Meet 61-year-old Susan Linda Lawson, she was married to the handsome Marlboro guy, otherwise known as actor, Eric Layton Lawson.
Another lost for the entertainment industry. This time death claimed the life of 72-year-old actor Eric Lawson, the man who played the Marlboro cowboy we all learned to identified with the infamous brand.
His wife and companion Susan Lawson said the actor lost his battle to from a smoking related respiratory failure. This is just another of those cases when you wonder about this type of coincidences right? According to his biographic info the actor started smoking at the age of 14.
His wife and mother of his six-children told how cigarettes had a hold on the actor’s life.
“He knew, yet he still couldn’t stop,” she said.
The long time couple lived at their home in San Luis Obispo, California where according to his wife, Eric lost his life on January 10 at age 72.
Her husband who gave life to the rugged “Marlboro-man” during the late 70’s also had under his name other roles on TV shows including Charlie’s Angels and Baywatch, before retiring in 1997 after getting injured while filming a western.
According to his obituary, Susan’s husband died of respiratory failure due to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Before his acting career took off, Eric Layton Lawson also worked in tunnel construction and selling real state.
Years later the actor participated in a campaign for NBC which he was particularly proud of, it was about an anti-smoking commercial that parodied the Marlboro man and an Entertainment Tonight segment to discuss the negative effects of smoking.
Ms Lawson said her husband was proud of the interview, even though he was smoking at the time and continued the habit until he was diagnosed with COPD.
Susan and Eric had six children, Scott Lawson, Sheri (John) Mendon, Don (Heather) Lawson, Erica (Werner) Walian, Chanda (pictured above to he left) who is married to Sean Brown and live in Sherman Oaks; and Corey Lawson, 48 (pictured to the right).
The couple also has eighteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Her husband is also survived by his brother Monte (Anita) Lawson and Mike (Mary) Lawson; and many nieces and nephews. Sister in law Cheryl (Jason) Jennings and grandson Todd Mendon preceded him in death.
According to reports online services will be held 2pm on Friday, January 31st at the chapel for The Church On The Way, 14344 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA..
Don’t miss his famous video/commercial below! R.I.P
