HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

John Mitchum (September 6, 1919 – November 29, 2001) was an American
actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...
from the 1940s to the 1970s in film and television. The younger brother of the actor
Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He rose to prominence with an Academy Award nomination for the Best Supporting Actor for ''The Story of G.I. Joe'' (1945), followed by his starring in ...
, he was credited as Jack Mitchum early in his career.


Early years

Mitchum was born in
Bridgeport, Connecticut Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the List of cities by population in New England, fifth-most populous ...
, to Ann Harriet Mitchum (née Gunderson) and James Thomas Mitchum, who had been killed in a railyard accident seven months earlier. He was the younger brother of
Julie Mitchum Julie Mitchum (born Annette Mitchum, July 23, 1914 – February 21, 2003) was an American actress. Biography Mitchum was born in Charleston, South Carolina, to James Thomas Mitchum and Ann Harriet Gunderson. Unlike her younger brothers ...
and
Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He rose to prominence with an Academy Award nomination for the Best Supporting Actor for ''The Story of G.I. Joe'' (1945), followed by his starring in ...
. He served in the
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
, 361st Harbor Craft Company, in
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
and
Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
.


Career

Mitchum initially appeared unbilled in (e.g., ''
Flying Leathernecks ''Flying Leathernecks'' is a 1951 American Technicolor action war film directed by Nicholas Ray, produced by Edmund Grainger, (who had produced ''Sands of Iwo Jima'') and starring John Wayne and Robert Ryan. The movie details the exploits an ...
'', RKO 1951) and extra roles before gradually receiving bigger character parts. He supported his more famous brother on several occasions, and became known as the friendly, food-loving Inspector Frank DiGiorgio in the first three '' Dirty Harry films''. His character was killed in the third film, '' The Enforcer''. In 1957, he had a short appearance on ''
Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...
'' as a dueling cowboy in the episode “Sweet and Sour” (S2E23). He returned two years later portraying “Joe” in “The Constable” (S4E37). In 1958, Mitchum was cast in two episodes of the
crime drama Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...
''
Richard Diamond, Private Detective ''Richard Diamond, Private Detective'' is an American detective drama, created by Blake Edwards, which aired on radio from 1949 to 1953, and on television from 1957 to 1960. Radio Dick Powell starred in the ''Richard Diamond, Private Detec ...
'', starring
David Janssen David Janssen (born David Harold Meyer) (March 27, 1931February 13, 1980) was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Richard Kimble in the television series '' The Fugitive'' (1963–1967). Janssen also ...
. He played Joe in the episode "Short Haul" and Jimmy Logan in "Bungalow Murder". On September 15, 1959, Mitchum appeared in the premiere episode "Stage Stop" of the
Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
series '' Laramie''. Mitchum was cast in 1960 as Pickalong in 10 episodes of the Western series ''
Riverboat A riverboat is a watercraft designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury un ...
'', starring Darren McGavin. The same year, he appeared in the Western series '' The Rebel'', starring Nick Adams. He also appeared as Hal Swanson in the 1960 episode "Silver Killers" of the Western series ''
Tombstone Territory ''Tombstone Territory'' is an American Western series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The series' first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the second s ...
''. Mitcham appeared in the 1960 Tales of Wells Fargo episode, "A Show for Silver Lode", in the role of a Wells Fargo station agent. From 1965 to 1967, Mitchum had the recurring role of Trooper Hoffenmueller in 11 episodes of the
sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...
''
F Troop ''F Troop'' is a satirical American television sitcom Western about U.S. soldiers and Native Americans in the Wild West during the 1860s that originally aired for two seasons on ABC. It debuted in the United States on September 14, 1965, and ...
'', starring
Forrest Tucker Forrest Meredith Tucker (February 12, 1919 – October 25, 1986) was an American actor in both movies and television who appeared in nearly a hundred films. Tucker worked as a vaudeville straight man at the age of fifteen. A mentor provided fund ...
,
Larry Storch Lawrence Samuel Storch (January 8, 1923 – July 8, 2022) was an American actor and comedian best known for his comic television roles, including voice-over work for cartoon shows such as Mr. Whoopee on ''Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales'' and hi ...
, and
Ken Berry Kenneth Ronald Berry (November 3, 1933 – December 1, 2018) was an American actor, dancer, and singer. Berry starred on the television series ''F Troop'', ''The Andy Griffith Show'', '' Mayberry R.F.D.'' and ''Mama's Family''. He also appe ...
. In the 1967 episode of ''
Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...
'' "Surf's Up! Joker's Under!", he guest-starred as the character Hot Dog Harrigan. Mitchum was a writer, poet, singer, and guitar player. An autobiography/biography about his life and career and that of his brother Robert was published in 1998, called ''Them Ornery Mitchum Boys''. He composed the piece "America, Why I Love Her", which
John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...
included in his book and album of the same name. The piece and a short film with Wayne's narration were aired at many television stations at sign-off time before stations began broadcasting 24 hours a day in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Wayne is often mistakenly credited with composing the piece.


