Marco St. John

Marco St. John (born Marco John Figueroa Jr.; May 7, 1939) is an American actor who has appeared in films and television programs. He is known for his role as the lascivious and obnoxious truck driver in the 1991 film Thelma & Louise and for playing Sheriff Cal Tucker in the 1985 horror film Friday the 13th: A New Beginning. He has also worked as a theater producer and cultural organizer on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Early life

Marco St. John was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Iris (née Davidson) and Marco Juan Figueroa Sr., and spent part of his childhood connected to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where his family maintained long-standing roots. He visited the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a child and later attended Ocean Springs High School and Gulfport High School. His family had deep involvement in local historical and cultural activities, including participation in historical pageants and reenactments connected to the 1699 French landing at Fort Maurepas in Ocean Springs.

He later studied at Fordham University in New York City, where he initially considered pursuing a law degree before turning to acting. After college, he trained in classical theater, including Shakespearean performance, at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He subsequently returned to New York to pursue a professional acting career on stage.

St. John appeared in a number of feature films, including Thelma & Louise, Tightrope, Hard Target, The Package, and State of Grace. His role as the truck driver in Thelma & Louise became one of his most widely recognized performances, and newspapers noted that the notoriety of the role contrasted with his off-screen personality.

He founded the Mississippi Repertory Theater Company, which operated from 1979 to 1982 and brought professional actors and directors to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. After a hiatus of approximately 20 years, he announced plans to revive the company, citing increased cultural and financial readiness in South Mississippi. The revival was scheduled to begin with a production of The Lion in Winter at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans under the direction of Richard Harden.

In 1980, St. John starred in The Gospel of St. Mark, a one-man stage production adapted from a Broadway presentation originally performed by Alec McCowen. The production was staged in Mississippi and noted for its demanding memorization and performance requirements.

St. John portrayed Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville in the annual reenactment of the 1699 French landing at Fort Maurepas in Ocean Springs. His participation reflected his family's long-standing involvement in local historical preservation and reenactment activities.

By the 1990s and early 2000s, St. John resided primarily in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, while continuing to work in film and television productions in Louisiana and elsewhere. During this period, he designed and helped construct a modern home in Ocean Springs and expressed interest in undertaking additional home-building projects between acting jobs.

Filmography

Film

Television