Marco St. John (born Marco John Figueroa Jr.; May 7, 1939) is an American actor who has appeared in films and television programs. He is known for his role as the lascivious and obnoxious truck driver in the 1991 film Thelma & Louise and for playing Sheriff Cal Tucker in the 1985 horror film Friday the 13th: A New Beginning. He has also worked as a theater producer and cultural organizer on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Early life
Marco St. John was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Iris (née Davidson) and Marco Juan Figueroa Sr., and spent part of his childhood connected to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where his family maintained long-standing roots. He visited the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a child and later attended Ocean Springs High School and Gulfport High School. His family had deep involvement in local historical and cultural activities, including participation in historical pageants and reenactments connected to the 1699 French landing at Fort Maurepas in Ocean Springs.
He later studied at Fordham University in New York City, where he initially considered pursuing a law degree before turning to acting. After college, he trained in classical theater, including Shakespearean performance, at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He subsequently returned to New York to pursue a professional acting career on stage.
Career St. John appeared in multiple Broadway productions and performed opposite Julie Harris in the Broadway play Forty Carats. He later played Hamlet at the San Diego Shakespeare Festival and appeared in more than 11 Broadway productions over the course of his career.
On television, he appeared on the soap opera As the World Turns, portraying Dr. Paul Stewart, and later had recurring and guest roles on series including In the Heat of the Night, Walker, Texas Ranger, Homicide, Major Dad, The Equalizer, and Mike Hammer.
St. John appeared in a number of feature films, including Thelma & Louise, Tightrope, Hard Target, The Package, and State of Grace. His role as the truck driver in Thelma & Louise became one of his most widely recognized performances, and newspapers noted that the notoriety of the role contrasted with his off-screen personality.
He founded the Mississippi Repertory Theater Company, which operated from 1979 to 1982 and brought professional actors and directors to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. After a hiatus of approximately 20 years, he announced plans to revive the company, citing increased cultural and financial readiness in South Mississippi. The revival was scheduled to begin with a production of The Lion in Winter at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans under the direction of Richard Harden.
In 1980, St. John starred in The Gospel of St. Mark, a one-man stage production adapted from a Broadway presentation originally performed by Alec McCowen. The production was staged in Mississippi and noted for its demanding memorization and performance requirements.
He stated that professional theater in the community had a responsibility not only to entertain but also to educate and address social issues, and he expressed the view that the Mississippi Gulf Coast had the potential for national recognition in theater.
St. John portrayed Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville in the annual reenactment of the 1699 French landing at Fort Maurepas in Ocean Springs. His participation reflected his family's long-standing involvement in local historical preservation and reenactment activities.
By the 1990s and early 2000s, St. John resided primarily in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, while continuing to work in film and television productions in Louisiana and elsewhere. During this period, he designed and helped construct a modern home in Ocean Springs and expressed interest in undertaking additional home-building projects between acting jobs.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1966The Plastic Dome of Norma JeanBobo1972The Mind SnatchersLawrence Shannon1976The Next ManJustin1978SupermanMugger's Arm in AlleyUncredited1980Night of the JugglerHampton Richmond Clayton III1982Cat PeoplePoliceman1984TightropeLeander Rolfe1985Friday the 13th: A New BeginningSheriff Cal Tucker1989The PackageMarth1990State of GraceCavello1991Thelma & LouiseTruck DriverUncredited1993Hard TargetDr. Morton1995The DangerousPolk1997The Truth About JulietJack Green2001The Rising PlaceDefense AttorneyThe WakingDeputy Wilkes2002The BadgeBig Six Rayburn2003Tough LuckCharlieUndermindMr. LaurieRunaway JuryDaleyMonsterEvan / Undercover "John"ViciousCol. Hardwick2004The PunisherPolice Chief MorrisMr. 3000Reporter2005At LastFrank Singleton2006Things That Hang from TreesSheriff Hank BullardBeyond the Wall of SleepDr. FentonInCimanno2007FlakesTre Zeringue2008New Orleans, Mon AmourSinclarMy Mom's New BoyfriendInspector LabordeThe Loss of a Teardrop DiamondMr. WillowPrivate Valentine: Blonde & DangerousMorris Grey Esq.2009Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New OrleansEugene Gratz2010LeonieRoutoloDylan Dog: Dead of NightBorelli2011Rites of SpringThe Stranger2012The Philly KidDoctorThe CampaignHusbandUncredited2013Shadow PeopleProfessor Norman FisherThe ButlerWarren E. BurgerUncredited2014BarefootMr. Vincent2015ZipperJohn TamlinParallelsPromoterSweet KandyWarden Lester CribbsReturn to SenderOlder ManFantastic FourDC Military Official (Area 57)Relentless JusticeIngrassia2016PartnersCaptain Jack MacDonaldIndiscretionGovernor Wallace2017Mississippi MurderDet. EddieNovitiateFather Luca2018Urban CountryJudge Jacobs
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1962Naked CityDom CapadoEpisode: "Daughter Am I in My Father's House"1963Route 66Johnnie SimmonsEpisode: "Soda Pop and Paper Flags"1967Coronet BlueTedEpisode: "A Time to Be Born"1970As the World TurnsDr. Paul StewartEpisode dated February 27, 19701972BonanzaPlankEpisode: "Riot"1972–1974GunsmokeDarcy / Virgil Bonner2 episodes1973Bridget Loves BernieRoger MeltonEpisode: "Greener Pastures"1976KojakTony PapasEpisode: "Birthday Party"Ball FourRayford Plunkett / Raymond Plunkett6 episodes1977Contract on Cherry StreetEddie ManzaroTelevision filmRyan's HopePolice OfficerEpisode #1.6311980Beulah LandBlaylockEpisode: "Part III"1981American PlayhouseBanfieldEpisode: "Until She Talks"1982The Six of UsKevin TreeTelevision film1983Dixie: Changing HabitsEmcee1984Remington SteeleDoc GridleyEpisode: "Second Base Steele"1987The New Mike HammerMilo's HenchmanEpisode: "A Face in the Night"The EqualizerVictor Thorpe Episode: "First Light"1988–1990In the Heat of the NightJay Turkus / Joe Ed Thaxton2 episodes1989Kojak: Fatal FlawPaytonTelevision film1990Blue BayouMorley Rickerts1991This Gun for HireTom ScottMajor DadBarney FlattEpisode: "Major Moonlighting"1994–1996Walker, Texas RangerEvan Calder / Officer Strangis2 episodes1995PointmanMartin HirschEpisode: "Judgement Day"1996The Big EasyElliott BookerEpisode: "The Gambler"1999Homicide: Life on the StreetBus Driver McCuskerEpisode: "Shades of Gray"2000SacrificeDr. Hector SalcodoTelevision film2004FrankenfishChiefThe Brooke Ellison StoryLiterature Professor2005Snow WonderJudge Tilma2007Girl, PositiveParent2010Memphis BeatMayor Brian TalmadgeEpisode: "I Shall Not Be Moved"2010–2013TremeDr. Roger McAlary7 episodes2012–2013Suit UpTom Wilshire9 episodes2015I Killed My BFFSimonTelevision film2016RootsSecond GamblerEpisode: "Part 3"2017Mississippi River SharksBig BillTelevision film2019I Am the NightMillerEpisode: "Matador"
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