Cause of death Lung cancer | Name David McLean Role Film actor | |
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Full Name Eugene Joseph Huth Spouse Lilo Diane Haig (m. ?–1995) Movies and TV shows Similar People John Cardos, Burt Topper, Richard Donner, Henry Hathaway, Larry Buchanan | ||
David McLean (born May 19, 1922, Akron, Ohio – d. October 12, 1995, Culver City, California) was an American film and television actor, best known for appearing in many Marlboro television and print advertisements beginning in the early 1960s.
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Early years
McLean was born as Eugene Joseph Huth in Akron, Ohio.
Career
McLean's acting career began on stage with work in little theater plays. Following military service in World War II, he acted in productions in Los Angeles in addition to drawing sketches and cartoons.
In addition to his commercial work for Marlboro cigarettes, McLean starred as the title character in the NBC western television series, Tate, which was a summer replacement for half of Perry Como's program in 1960. He also appeared in numerous television programs and feature films of the 1960s and 1970s, including a leading role in the 1961 movie X-15, the directorial debut of Richard Donner, and films such as The Strangler (1964), Nevada Smith (1966), Hughes and Harlow: Angels in Hell (1977), Kingdom of the Spiders (1977) and Deathsport (1978).
He guest-starred three times in the NBC television series Laramie: in the 1962 episodes "Beyond Justice", in the role of Steve Collier, a corrupt territorial politician, and in "A Grave For Cully Brown" as Cully Brown, and as Marshal Branch McGary in the 1963 episode, "The Marshals." In 1966, he appeared in an episode of the long-running NBC western The Virginian. He guest-starred in the NBC western series Bonanza as well as on Daniel Boone.
In 1963, McLean was cast as the gangster Frank MacErlane in the episode "Open Season" of the CBS anthology series, GE True, hosted by Jack Webb. In the story line, James Best portrays the courageous Wisconsin game warden Ernie Swift who faces the reprisal of the mob after he tickets MacErlane for illegal fishing. That year he also appeared on Perry Mason as the title character and defendant Trevor Harris in "The Case of the Lawful Lazarus." As Lazarus in the Bible had been raised by Jesus from the dead, Harris reappeared from a ten-year absence after being declared legally dead.
Besides his commercial appearances for Marlboro, he was the spokesperson for Great Western Savings & Loan in its television commercials.
He was also a fine woodworker and artist.
Personal life
McLean was married to Lilo Diane Haig, who is also known as Liselotte Herlinger. They had a son, Mark.
Health problems
A lifelong smoker, McLean started suffering in 1985 from emphysema and had a tumor removed from a lung in 1994. His libertarian bent prevented him from pursuing a direct suit against Philip Morris, but he did become an anti-smoking advocate. At a meeting of stockholders of Philip Morris, the manufacturer of Marlboro, McLean requested that the company limit its advertising.
McLean was one of two Marlboro Man actors to suffer from cancer. Wayne McLaren, who acted the part for print advertising, died of lung cancer in 1992.
Death
On October 12, 1995, McLean died of lung cancer at the age of 73 in Los Angeles, California. His burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Posthumous
"In 1996, McLean's widow and son filed suit for wrongful death against Philip Morris ... [claiming] that the firm encouraged or even required cigarette smoking, which caused McLean's lung cancer." A fictitious version of these purported events were featured in the comic novel Thank You for Smoking.
The suit was eventually dismissed. A January 27, 2014, article in the Los Angeles Times reported that "a federal judge ruled that California law -- in those days, more protective of tobacco companies -- protected Phillip Morris from Lilo McLean's claims. McLean was billed for the costs of the lawsuit."