of his previous film, as they don't expect him to be capable of much, and they think he will attract young voters to the party.

Billy Jack Goes to Washington

1977

Tall Story poster
5.7

A young insecure college sportsman is in trouble. He wants to marry his very straightforward girlfriend, but has no money. When he is offered a bribe to fix a game, he is torn even more about the matter.

Tall Story

1960

South Pacific poster
6.1

Can a girl from Little Rock find happiness with a mature French planter she got to know one enchanted evening away from the military hospital where she is a nurse? Or should she just wash that man out of her hair? Bloody Mary is the philosopher of the island and it's hard to believe she could be the mother of Liat who has captured the heart of Lt. Joseph Cable USMC. While waiting for action in the war in the South Pacific, sailors and nurses put on a musical comedy show. The war gets closer and the saga of Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque becomes serious drama.

South Pacific

1958

The Born Losers poster
6.5

A biker gang incites a reign of terror in a California coastal town that culminates in four teenage girls being raped. Vietnam veteran Billy Jack has had enough, however, and takes on the depraved bikers single-handedly. He rescues young Vicky Barrington from their clutches, but then has to contend with not only the thugs, but also the ineffectual and racist local lawmen, who have it out for the half-Native American Billy.

The Born Losers

1967

Tea and Sympathy poster
7.0

A sensitive young man recalls his time in boarding school when the only person who seemed compassionate towards him was his housemaster's wife.

Tea and Sympathy

1956

Gidget poster
6.0

Due to an accident while swimming in the sea, Francis meets the surfer Moondoggie. She's fascinated with his sport and starts to hang out with his clique. Although they make fun of her at first, they teach her to surf and soon she's accepted and given the nickname "Gidget". But it's hard work to become more than a friend to Moondoggie.

Gidget

1959

Billy Jack poster
6.0

A Euro-Indigenous American Ex-Green Beret hapkido expert saves wild horses from being slaughtered for dog food and helps protect a desert "freedom school" for runaways.

Billy Jack

1971

No artwork available
NR

A group of university students beat and kill an outspoken journalist for the school newspaper. One of the students struggles with his conscience over his vow to remain silent about the event.

The Troublemakers

1957

Lafayette Escadrille poster
4.5

A hotshot young flyer falls for a French prostitute during World War I.

Lafayette Escadrille

1958

Battle of the Coral Sea poster
5.8

A US submarine and its crew are captured by the Japanese on the eve of a major WWII battle.

Battle of the Coral Sea

1959

The Master Gunfighter poster
4.5

Don Santiago (Richard Angarola) is a vicious man who helps provoke an Indian massacre that will allow him to steal the Indians' land and claim it as his own. However, his son-in-law, Finley (Tom Laughlin), is an expert hand with both guns and swords and will not allow him to push around the peace-loving Indians or fellow settlers of the West.

The Master Gunfighter

1975

The Delinquents poster
4.8

A clean-cut teenager ends up joining a neighborhood gang when the father of the girl he likes refuses to allow his daughter to date him because she is too young.

The Delinquents

1957

No artwork available
5.5

The story of a small-town football star, who defies society, morals and his God and gets into so much trouble that he is expelled from school. Told in flashbacks, usually in confession to the priest, Chris sets the tone early in the opening scene where he screams oaths before the altar and smashes a religious statue in a blind rage. Whether this is before or after a 14-year-old sexpot, Joan Meyers, corners him in the church choir-loft or when the parents of a pleasure-seeking rich girl, Tury by name, catch him in bed with her.

Like Father, Like Son

1965

The Trial of Billy Jack poster
5.9

After Billy Jack in sentenced to four years in prison for the "involuntary manslaughter" of the first film, the Freedom School expands and flourishes under the guidance of Jean Roberts. The utopian existence of the school is characterized by everything ranging from "yoga sports" to muckracking journalism. The diverse student population airs scathing political exposes on their privately owned television station. The narrow-minded townspeople have different ideas about their brand of liberalism. Billy Jack is released and things heat up for the school. Students are threatened and abused and the Native Americans in the neighboring village are taunted and mistreated. After Billy Jack undergoes a vision quest, the governor and the police plot to permanently put an end to their liberal shenanigans, leaving it up to Billy Jack to save the day.

