About Wayne McLaren
Lived 1940 – 1992 (aged 51). Wayne McLaren was an American television actor, model, film actor, stunt performer, actor and model (person).
Wayne McLaren (born Lawrence Gilbert McLaren, September 12, 1940 – July 22, 1992) was an American stuntman, model, actor, and rodeo performer.
Biography McLaren worked as a stuntman and rodeo rider before being hired to appear in advertisements for Marlboro. McLaren competed in bronc riding and bull riding events. In 1976, he did promotional work for the famous Marlboro cigarette advertising campaign as the "Marlboro Man".
After developing lung cancer in 1990, McLaren became an antismoking crusader, citing his 30-year smoking habit as the cause of his cancer. During the time of McLaren's antismoking activism, Philip Morris denied that McLaren ever appeared in a Marlboro ad. In response, McLaren produced an affidavit from a talent agency that had represented him and a paycheck stub asserting that he had been paid for work on a "Marlboro print" job.
Just before his death, a television spot was filmed showing images of him appearing as the cowboy juxtaposed with those of him on his hospital bed; his brother, Charles McLaren, gave a voiceover about the dangers of smoking and noted that the tobacco industry promoted an "independent lifestyle" before finally summarizing, "Lying there with all those tubes in you, how independent can you really be?"
David McLean is another actor who portrayed the Marlboro Man and died of lung cancer.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1969 Paint Your Wagon Miner StuntsUncredited1972 The Honkers Everett Junior Bonner Uncredited Cry for Me, Billy Soldier Stunts Television Year Title Role Notes 1968 Mission: Impossible Artie Calvitos 2 episodes 1969 The Mod Squad Miller 1 episode1971 The F.B.I. Jay Yarborough 1 episode Cannon Jackie / T.J. TV movie 1972–1973 Cannon Harold Degnan / Alex Farrell 2 episodes, (final appearance) 1973 Gunsmoke Homer 1 episode
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Important facts
People in Wayne McLaren's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Wayne McLaren's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Wayne McLaren?
Stuntman, model, actor, rodeo performer (1940–1992)
When was Wayne McLaren born?
Wayne McLaren was born on 12 September 1940 in Lake Charles.
When did Wayne McLaren die?
Wayne McLaren died on 22 July 1992 in Newport Beach.
What was Wayne McLaren's occupation?
Wayne McLaren was a television actor, model, film actor, stunt performer, actor and model (person).
What nationality was Wayne McLaren?
Wayne McLaren was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Wayne McLaren. https://biography.guide/wayne-mclaren/
MLA: "Wayne McLaren." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/wayne-mclaren/.
Chicago: "Wayne McLaren." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/wayne-mclaren/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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