John Henry Lawlor III (June 5, 1941 – February 13, 2025) was an American actor and assistant director.
Early life Lawlor was born on June 5, 1941, in Troy, New York,John Lawlor Dies: ‘The Facts Of Life’, ‘Phyllis’ Actor Was 83 but spent much of his early life in Boulder, Colorado, where his mother was a teacher of special needs children at Casey Jr. High School. In the late-1960s, he worked as a AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer trainer in Denver.
Career His best known roles were Supervisor Leonard Marsh on the television series Phyllis from 1976 to 1977, and later of Headmaster Steven Bradley on the television series The Facts of Life from 1979 to 1980. The name Steven Bradley was likely meant as a tribute to Steve Bradley in Boulder, a friend and one-time manager of the Winter Park ski area.
He also guest-starred in L.A. Law, Knots Landing, Mr. Belvedere, Barney Miller, The Rockford Files, Ellery Queen, Baa Baa Black Sheep, and Alice. He played the locksmith exhorted by Skylar White in Breaking Bad.
He appeared in the movies National Lampoon's Movie Madness (1982), S.O.B. (1981), Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977), The Gumball Rally (1976), Wyatt Earp (1994) and Mr. Fixit (1988).
In a 1980s TV commercial for Malt-O-Meal hot cereal, he played a father telling his son's invisible friend that Malt-O-Meal was, "Good stuff, Maynard!" a line which became a popular phrase.
Personal life and death Lawlor was divorced from Tantoo Cardinal, with whom he had two children. He also had four other children.
Lawlor died in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on February 13, 2025, at the age of 83.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1976Jackson County JailDeputy Burt1976The Gumball RallyJake1977Billy Jack Goes to WashingtonDan McArthur1981S.O.B.Capitol Studios Manager1982National Lampoon's Movie MadnessMr. Haggis1994Wyatt EarpJudge Spicer2011Naked RunMax Siegel2011The ReunionLenny Cleary2016GoldMining Expert
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1975The Rockford FilesDave KrugerEpisode: "Resurrection in Black & White"1975Ellery QueenDirector / Radio Technician2 episodes1976The BureauAgent ButterfieldTelevision film1976Baa Baa Black SheepDr. Jim ReeseEpisode: "Flying Misfits"1976–1977PhyllisLeonard Marsh / Officer Hale25 episodes1977RelentlessWalkerTelevision film1977AliceHendersonEpisode: "The Sixty Minutes Man"1978Outside ChanceBill HillTelevision film1978Barney MillerMorris the DogcatcherEpisode: "Dog Days"1979A New Kind of FamilyTomEpisode: "Are You Sure Barnum and Bailey Started Like This?"1979–1980The Facts of LifeSteven Bradley13 episodes1980United StatesJoshEpisode: "Josh"1981A Matter of Life and DeathBud CogginsTelevision film1981Here's BoomerJohn HawthorneEpisode: "Boomer in the Pound"1981Why Us?Jules SanbornTelevision film1982Cassie & Co.MerrittEpisode: "Dark Side of the Moon"1982NewhartDirector of Vermont TodayEpisode: "Vermont Today"1984T. J. HookerCharles BowersEpisode: "Pursuit"1984Simon & SimonScott BanfieldEpisode: "Almost Completely Out of Circulation"1984ABC Weekend SpecialPaul LandryEpisode: "Henry Hamilton Graduate Ghost"1985The Best TimesWillis TroutmanEpisode: "Snake Meat"1985, 1987Highway to HeavenBrad / Earl2 episodes1986StingrayDr. Jimmy MonroeEpisode: "That Terrible Swift Sword"1986Sledge Hammer!Chief ReisnerEpisode: "Under the Gun"1987She's the SheriffDiamondEpisode: "Max Moves In"1988–1989The Bold and the BeautifulWalter Talbert4 episodes1989Mr. BelvedereDr. PetersonEpisode: "Fear of Flying"1990After the ShockFiremanTelevision film1991The New LassieJim BergerEpisode: "Kitty Saver"1992FBI: The Untold StoriesSteve GatesEpisode: "Millionaire Murderer"1992–1993Knots LandingLarry Lambert4 episodes1993L.A. LawHoward BowlingEpisode: "Bourbon County"1999Hercules: The Legendary JourneysHoratiusEpisode: "Stranger and Stranger"2003The Lyon's DenMr. DilbyEpisode: "Privileged"2004Cold CaseFather DeclanEpisode: "Glued"2005McBride: Tune in for MurderDonTelevision film2008The Roaring TwentiesGaryMiniseries2009In Plain SightJudge John MetcalfEpisode: "Who's Bugging Mary?"2010ScoundrelsHerbert West3 episodes2011Breaking BadLocksmithEpisode: "Box Cutter"2014Killer WomenJudge Walter GarrityEpisode: "Some Men Need Killing"2014LongmireOren MalloryEpisode: "Miss Cheyenne"2014Outlaw Prophet: Warren JeffsJudge ShumateTelevision film2016GravesDr. MirskyEpisode: "A Tincture of Madness"2017GodlessElmer Knowland4 episodes
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