John Mitchum
Acting
Born: September 6, 1919 · Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
Died: November 29, 2001 (aged 82)
Highest Rated
Biography
John Newman Mitchum was the September child of a Norwegian mother and an Irish/Blackfoot father whom he never knew, as he was killed in a tragic train yard accident in 1919. His two-years-older brother Robert filled the role as best as he could, while their older sister Annette studied the lively arts and eventually joined a traveling vaudeville team. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the young family moved to Rising Sun, Delaware, where farm life didn't agree with the young boys. Scarce opportunities took them to New York City, where the streets of Hell's kitchen taught the brothers to fight, a skill they developed so well they earned the moniker 'them ornery Mitchum boys'. Eventually, when the Great Depression deepened, the family was forced to separate with the intention of meeting up with sister Annette, who had married a sailor and moved to California, changing her name to Julie. The teenage boys set out with little more than clean handkerchiefs to find their way across the country by the only means they could: hitchhiking and riding the rails. Their somewhat aimless journey took them to places they had never been; where their Eastern accents were not welcome, so they quickly learned that accurately mimicking the local dialect would keep them out of trouble--some of the time! While brother Robert fairly quickly discovered his place in Hollywood legend, John sought his destiny on the high seas, professionally boxing, or conducting a choir. When the opportunity for acting came along John found his perfect niche as a character actor, mostly playing heavies since he was an imposing figure of a man. John's roles had him playing alongside a wide range of celebrities, from Humphrey Bogart in "Knock On Any Door" (1949) to Gladys Knight in "Pipe Dreams" (1976), Clint Eastwood of "Dirty Harry" (1971) to John Wayne in "Chisum" (1970), appearing in 58 films overall. It was during production of "Chisum" that John Wayne offered his voice for an anthology of John's poetry that seeks to uplift US culture, "America, Why I Love Her", a recording for which Mitchum was nominated for a Grammy in 1973. John was a consummate storyteller (as was his brother Robert), and with his fascination with US history in particular he was ever-ready to regale anyone with a thoughtful, interesting, and insightful anecdote, especially if a guitar was available. It was the wedding of music and history that brought him to create the recording "Our Land, Our Heritage" with Dan Blocker; big "Hoss" from "Bonanza", in 1964. Mitchum had some recurring roles throughout his television career; such as "Pickalong" from "Riverboat", or "Hoffenmueller" from "F-Troop", over 150 appearances in all during the span of a half-century career. The brothers Mitchum legacy has been well-preserved in his often hilarious autobiography, "Them Ornery Mitchum Boys", published in 1989. The subjects range from brother Robert escaping a Georgia chain-gang to his "poontang" interview; from John surviving an attacking whale on a three-masted schooner to his adventures riding the rails, developing a great love and respect for the people of the United States.
Known for
Dirty Harry
1971
My Fair Lady
1964
High Plains Drifter
1973
The Outlaw Josey Wales
1976
Magnum Force
1973
The Twilight Zone
1959
Little House on the Prairie
1974
The Enforcer
1976
Bewitched
1964
In a Lonely Place
1950
Batman
1966
El Dorado
1966
Photos (2)
Movies (56)
Dirty Harry
De Georgio
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Al
Magnum Force
Frank DiGiorgio
My Fair Lady
Ad Lib at Church (uncredited)
High Plains Drifter
Warden
The Enforcer
Frank DiGiorgio
El Dorado
Elmer - Jason's Bartender
In a Lonely Place
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Bandolero!
