Luke Askew

Francis Luke Askew (born March 26, 1932 in Macon, Georgia) was an American actor whose rugged presence made him a memorable figure in the gritty westerns and counter‑cultural films of the late 1960s and beyond. After growing up as the son of Milton Dillard Askew and Dorothy Doolittle, he pursued higher education at the University of Georgia, Mercer University, and the Walter F. George School of Law, all while serving in the U.S. Air Force Intelligence Division of Strategic Air Command during the Korean War. His early career unfolded on radio and television, and he also cultivated a reputation as a rock and blues singer, performing Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Jimmy Reed songs at The Gaslight Café where Bob Dylan likened his voice to “a guy who sounded like Bobby Blue Bland.” Askew made his film debut with Hurry Sundown (1967) and quickly garnered attention in Cool Hand Luke the same year, leading to a role opposite John Wayne in The Green Berets (1968). In 1969 he delivered the iconic “Stranger on Highway” performance in Easy Rider, a brief yet pivotal part that cemented his status as a cult figure and opened doors to numerous supporting and villainous roles. He starred in the spaghetti western Night of the Serpent (1969) and later appeared in genre titles such as The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984) and Dune Warriors (1991), while also guest‑starring on television classics like Bonanza, Mission: Impossible, The Six Million Dollar Man, and MacGyver. Beyond acting, Askew contributed to documentaries about the making of Easy Rider and the broader cultural shifts of the era, appearing in Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage (1999) and Easy Riders, Raging Bulls (2003). He eventually settled in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where he lived until his death from lung cancer on March 29, 2012, just three days after his 80th birthday, leaving behind a legacy of gritty performances and a distinctive musical talent.