TV’s ‘Marlboro Man’ Dies Of Lung Cancer

David McLean, a movie and television actor who appeared for many years as the rugged “Marlboro Man” in TV commercials, has died of lung cancer. He was 73.

Family and friends gathered Wednesday at a memorial service for McLean, who died Oct. 12 at University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center.

McLean’s show business break came in 1960 when he starred in the NBCTV summer replacement show “Tate” and he was shown on the cover of TV Guide as the small screen’s newest cowboy. But the show quickly disappeared.

He then appeared in a string of TV Westerns and a a number of movies.

He also worked in numerous television commercials, appearing as the “Marlboro Man” for many years and as the spokesman for Great Western Savings, his family said.

Another actor who claimed he was a former “Marlboro Man” in print ads, also died of lung cancer. Wayne McLaren was 51 when he died on July 22, 1992, in Costa Mesa.