We grew up with actors smoking in movies and on television. The advertising for cigarettes was everywhere, and one of the most iconic was the Marlboro Man, a ruggedly handsome man among men who would light up on horseback, ready to ride into his next adventure, similar to the cowpoke above. In this case, into the sunset.

Eric Lawson, was the rugged Marlboro man in print ads in the late 1970s. You may have seen Eric in bit parts on Charlie's Angels, Baywatch, Baretta, Dynasty and The Streets of San Francisco before appearing in cigarette ads. On January 10th, Eric died of respiratory failure at 72. He was one of three of the men who gave image to the macho lifestyle of nicotine enjoyment as The Marlboro Man, and then paid the ultimate price.

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