John Laughlin was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, before enrolling in Blue Ridge School back in the year 1972. His family had played a significant role in the political life of that city nestled on the banks of the Mississippi River. They had been political and business leaders for many years, and John quickly became recognized by his classmates as a young man with both convictions and the ability to lead. And that he did, especially in his favorite area of school life – on the athletic field. Football, wrestling, and lacrosse were his preferred sports, and he gave his best efforts in each. He played with conviction and commitment no matter how challenging the task, and his teammates respected both his determination and desire to win…fair and square.
What almost no one knew was that John harbored a secret – one that probably would have surprised everyone. Somehow, John had begun to nurture the urge to become an actor. The possibility of appearing on the big movie theater screen interested him, and over time it became a goal. He kept this to himself, and it was only after his graduation that John made the commitment to pursue this potential career. It was certainly a risky one, for many a hopeful had followed the dream, but John had set a goal, and he was willing to take on the challenge, even in the face of considerable risk.
At 19, John moved to Los Angeles to learn his craft and become a professional actor. He spent two years at the Film Industry Workshop, and then he pursued further study with some of the best in the business who prepared him to impress the astute casting directors.
John quickly caught the eye of several producers at Paramount Pictures, and he found opportunities to demonstrate his acting skills both on the movie screen and on television. John was cast for a role in what was to be a widely viewed movie entitled An Officer and a Gentleman, starring Richard Geer, Debra Winger, and Louis Gossett Jr. This proved to be a critical moment in John’s career, because it presented him with a major opportunity to play the role of “Woody” in the blockbuster film Footloose. Producers and directors liked what they saw, and this opened the door for John’s further career opportunities that provided him roles in such films as The Rock starring Sean Connery, Nicholas Cage, and Ed Harris; The Lawnmower Man starring Pierce Bronson; Crimes of Passion staring Kathleen Turner; and Midnight Crossing with Faye Dunaway, among many others.
John has also played several rolls in popular television series such as Murder She Wrote staring Angela Lansbury and The White Shadow (1978 – 1981) where he played a high school basketball player in an inner-city public high school. This was the television series that broke new ground as the first ensemble drama to feature a mostly African American cast that addressed the interaction of white and black players learning how to work together for the good of the team.
In all, John has appeared in no less than thirty-one feature length films and at least thirty television shows, which include The Dukes of Hazzard, Knot’s Landing, Tales from the Crypt, China Beach, and Knot’s Landing.
Surprisingly enough, at one point in his film career, John Laughlin was offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue his other personal passion – philanthropy. He took a break from the film industry and worked with a nonprofit organization in order to concentrate on helping children in need. Having had that dream fulfilled, he returned to the industry he always loved by booking several great roles on Criminal Minds and The Defenders. At present he is working on several of his own productions, as well.
John is in his sixties now, and much of his attention is directed on his son’s success. He takes great pride in both his work and his son.
