John Lawlor, the beloved actor renowned for his memorable roles in "The Facts of Life" and "Phyllis," has passed away at the age of 83. His family sorrowfully announced his demise in an obituary published on Monday, February 24th, nine days after he peacefully expired in the embrace of a veterans hospice in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his daughter Riel by his side.
The obituary paid tribute to Lawlor, stating, "John will forever be cherished for his immense love and affection for his family, his dedication to his craft, and his unwavering passion for theater, television, movies, literature, and above all, his cherished horses."
Lawlor enjoyed a distinguished career spanning decades in the entertainment industry. He is fondly remembered for his portrayal of Steven Bradley, the headmaster at the Eastland School for Girls, in the hit NBC series "The Facts of Life." However, after the show's inaugural 13-episode season in 1979, he was succeeded by Roger Perry's Charles Parker.
Lawlor also made a significant impact on CBS's "Phyllis," a spin-off of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," where he played Leonard Marsh, a colleague of Cloris Leachman's.
In 1981, Lawlor ventured into the world of cinema, securing a role in Blake Edwards' comedic satire "S.O.B.," and later appearing in Lawrence Kasdan's Western epic "Wyatt Earp" (1994), as noted on his IMDb page.
Born on June 5, 1941, in Troy, New York, Lawlor was the eldest of six siblings. His family relocated to Boulder, Colorado, where he spent his formative years. A graduate of the University of Colorado, Lawlor was an active member of the Nomad Players in Boulder, where he starred in numerous productions, including a notable run in "Sweeney Todd."
Prior to his television career, Lawlor served honorably in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. In 1975, he embarked on his screen journey with roles in "The Rockford Files" and "Ellery Queen," followed by "Jackson County Jail" in 1976.
According to his IMDb profile, Lawlor's versatile talent was showcased in numerous guest appearances on popular television shows such as "A New Kind of Family," "Alice," "Barney Miller," "Newhart," "T.J. Hooker," "Sledge Hammer!," "Knots Landing," "L.A. Law," "Breaking Bad," and "Longmire." He also left his mark in films like "The Gumball Rally," "Bill Jack Goes to Washington," and "Movie Madness."
Lawlor is survived by five children, two brothers, three grandchildren, a nephew, and two nieces, who will undoubtedly cherish his legacy for generations to come.
