John Lupton was an American actor who appeared in over 260 film and television productions from the 1950s to the 1990s. He is best known for his roles as Tom Jeffords in the TV series Broken Arrow, Tommy Horton in the soap opera Days of Our Lives, and Jesse James in the cult horror film Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter. He was also a stage actor who performed with stars like Katharine Hepburn, Mae West, and Susan Peters. He died of undisclosed causes on November 3, 1993, at the age of 65. His last film, Body Shot, was released the year after his death. In this article, we will explore his life and career, as well as the mystery surrounding his cause of death.
Contents
Early Years and Education
John Lupton was born on August 22, 1928, in Highland Park, Illinois. He was the son of Adelma Lupton and Dorothy Marsh Lupton, a newspaper writer. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he developed an interest in drama while attending Shorewood High School. He participated in several school plays and decided to pursue acting as a career. He joined a local stock company and performed children’s theater before moving to New York to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He graduated from the academy in 1949 and made his Broadway debut in a minor role in the Mae West showcase Diamond Lil. He then co-starred with Susan Peters in The Glass Menagerie and joined the Katharine Hepburn tour of As You Like It. Hepburn helped him get a contract with MGM in Hollywood, where he began his film career.
Film and Television Career
Lupton’s first film appearance was as a spear-carrier in Julius Caesar in 1953. He also played a village idiot in Scandal at Scourie that same year. However, he did not get much recognition from these roles and MGM dropped him after two years. He then started to freelance and appeared in various films and TV shows throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Some of his notable film roles include:
- A young soldier who dies in battle in Battle Cry (1955)
- A rookie engineer who helps steal a Confederate train in The Great Locomotive Chase (1956)
- A Union officer who tries to restore order in a post-war town in Drango (1957)
- A rancher who falls for a rebellious girl in Taming Sutton’s Gal (1957)
- A gunman who contracts typhoid fever in Gun Fever (1958)
- A painter who is accused of murdering his wife in The Man in the Net (1959)
- The legendary outlaw Jesse James who faces a mad scientist’s daughter in Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter (1966)
Lupton also had a successful TV career, appearing in many popular shows such as Robert Montgomery Presents, Playhouse 90, Studio One, Wagon Train, Gomer Pyle: USMC, The F.B.I., Ironside, Kung Fu, Cannon, Harry O, Charlie’s Angels, The Rockford Files, and B.J. and the Bear. He had two recurring roles that made him famous: Chris Lambert on Fury (1955-1960), a boy who befriends a wild stallion; and Tom Jeffords on Broken Arrow (1956-1958), a government agent who tries to keep peace between white settlers and Apaches led by Chief Cochise (played by Michael Ansara). He also played Tommy Horton on Days of Our Lives (1965-1967), one of the original characters of the long-running soap opera.
Personal Life and Death
Lupton was married twice: first to Anne Sills from 1956 to 1959; then to Dian Friml from 1969 until his death. He had one daughter with Friml named Rollin. He was also involved in volunteer work with the Multiple Sclerosis Association and the Special Olympics. He died on November 3, 1993, in Los Angeles, California. The cause of his death was never officially disclosed, but some sources suggest that he suffered from heart disease or cancer. His wife Dian died in 2005.
Conclusion
John Lupton was a versatile actor who had a long and varied career on stage, film, and TV. He worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood and played memorable characters that entertained generations of viewers. He also had a personal life that was marked by charity and compassion. His cause of death remains unknown, but his legacy lives on through his work and his fans.
