Star of Marlboro cigarette ad dies of lung disease

Eric Lawson, who played the rugged Marlboro Man in cigarette ads in the late 1970s, has died in California. He was 72.

Lawson died at his home in San Luis Obispo of respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), said his widow, Susan Lawson.

Lawson was an actor with bit parts on such TV shows as The Streets Of San Francisco when he was hired to appear in print Marlboro ads from 1978 to 1981.