Bath House Customer
Chisum
Baker
Breakheart Pass
Red Beard
Paint Your Wagon
Jacob Woodling
Knock on Any Door
Jury Member (uncredited)
The Way West
Little Henry
Born to Be Bad
Guest (uncredited)
One More Train to Rob
Guard (uncredited)
Cattle King
Tex
Telefon
Harry Bascom
Hoodwinked
J.P. Spanner
5 Steps to Danger
Bud--Deputy Sheriff
The Gunfight at Dodge City
Rowdy Drunken Cowboy
The Lusty Men
1952
Operation Mad Ball
Enlisted Man (uncredited)
A Family for Joe
Preacher
Ride Out for Revenge
Sergeant (uncredited)
The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains
Atlanta Judge
Flying Leathernecks
Lt. Black (uncredited)
The Pace That Thrills
Blackie Myers
Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate
Mr. Tubbs
Brainstorm
Guitar-Playing Inmate (uncredited)
Chandler
Rudy, Bartender
Guns Girls and Gangsters
Armored Car Guard (uncredited)
Warning Shot
1967
The Bonnie Parker Story
John - Saloon Owner / Bartender (uncredited)
The Plainsman
Townsman (uncredited)
The Tall Stranger
1957
The Hanged Man
Eubie Turpin
Submarine Command
1951
Death in Small Doses
Handler (uncredited)
Perils of the Wilderness
Brent
The Man Is Armed
Officer
Nightmare
Onlooker at Stan's Suicide Attempt (Uncredited)
Shed No Tears
Policeman (Uncredited)
Bigfoot
Elmer Briggs
Savage
Motel Manager
Cole Younger, Gunfighter
Rand City Bartender
Hitler
Hermann Goering
Crackle of Death
Janitor
Up In Smoke
Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
The Devil's Sleep
Doctor
The Prairie
Asa Bush
Johnny Rocco
Police Detective at Stakeout (uncredited)
Bloody Trail
Hoss
Battle Flame
Maj. Dowling
Escapes
Mr. Olson (Coffee Break)
Where's Willie?
1978
TV Shows (60)
Perry Mason
Operative · 1 eps
Perry Mason
Operator · 1 eps
Ironside
Slim · 1 eps
Ironside
Photo Lab Foreman · 1 eps
Bonanza
Lou Palmer · 1 eps
Bonanza
Bartender #1 · 1 eps
Bonanza
Bartender · 1 eps
Maverick
1 eps
Bewitched
2 eps
Adam-12
Tom Horton · 1 eps
Little House on the Prairie
Sam Benson · 1 eps
Quincy, M.E.
1 eps
Batman
Rip Snorting · 2 eps
Batman
Hot Dog Harrigan · 1 eps
The Waltons
Announcer · 1 eps
The Twilight Zone
Erbie · 1 eps
The Twilight Zone
Ace · 1 eps
Have Gun, Will Travel
2 eps
Have Gun, Will Travel
McHeath · 1 eps
Have Gun, Will Travel
Sanders - Gold Robber · 1 eps
The Virginian
Madison · 1 eps
The Virginian
Pooch · 1 eps
The Virginian
Bartender · 3 eps
The Virginian
Sam the Bartender · 1 eps
The Virginian
Bucky the Bartender · 1 eps
Dragnet
2 eps
The Untouchables
Freddie · 1 eps
Rawhide
Luke Rose (uncredited) · 1 eps
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1 eps
Gunsmoke
Joe · 2 eps
Gunsmoke
Bob · 1 eps
Gunsmoke
Norm · 1 eps
Gunsmoke
Wills · 1 eps
The Munsters
1 eps
Thriller
Policeman · 1 eps
Laramie
1 eps
The Mod Squad
Detective at Hospital (uncredited) · 1 eps
Bronco
1 eps
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Janitor · 1 eps
Laredo
1 eps
Studio 57
1 eps
M Squad
First Mate · 1 eps
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Jimmy Logan (uncredited) · 1 eps
Trackdown
1 eps
Riverboat
Pickalong · 44 eps
The Clear Horizon
First Officer Mikel · 230 eps
F Troop
2 eps
F Troop
Balladeer · 1 eps
F Troop
Trooper Hoffenmueller · 1 eps
Suspicion
1 eps
Screen Director's Playhouse
Sandhogger #4 · 1 eps
The Thin Man
1 eps
I Led Three Lives
1 eps
The Legend of Jesse James
Bartender · 1 eps
Mr. Terrific
Harry · 1 eps
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
1 eps
Christy
1 eps
Panic!
1 eps
Pistols 'n' Petticoats
1 eps
The Young Rebels
1 eps
