“For the longest time, the Marlboro Man was synonymous with America’s image of itself — tough, self-sufficient, hard-working.
“In one of the 20th century’s most famous ad campaigns, which began in the 1950s, he was a rugged but handsome man who did the jobs that needed to be done, and he almost always had a Marlboro cigarette in his mouth.
“Today, the reality about the Marlboro Man is darker: At least four actors who have played him in ads have died of smoking-related diseases.
“The latest was Eric Lawson, 72, who appeared in Marlboro print ads from 1978 to 1981. He died in San Luis Obispo on Jan. 10.” – LATimes.com