Personal life

Mitchum was married three times, first to Joy Hallward, older sister of
film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...
femme fatale
Gloria Grahame Gloria Grahame Hallward (November 28, 1923 – October 5, 1981) was an Academy Award-winning American actress and singer. She began her acting career in theatre, and in 1944 made her first film for MGM. Despite a featured role in ''It's a Wond ...
. Mitchum died on November 29, 2001, after complications of three strokes. He was 82.


Selected filmography


With Clint Eastwood

* '' Paint Your Wagon'' (1969) – Jacob Woodling * ''
Dirty Harry ''Dirty Harry'' is a 1971 American neo-noir action thriller film produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the ''Dirty Harry'' series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first outing as San Francisco Police Department (SFP ...
'' (1971) – Frank De Georgio * ''
High Plains Drifter ''High Plains Drifter'' is a 1973 American Western film directed by Clint Eastwood, written by Ernest Tidyman, and produced by Robert Daley for The Malpaso Company and Universal Pictures. The film stars Eastwood as a mysterious stranger who ...
'' (1973) – Warden * ''
Magnum Force ''Magnum Force'' is a 1973 American neo-noir vigilante action thriller film and the second to feature Clint Eastwood as maverick cop Harry Callahan after the 1971 film ''Dirty Harry''. Ted Post, who had previously worked with Eastwood on '' Ra ...
'' (1973) – Frank De Georgio * ''
The Outlaw Josey Wales ''The Outlaw Josey Wales'' is a 1976 American Revisionist Western film set during and after the American Civil War. It was directed by and starred Clint Eastwood (as Josey Wales), with Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Sam Bottoms, and Geraldin ...
'' (1976) – Al * '' The Enforcer'' (1976) – Frank De Georgio