The Trial of Billy Jack

1974

The Return of Billy Jack poster
NR

Billy Jack returns to bring down a child pornography ring headed by the Godfather of Godfathers. The Return of Billy Jack is an unfinished theatrical film that was in production from December 1985 to early 1986 in New York City with additional scenes filmed in Toronto.

The Return of Billy Jack

Senior Prom poster
8.0

At a college party, a girl named Gay (Jill Corey) meets a guy named Tom (Paul Hampton) and they soon fall in love. Tom's bandmate, who goes by the nickname "Dog" with his own girlfriend whose nickname is "Flip", form a friendship quartet together with Gay and Tom as they plan for the Senior Prom. But Gay's childhood friend Carter has been convinced they are meant to be engaged and gets rather petty about her new love. Tom is also an aspiring singer whose debut record didn't take off when first released, but may be in for a revival. Which stars will end up performing at their Senior Prom? Tune in to find out!

Senior Prom

1958

The Proper Time poster
5.3

A college boy with a speech impediment learns the hard way about love and heartbreak.

The Proper Time

1960

Behind the camera

Billy Jack Goes to Washington poster
6.5

After a senator suddenly dies after completing (and sealing) an investigation into the nuclear power industry, the remaining senator and the state governor must decide on a person who will play along with their shady deals and not cause any problems. They decide on Billy Jack, currently sitting in prison after being sent to jail at the end of his previous film, as they don't expect him to be capable of much, and they think he will attract young voters to the party.

Billy Jack Goes to Washington

1977

Billy Jack Goes to Washington poster
6.5

After a senator suddenly dies after completing (and sealing) an investigation into the nuclear power industry, the remaining senator and the state governor must decide on a person who will play along with their shady deals and not cause any problems. They decide on Billy Jack, currently sitting in prison after being sent to jail at the end of his previous film, as they don't expect him to be capable of much, and they think he will attract young voters to the party.

Billy Jack Goes to Washington

1977

The Born Losers poster
6.5

A biker gang incites a reign of terror in a California coastal town that culminates in four teenage girls being raped. Vietnam veteran Billy Jack has had enough, however, and takes on the depraved bikers single-handedly. He rescues young Vicky Barrington from their clutches, but then has to contend with not only the thugs, but also the ineffectual and racist local lawmen, who have it out for the half-Native American Billy.

The Born Losers

1967

The Born Losers poster
6.5

A biker gang incites a reign of terror in a California coastal town that culminates in four teenage girls being raped. Vietnam veteran Billy Jack has had enough, however, and takes on the depraved bikers single-handedly. He rescues young Vicky Barrington from their clutches, but then has to contend with not only the thugs, but also the ineffectual and racist local lawmen, who have it out for the half-Native American Billy.

The Born Losers

1967

Billy Jack poster
6.0

A Euro-Indigenous American Ex-Green Beret hapkido expert saves wild horses from being slaughtered for dog food and helps protect a desert "freedom school" for runaways.

Billy Jack

1971

Billy Jack poster
6.0

A Euro-Indigenous American Ex-Green Beret hapkido expert saves wild horses from being slaughtered for dog food and helps protect a desert "freedom school" for runaways.

Billy Jack

1971

Billy Jack poster
6.0

A Euro-Indigenous American Ex-Green Beret hapkido expert saves wild horses from being slaughtered for dog food and helps protect a desert "freedom school" for runaways.

Billy Jack

1971

The Master Gunfighter poster
4.5

Don Santiago (Richard Angarola) is a vicious man who helps provoke an Indian massacre that will allow him to steal the Indians' land and claim it as his own. However, his son-in-law, Finley (Tom Laughlin), is an expert hand with both guns and swords and will not allow him to push around the peace-loving Indians or fellow settlers of the West.

The Master Gunfighter

1975

The Master Gunfighter poster
4.5

Don Santiago (Richard Angarola) is a vicious man who helps provoke an Indian massacre that will allow him to steal the Indians' land and claim it as his own. However, his son-in-law, Finley (Tom Laughlin), is an expert hand with both guns and swords and will not allow him to push around the peace-loving Indians or fellow settlers of the West.

