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Charles Southwood

Charles Southwood born Charles Allen Southwood August 30, 1937 in Los Angeles, California, died April 8, 2009 in Grants Pass, Oregon was an American actor in Europe and the founder of Death Cigarettes. Born in Los Angeles in 1937, his family moved to Oregon at the end of World War II. He earned a degree in philosophy at Oregon State University. He travelled to Europe where he worked at a variety of jobs before becoming a stand in for Lex Barker on Woman Times Seven in 1966. He was spotted by an agent who led him into lead roles in spaghetti westerns. Returning to Oregon, he came up with the idea of "Death Cigarettes" in 1991. Deciding to be honest about the effect of cigarettes, Southwood, a smoker from age 13 to 40, decided to be brutally honest about his cigarettes. In addition to the standard warnings, Death Cigarettes were packed in their own coffin: a stark little black package bearing a skull and crossbones. Southwood traveled to the Southern United States, where the major U.S. tobacco companies found his idea "antithetical to their interests." He found a small tobacco company in Holland that was willing to manufacture his cigarettes, and he briefly took up smoking again to get the blend of tobaccos just right, however he couldn't find a cigarette distributor willing to move his product into stores. "I think they're afraid of pressure from the major cigarette manufacturers". The idea of Death cigarettes was "borrowed" by BJ Cunningham for sales in England from 1991-1999.


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Born:
Aug 30, 1937 In Los Angeles, California, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
11
First Appeared:
In the movie Make the Sign of the Cross, Stranger! 1968-05-16
Latest Project:
Movie Documenteur 1981-10-02
Known For
Poster of Documenteur
Poster of Profession: Adventurers
Poster of I Protect Myself Against My Enemies
Poster of Make the Sign of the Cross, Stranger!
Filmography
Movie Documenteur Man on the Water Bed 1981-10-02
Movie Some Too Quiet Gentlemen Charles 1973-01-25
Movie Profession: Adventurers Henry Ralstrom 1973-05-24
Movie There Once Was a Cop Narcotic Bureau agent 1972-02-11
Movie She No Longer Talks, She Shoots le beatnik 1972-08-23
Movie They Call Me Hallelujah Alexi Grand Duke Viosarevich Koperkin / Alexi Ivanovic 'The Bear' 1971-04-08
Movie Manhunt for Murder Insp. Marvin Hobbart 1971-11-10
Movie Roy Colt and Winchester Jack Winchester Jack 1970-08-13
Movie Sartana's Here... Trade Your Pistol for a Coffin Sabbath / Sabata 1970-08-07
Movie Make the Sign of the Cross, Stranger! Bounty Hunter 1968-05-16
Movie I Protect Myself Against My Enemies Alan Burton/Barton 1968-08-16