John Ashley

Actor, Producer
December 25, 1934 – October 3, 1997

When AIP's Sam Arkoff began to create a market for teen-oriented pictures to lure kids away from the television (and their parents) to the drive-in, perhaps John Ashley was his poster child. This handsome, ducktailed star with a deep voice worked his way through the ranks in various JD epics, and was often second banana to Frankie Avalon in the hugely popular Beach Party movie cycle of films, although those pictures seldom demanded that he do more than sit on a blanket and grin. But when given a chance, he was a pretty good actor! He was also married to actress Deborah Walley, who was also a fixture in the AIP teen films of the decade. In the mid-60s he also starred in Larry Buchanan's The Eye Creatures (a made-for-TV remake of Invasion of the Saucermen), and played Marty Robbins' brother in the moonshine-dragstrip epic Hell on Wheels. He had a supporting role in the Paul Newman classic Hud, although his part was shortened in the editing room. Had his contribution been more intact, one wonders if he would have gone on to more A pictures, but fortune would bestow John Ashley in time.

Once the teen films wheezed out, his career had a second wind in a string of horror films made in the Phillippines by director Eddie Romero, including the “Blood” trilogy (Brides of Blood, Mad Doctor on Blood Island and Beast of Blood). At the very least, these pictures pointed to a different future, as Ashley produced several of these films, and then proved to have one of the most prosperous careers of anyone in the AIP staple who sat on the beach. In the 1980's he produced the very successful TV series “The A-Team” and “Werewolf”, as well as the highly regarded TV-movie Coach of the Year with Robert Conrad.

As a leading man, one can see John Ashley at his best in Frankenstein's Daughter, and especially High School Caesar, which is perhaps his signature role. In the latter, he is an authoritative thug, but one easily sees the actor's command and charisma.

FILMS (as actor, unless otherwise noted): Zero Hour! (1957), Motorcycle Gang (1957), Dragstrip Girl (1957), Suicide Battalion (1958), Hot Rod Gang (1958), How to Make a Monster (1958), Frankenstein's Daughter (1959), High School Caesar (1960), Hud (1963), Beach Party (1963), Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), Young Dillinger (1965), How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965), Sergeant Dead Head (1965), The Eye Creatures (1965), Hell on Wheels (1967), Manila, Open City (1968), Brides of Blood (1968), Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968), The Beast of the Yellow Night (1971, plus co-producer), Beast of Blood (1971), The Big Doll House (1971, executive producer only), The Woman Hunt (1973, plus producer), The Twilight People (1973, plus producer), Black Mama, White Mama (1973, co-producer only), Beyond Atlantis (1973, plus producer), Savage Sisters (1974, plus producer), Black Mamba (1974), Smoke in the Wind (1975), Sudden Death (1977), Apocalypse Now (1979, associate producer only)