The American actor who appeared as the rugged Marlboro smoking cowboy in the cigarette company’s advertising in the 70’s and 80’s has died of lung disease at the age of 72.

Eric Lawson, the sixth Marlboro man to die of smoking related diseases, later appeared in anti-smoking commercials and TV discussion programmes on the negative effects of smoking, a habit Lawson picked up aged 14 and one he continued until he was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) last year.

It is understood that cigarette manufacturers cement the smoking habit with a cocktail of addictive additives to augment the nicotine.