Laughlin was blessed with an appealing screen presence and should have, probably could have, been in much better films.

Born Losers, the first film in which the Billy Jack character appeared, wanted us to believe that an entire town, including the police department, would tremble in fear at the antics of a motorcycle gang who were little more than pathetic bums.

The main Billy Jack film pandered to the 'hippy' culture of the Vietnam debacle era, and Laughlin deserves credit for personally getting the film in theaters, although it has not aged well.

The two follow-ups were really pathetic, and were, or at least should have been, an embarrassment to all who participated.

He will probably become an odd footnote in cinema history, may he rest in peace.