John Ashley
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
During the 1980s Ashley has also collaborated with Robert and Joan Conrad as producer of several made-for-TV movies, including "Coach of the Year" (1980), "Will, G. Gordon Liddy" (1982), and "Gladiator School" (1988).
Although Ashley once, at the urgings of its cast, played a small part on "The A-Team", he explains his recent resistance to acting thusly: "Even as a little boy I loved movies, but acting was something I fell into. I never worked at it or had a burning desire to be a star. I much prefer the other side of the camera." (Quoted in Richard Lamparski, "Whatever Became of...?", vol. 10)
Biography
An American actor who, after a long apprenticeship in schlock cinema, effectively switched to a second career in primetime TV series production, Ashley began his acting career in the late 1950s when he essayed roles in such less-than-memorable films (mostly for American International Pictures) as "Hot Rod Gang" (1958), "Suicide Battalion," "Frankenstein's Daughter" and "How to Make a Monster" (all 1958). Continuing with AIP into the 60s he played second leads in several of the studio's "beach party" movies, including "Muscle Beach Party," "Bikini Beach" (both 1964) and "Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965), which co-starred his wife at that time, Deborah Walley.
After working with director Eddie Romero on "Brides of Blood" (1968) and "Beast of Blood" (1970), Romero and Ashley began to co-produce such modest films as "Beyond Atlantis," "Twilight People" (both 1973) and "Savage Sisters" (1974), most of which starred Ashley and were directed by Romero. As representatives of Hemisphere distributors, the duo also had a hand in the production of Francis Ford Coppola's decidedly more ambitious "Apocalypse Now" (1979). More recently, Ashley has teamed with Frank Lupo as executive producer of TV movies and adventure series, achieving their greatest success with "The A-Team," a program typical of the straightforward genre entertainment which has characterized Ashley's career.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Film Production - Main (Feature Film)
Producer (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1956
Acting career began with work at the Tulsa Little Theatre
1956
Met John Wayne through fraternity brother on the set of "The Conqueror"; led to interview with producer at Ziv Television
1956
Appeared on several segments of Ziv-produced television series, "Men of Annapolis"
1957
Made screen debut in "Dragstrip Girl" for American International Pictures (AIP)
1957
Drafted into the US Army; served for six months
1957
Played first lead, in "Motorcycle Gang"
1961
Starred as Clipper Hamilton, one of the co-owners of a racing car garage, in ABC adventure series, "Straightaway"
1963
Played the supporting role of Hermy in what is probably his most notable screen credit, "Hud"
1972
First credit as producer (with Eddie Romero), "Black Mama, White Mama", directed by Romero
1979
Served as representative (with Eddie Romero) for Hemisphere distributors on Francis Ford Coppola's acclaimed Vietnam war epic, "Apocalypse Now"
1979
Moved with second wife and their son from Oklahoma back to California; settled in San Fernando Valley
1982
Produced short-lived ABC adventure series, "The Quest"
1988
Executive produced (with Frank Lupo) short-lived NBC science-fiction series, "Something Is Out There"
1995
Produced the short-lived UPN series "Marker"
1997
Was producer on "Lawless" (Fox), show cancelled after initial airing
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
During the 1980s Ashley has also collaborated with Robert and Joan Conrad as producer of several made-for-TV movies, including "Coach of the Year" (1980), "Will, G. Gordon Liddy" (1982), and "Gladiator School" (1988).
Although Ashley once, at the urgings of its cast, played a small part on "The A-Team", he explains his recent resistance to acting thusly: "Even as a little boy I loved movies, but acting was something I fell into. I never worked at it or had a burning desire to be a star. I much prefer the other side of the camera." (Quoted in Richard Lamparski, "Whatever Became of...?", vol. 10)
