Eric Lawson was a model and performer best known for portraying the "Marlboro Man,"  in print advertisements and television commercials for Marlboro cigarettes in the 1970s.

The native of Glendale, California, was an actor who had scored guest roles in such TV series as Police Story, The Streets of San Francisco and Baretta when he was hired to appear in Marlboro ads.

Even while representing Marlboro, he continued to work in television. His other credits over the years included The Waltons, CHiPs, Charlie's Angels, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, Dynasty, Trapper John, M.D., Baywatch and Walker, Texas Ranger.

His feature films included Gymkata and The Shooter.

Lawson, who was reported to have begun smoking at age 14, eventually contracted chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He later appeared in an anti-smoking commercial that satirized the Marlboro man. He also did an interview with Entertainment Tonight in which he discussed the negative effects of smoking.

He died January 10, 2014, in San Luis Obisbo, California. He was 72.