Other appearances

* ''
The Prairie ''The Prairie: A Tale'' (1827) is a novel by James Fenimore Cooper, the third novel written by him featuring Natty Bumppo. His fictitious frontier hero Bumppo is never called by his name, but is instead referred to as "the trapper" or "the old ...
'' (1947) – Asa Bush * '' Shed No Tears'' (1948) – Policeman (uncredited) * ''
Knock on Any Door ''Knock on Any Door'' is a 1949 American courtroom trial film noir directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Humphrey Bogart. The picture gave actor John Derek his breakthrough role, and was based on the 1947 novel of the same name by Willard Motley ...
'' (1949) – Jury Member (uncredited) * ''
The Devil's Sleep ''The Devil's Sleep'' is a 1949 exploitation film directed by W. Merle Connell and produced by George Weiss. Connell had previously directed a number of American burlesque films.pp.267-268 Shteir, Rachel ''Striptease: The Untold History of the Gi ...
'' (1949) – Interne * ''
When Willie Comes Marching Home ''When Willie Comes Marching Home'' is a 1950 World War II comedy film directed by John Ford and starring Dan Dailey and Corinne Calvet. It is based on the 1945 short story "When Leo Comes Marching Home" by Sy Gomberg. The film won the Golden L ...
'' (1950) – Schreves (scenes deleted) * ''
In a Lonely Place ''In a Lonely Place'' is a 1950 American film noir directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame, produced for Bogart's Santana Productions. The script was written by Andrew P. Solt from Edmund H. North's adaptation o ...
'' (1950) – Bar Patron (uncredited) * '' Born to Be Bad'' (1950) – Guest (uncredited) * ''
Right Cross ''Right Cross'' is a 1950 sports drama film released by MGM, directed by John Sturges, written by Charles Schnee and starring June Allyson, Ricardo Montalban, Dick Powell, Lionel Barrymore and (in a small uncredited role) Marilyn Monroe. Plot ...
'' (1950) – Sixth Reporter (uncredited) * ''
Flying Leathernecks ''Flying Leathernecks'' is a 1951 American Technicolor action war film directed by Nicholas Ray, produced by Edmund Grainger, (who had produced ''Sands of Iwo Jima'') and starring John Wayne and Robert Ryan. The movie details the exploits an ...
'' (1951) – Lt. Black (uncredited) * '' Submarine Command'' (1951) – Bert (uncredited) * ''
The Pace That Thrills ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'' (1952) – Blackie Meyers * ''
One Minute to Zero ''One Minute to Zero'' is a 1952 American romantic war film starring Robert Mitchum and Ann Blyth, set during the opening phases of the Korean War, and produced by Howard Hughes as his last film as producer. Victor Young's score for the film inc ...
'' (1952) – Artillery Spotter (uncredited) * ''
The Lusty Men ''The Lusty Men '' is a 1952 Western film released by Wald-Krasna Productions and RKO Radio Pictures starring Susan Hayward, Robert Mitchum, Arthur Kennedy and Arthur Hunnicutt. The picture was directed by Nicholas Ray and produced by Jerry W ...
'' (1952) – Jack Nemo (uncredited) * ''
Stalag 17 ''Stalag 17'' is a 1953 American war film which tells the story of a group of American airmen confined with 40,000 prisoners in a World War II German prisoner of war camp "somewhere on the Danube". Their compound holds 630 Sergeants representi ...
'' (1953) – Prisoner of War (uncredited) * ''
Lucy Gallant ''Lucy Gallant'' is a 1955 American drama film directed by Robert Parrish and written by John Lee Mahin and Winston Miller. The film stars Jane Wyman, Charlton Heston, Claire Trevor, Thelma Ritter, William Demarest and Wallace Ford. The film wa ...
'' (1955) – One of Casey's Air Force Buddies (uncredited) * ''
The Rawhide Years ''The Rawhide Years'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Rudolph Mate and starring Tony Curtis. Colleen Miller and Arthur Kennedy.Perils of the Wilderness ''Perils of the Wilderness'' is a 1956 American Western serial film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and starring Dennis Moore. Plot U.S. Deputy Marshal Dan Lawson teams with RCMP Sergeant Gray to go undercover and capture the nefarious smuggl ...
'' (1956) – Brent * ''
The Bold and the Brave ''The Bold and the Brave'' is a 1956 American World War II film written by Robert Lewin in his first screenplay based on some of his Italian Campaign experiences. It was directed by Lewis R. Foster and stars Wendell Corey, Mickey Rooney, and ...
'' (1956) – G.I. in Bar (uncredited) * ''