The Master Gunfighter

1975

No artwork available
5.5

The story of a small-town football star, who defies society, morals and his God and gets into so much trouble that he is expelled from school. Told in flashbacks, usually in confession to the priest, Chris sets the tone early in the opening scene where he screams oaths before the altar and smashes a religious statue in a blind rage. Whether this is before or after a 14-year-old sexpot, Joan Meyers, corners him in the church choir-loft or when the parents of a pleasure-seeking rich girl, Tury by name, catch him in bed with her.

Like Father, Like Son

1965

No artwork available
5.5

The story of a small-town football star, who defies society, morals and his God and gets into so much trouble that he is expelled from school. Told in flashbacks, usually in confession to the priest, Chris sets the tone early in the opening scene where he screams oaths before the altar and smashes a religious statue in a blind rage. Whether this is before or after a 14-year-old sexpot, Joan Meyers, corners him in the church choir-loft or when the parents of a pleasure-seeking rich girl, Tury by name, catch him in bed with her.

Like Father, Like Son

1965

No artwork available
5.5

The story of a small-town football star, who defies society, morals and his God and gets into so much trouble that he is expelled from school. Told in flashbacks, usually in confession to the priest, Chris sets the tone early in the opening scene where he screams oaths before the altar and smashes a religious statue in a blind rage. Whether this is before or after a 14-year-old sexpot, Joan Meyers, corners him in the church choir-loft or when the parents of a pleasure-seeking rich girl, Tury by name, catch him in bed with her.

Like Father, Like Son

1965

The Trial of Billy Jack poster
5.9

After Billy Jack in sentenced to four years in prison for the "involuntary manslaughter" of the first film, the Freedom School expands and flourishes under the guidance of Jean Roberts. The utopian existence of the school is characterized by everything ranging from "yoga sports" to muckracking journalism. The diverse student population airs scathing political exposes on their privately owned television station. The narrow-minded townspeople have different ideas about their brand of liberalism. Billy Jack is released and things heat up for the school. Students are threatened and abused and the Native Americans in the neighboring village are taunted and mistreated. After Billy Jack undergoes a vision quest, the governor and the police plot to permanently put an end to their liberal shenanigans, leaving it up to Billy Jack to save the day.

The Trial of Billy Jack

1974

The Trial of Billy Jack poster
5.9

After Billy Jack in sentenced to four years in prison for the "involuntary manslaughter" of the first film, the Freedom School expands and flourishes under the guidance of Jean Roberts. The utopian existence of the school is characterized by everything ranging from "yoga sports" to muckracking journalism. The diverse student population airs scathing political exposes on their privately owned television station. The narrow-minded townspeople have different ideas about their brand of liberalism. Billy Jack is released and things heat up for the school. Students are threatened and abused and the Native Americans in the neighboring village are taunted and mistreated. After Billy Jack undergoes a vision quest, the governor and the police plot to permanently put an end to their liberal shenanigans, leaving it up to Billy Jack to save the day.

The Trial of Billy Jack

1974

The Return of Billy Jack poster
NR

Billy Jack returns to bring down a child pornography ring headed by the Godfather of Godfathers. The Return of Billy Jack is an unfinished theatrical film that was in production from December 1985 to early 1986 in New York City with additional scenes filmed in Toronto.

The Return of Billy Jack

The Return of Billy Jack poster
NR

Billy Jack returns to bring down a child pornography ring headed by the Godfather of Godfathers. The Return of Billy Jack is an unfinished theatrical film that was in production from December 1985 to early 1986 in New York City with additional scenes filmed in Toronto.

The Return of Billy Jack

The Return of Billy Jack poster
NR

Billy Jack returns to bring down a child pornography ring headed by the Godfather of Godfathers. The Return of Billy Jack is an unfinished theatrical film that was in production from December 1985 to early 1986 in New York City with additional scenes filmed in Toronto.

The Return of Billy Jack

The Proper Time poster
5.3

A college boy with a speech impediment learns the hard way about love and heartbreak.

The Proper Time

1960

The Proper Time poster
5.3

A college boy with a speech impediment learns the hard way about love and heartbreak.

The Proper Time

1960

The Proper Time poster
5.3

A college boy with a speech impediment learns the hard way about love and heartbreak.

The Proper Time

1960