Former 'Marlboro Man' Dies of Smoking

Former 'Marlboro Man' Dies of Smoking-Related Disease

By Vishakha Sonawane | Jan 27, 2014 04:53 AM EST

Eric Lawson, the 'Marlboro Man' of late 70s, died of smoking-related disease at the age of 72, early January.

Lawson died January 10 of respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at his California home, his wife Susan Lawson, said Sunday. He was better known as the smoking cowboy in the print ads of Marlboro cigarettes from 1978 to 1981. He began smoking at the age of 14.

The ruggedly handsome Lawson was also seen on TV shows such as 'Baretta' and 'The Streets of San Francisco,' reports the Daily Mail. Lawson also appeared on 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Dynasty' and 'Baywatch.'

According to his wife, Lawson's acting career ended after he was injured on the sets of a Western movie in 1997. Lawson's last work was an anti-smoking commercial that parodied the Marlboro man. He also appeared on an 'Entertainment Tonight' segment to discuss the drawbacks of smoking, reports the Associated Press.

Lawson was proud of the interview but continued to smoke, his wife said. He was later diagnosed with COPD. 'He knew the cigarettes had a hold on him,' she told AP. 'He knew, yet he still couldn't stop.'

Lawson is survived by six children, 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, reports the associated press.

Other Marlboro models have died of smoking-related ailments. They include David Millar, who died of emphysema in 1987, and David McLean, who died of lung cancer in 1995.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every five deaths in the country is due to smoking. Smoking is more common in men than women.