Sonny Landham

American actor-politician (1941–2017)

William M. "Sonny" Landham (February 11, 1941 – August 17, 2017) was an American actor, stunt man and politician. He played tracker Billy Sole in the action movie Predator.[1]

Landham was born in Canton, Georgia. He studied at the University of Georgia.

Landham spent three years in prison after being convicted on federal charges of making threatening phone calls to his wife before the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the conviction in May 2001.[2]

In 2003, Landham ran in the Republican Party primary election for the post of Governor of Kentucky. He was unsuccessful in gaining the party's nomination. He ran briefly as an independent candidate, but withdrew on June 18. In January 2004, Landham announced his candidacy for the 27th State Senate District of Kentucky. He lost the election.

On September 19, 2006, Landham was injured in a four-car accident in Ashland, Kentucky.[3]

On June 25, 2008, Landham announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Mitch McConnell on the Libertarian line.[4] The same day Landham was accused of calling for genocide against Arabs (whom Landham referred to as "camel dung shovelers," "camel jockeys," and "rag-heads") for his comments on the political radio show The Weekly Filibuster.[5] hree days later, on June 28, the Kentucky Libertarians voted unanimously to withdraw Landham's nomination, citing his comments were not in keeping with the party's platform and values.[6]

Landham died of congestive heart failure in Lexington, Kentucky on August 17, 2017 at the age of 78.[7]

References change

  1. Scott, Vernon (31 July 1987). "Landham Craves Acceptance As Actor, Not As Indian". Sun-Sentinel. United Press International. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  2. "Cincinnati Enquirer". Cincinnati.com.
  3. Hart, Kenneth (2006-09-19). "Actor injured in 4-car chain-reaction wreck". The Independent. Ashland, Kentucky. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  4. Lucas, Mary Grace (June 26, 2008). "Tough-guy actor eyes Senate seat". CNN. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  5. "Sonny Landham calls for genocide of all Arabs and Muslims". Independent Political Report. July 26, 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-05-29. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
  6. "Libertarians drop Sonny Landham". Independent Political Report. July 28, 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-05-29. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
  7. Erin Nyren (August 18, 2017). "'Predator' Actor Sonny Landham Dies at 76". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2017.

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