Nightmare A nightmare, also known as a bad dream, Retrieved 11 July 2016. is an unpleasant dream that can cause a strong emotional response from the mind, typically fear but also despair, anxiety or great sadness. The dream may contain situations of d ...
'' (1956) – Onlooker at Stan's Suicide Attempt (uncredited) * '' The Man Is Armed'' (1956) – Officer * ''
Man in the Vault ''Man in the Vault'' is a 1956 film noir about a locksmith, played by William Campbell, who is forced to help gangsters commit a robbery. The screenplay by Burt Kennedy was based on the novel ''The Lock and the Key'' by Frank Gruber. The film wa ...
'' (1956) – Andy (uncredited) * ''
5 Steps to Danger ''5 Steps to Danger'' is a 1957 American film noir crime film directed, produced, and co–written by Henry S. Kesler. It stars Ruth Roman and Sterling Hayden, with a cast that also included Werner Klemperer, Richard Gaines, Charles Davis, ...
'' (1957) – Deputy * ''
Operation Mad Ball ''Operation Mad Ball'' is a 1957 military comedy from Columbia Pictures, produced by Jed Harris, directed by Richard Quine, that stars Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs, Kathryn Grant, Arthur O'Connell, and Mickey Rooney. The screenplay is by Blake E ...
'' (1957) – Enlisted Man (uncredited) * '' Black Patch'' (1957) – Saloon Dealer (uncredited) * '' Death in Small Doses'' (1957) – Truck Consignment Man (uncredited) * ''
Ride Out for Revenge ''Ride Out for Revenge'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Bernard Girard and starring Rory Calhoun, Gloria Grahame, Lloyd Bridges and Joanne Gilbert. Plot Chief Yellow Wolf and son Little Wolf walk to town (the plight of Yellow W ...
'' (1957) – Sergeant (uncredited) * '' The Tall Stranger'' (1957) – Porter (uncredited) * '' Up in Smoke'' (1957) – Desk Sergeant * ''
The Restless Gun ''The Restless Gun'' is an American Western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Civil War. A skilled gunfighter, Bonner is a ...
'' (1958) in Episode "The Coward" * ''
Cole Younger, Gunfighter ''Cole Younger, Gunfighter'' is a 1958 American CinemaScope Western film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Daniel Mainwaring. It is based on the 1950 novel ''The Desperado'' by Clifton Adams. The film stars Frank Lovejoy, James Best ...
'' (1958) – Rand City Bartender * '' Hell's Five Hours'' (1958) – Roadblock Officer (uncredited) * ''
Quantrill's Raiders Quantrill's Raiders were the best-known of the pro-Confederate States of America, Confederate partisan guerrillas (also known as "bushwhackers") who fought in the American Civil War. Their leader was William Quantrill and they included Jesse Ja ...
'' (1958) – Sergeant (uncredited) * ''
The Bonnie Parker Story ''The Bonnie Parker Story'' is a 1958 crime film directed by William Witney. The movie is loosely based on the life of Bonnie Parker, a well-known outlaw of the 1930. The film stars Dorothy Provine as Parker; Parker's actual historical partner, ...
'' (1958) – John – Saloon Owner / Bartender (uncredited) * ''
Revolt in the Big House ''Revolt in the Big House'' is a 1958 American film noir directed by R. G. Springsteen and starring Gene Evans, Robert Blake and Timothy Carey. Portions of the film were shot on location at Folsom State Prison in California. Blacklisted screen ...
'' (1958) – Guard (uncredited) * '' Johnny Rocco'' (1958) – Police Detective at Stakeout (uncredited) * ''
Guns Girls and Gangsters ''Guns, Girls and Gangsters'' is a 1959 American film noir crime film directed by Edward L. Cahn starring Mamie Van Doren, Gerald Mohr, Lee Van Cleef, and Grant Richards. Plot Chuck Wheeler is released from prison and plans an elaborate heist ...
'' (1959) – Armored Car Guard (uncredited) * ''
Al Capone Alphonse Gabriel Capone (; January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), sometimes known by the nickname "Scarface", was an American gangster and businessman who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the ...
'' (1959) – Photographer (uncredited) * ''
The Gunfight at Dodge City ''The Gunfight at Dodge City'' is a 1959 DeLuxe Color Western (genre), Western CinemaScope film. It was produced by the Mirisch Company, directed by Joseph M. Newman, co-written by Martin Goldsmith (screenwriter), Martin Goldsmith and Daniel B. ...
'' (1959) – Rowdy Drunken Cowboy (uncredited) * '' Battle Flame'' (1959) – Maj. Dowling * '' The Sergeant Was a Lady'' (1961) – MP #1 * ''
Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Germany from 1933 until his death in 1945. He rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Party, becoming the chancellor in 1933 and then ...
'' (1962) – Hermann Goering * '' The Virginian'' (1963 episode "Echo of Another Day") as Madison * '' Cattle King'' (1963) – Tex * ''
My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play ''Pygmalion'', with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons f ...
'' (1964) – Ad Lib at Church (uncredited) * '' Brainstorm'' (1965) – Guitar-Playing Inmate (uncredited) * '' Seconds'' (1966) – Truck Driver (uncredited) * ''
The Plainsman ''The Plainsman'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur. The film presents a highly fictionalized account of the adventures and relationships between Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jan ...
'' (1966) – Townsman (uncredited) * ''
Warning Shot In military and police contexts, a warning shot is an intentionally harmless artillery shot or gunshot with intent to enact direct compliance and order to a hostile perpetrator or enemy forces. It is recognized as signalling intended confronta ...
'' (1967) – Reporter at Apartment (uncredited) * ''
The Way West ''The Way West'' is a 1949 western novel by A. B. Guthrie, Jr. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1950 and became the basis for a film starring Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, and Richard Widmark. The novel is one in the sequence o ...
'' (1967) – Little Henry * ''
El Dorado El Dorado (, ; Spanish for "the golden"), originally ''El Hombre Dorado'' ("The Golden Man") or ''El Rey Dorado'' ("The Golden King"), was the term used by the Spanish in the 16th century to describe a mythical tribal chief (''zipa'') or king o ...
'' (1967) – Elmer – Jason's Bartender (uncredited) * ''
Three Guns for Texas 3 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 3, three, or III may also refer to: * AD 3, the third year of the AD era * 3 BC, the third year before the AD era * March, the third month Books * '' Three of Them'' (Russian: ', literally, "three"), a 1901 ...
'' (1968) – George (uncredited) * ''
Bandolero! ''Bandolero!'' is a 1968 American Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring James Stewart, Dean Martin, Raquel Welch and George Kennedy. The story centers on two brothers on the run from a posse, led by a local sheriff who want ...
'' (1968) – Bath House Barber * ''
Chisum ''Chisum'' is a 1970 American Western film directed by Andrew McLaglen, starring John Wayne in the titular role, and adapted for the screen by Andrew J. Fenady from his short story "Chisum and the Lincoln County War." The supporting cast featu ...
'' (1970) – Baker * ''
Bigfoot Bigfoot, also commonly referred to as Sasquatch, is a purported ape-like creature said to inhabit the forest of North America. Many dubious articles have been offered in attempts to prove the existence of Bigfoot, including anecdotal claims o ...
'' (1970) – Elmer Briggs * ''
One More Train to Rob ''One More Train to Rob'' is a 1971 American comedy western film directed by Andrew McLaglen, starring George Peppard, and featuring Diana Muldaur, John Vernon and France Nuyen. The shooting title for the film was ''Hark''. Plot Set in the O ...
'' (1971) – Guard (uncredited) * '' Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate'' (1971) – Mr. Tubbs * ''
Chandler Chandler or The Chandler may refer to: * Chandler (occupation), originally head of the medieval household office responsible for candles, now a person who makes or sells candles * Ship chandler, a dealer in supplies or equipment for ships Arts ...
'' (1971) – Rudy, Bartender * ''Bloody Trail'' (1972) – Hoss * ''The World Through the Eyes of Children'' (1975) – Preacher * '' Breakheart Pass'' (1975) – Red Beard * '' Pipe Dreams'' (1976) – Franklin * '' Telefon'' (1977) – Harry Bascom * ''Where's Willie?'' (1978) * '' Jake Spanner, Private Eye'' (1989) – J.P. Spanner


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchum, John 1919 births 2001 deaths 20th-century American guitarists 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American male musicians American male film actors American male guitarists American male television actors American people of English descent American people of Irish descent American people of Norwegian descent American people of Scotch-Irish descent American people of Scottish descent Guitarists from Connecticut Male actors from Bridgeport, Connecticut Male actors from Los Angeles Mitchum family