David Janssen
Acting
Born: March 27, 1931 · Naponee, Nebraska, USA
Died: February 13, 1980 (aged 48)
Highest Rated
Biography
David Janssen (born David Harold Meyer; March 27, 1931 – February 13, 1980) was an American actor. He was born in Naponee, Nebraska, to Berniece Mae (Graf) and Harold Edward Meyer, a banker. He was of German, and some Swiss-German and Ulster-Scots, descent. David took the surname of his stepfather, Eugene Janssen. The Janssen family settled in Hollywood when he was a teenager and he attended Fairfax High School, where he developed an interest in acting. His film debut was a bit part in It's a Pleasure (1945), and at the age of 18 signed a contract with 20th Century-Fox. However, the studio dropped him after allegedly becoming disenchanted with his odd hairline and big prominent ears. Janssen had better luck at Universal, where he signed on in the early 1950s and became a supporting player in 32 films before appearing on TV as the star of Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1956). He resumed his movie career in 1961, a year after the series ended. His biggest success came from his lead in the series The Fugitive (1963), playing the haunted, hunted Dr. Richard Kimble, on the run for a murder he didn't commit. After the series ended, Janssen launched himself into a grueling schedule by appearing in lead and supporting roles in movies, but he had better luck with made-for-TV-movie roles and a short-lived series, O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (1971). He had another hit series with the cult favorite Harry O (1973). Janssen continued appearing in lead roles in nearly 20 made-for-TV-movies during the 1970s as well as other TV projects. He died in 1980 from a sudden heart attack at his Malibu home at the age of 48. Unfounded speculation holds that Janssen succumbed to alcoholism, a problem that plagued him most of his adult life. There were even unfounded rumors about drug use. However, a much more reasonable explanation for David Janssen's sudden demise is that this intense, dedicated, determined actor simply worked himself to death. From an IMDB Mini-Bio for David Janssen
Known for
All That Heaven Allows
1955
The Green Berets
1968
Marooned
1969
Two-Minute Warning
1976
The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968
To Hell and Back
1955
The Fugitive
1963
Moon of the Wolf
1972
S.O.S. Titanic
1980
Cannon
1971
Centennial
1978
Cult of the Cobra
1955
Photos (2)
Movies (58)
The Green Berets
George Beckworth
Marooned
Ted Dougherty
All That Heaven Allows
Freddie Norton (uncredited)
Once Is Not Enough
Tom Colt
S.O.S. Titanic
John Jacob Astor
Hell to Eternity
Sgt, Bill Hazen
Two-Minute Warning
Steve
To Hell and Back
Lt Lee
The Shoes of the Fisherman
George Faber
Warning Shot
Sgt. Tom Valens
Never Say Goodbye
Dave Heller
Inchon
David Feld
Away All Boats
uncredited
Chief Crazy Horse
Lt. Colin Cartwright
The Golden Gate Murders
Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
Moon of the Wolf
Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
Cult of the Cobra
Rico Nardi
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
Capt. Pete Douglass
Lafayette Escadrille
Duke Sinclair
Yankee Buccaneer
Beckett
The Swiss Conspiracy
David Christopher
Showdown at Abilene
Verne Ward
Man-Trap
Vince Biskay
Macho Callahan
Diego Callahan
Golden Rendezvous
Charles Conway
Francis Goes to West Point
Corporal Thomas
Francis in the Haunted House
Police Lieutenant Hopkins
Where It's At
A.C. Smith
The Private War of Major Benson
Young Lieutenant
Superdome
Mike Shelley
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein
Smile Jenny, You're Dead
Harry Orwell
Francis in the Navy
Lieutenant Anders
Generation
Jim Bolton
City in Fear
Vince Perrino
The Longest Night
Alan Chambers
My Six Loves
Marty Bliss
Birds of Prey
Harry Walker
Twenty Plus Two
Tom Alder
The Girl He Left Behind
Capt. Genaro
Night Chase
Adrian Vico
No Room for the Groom
Soldier (scenes deleted)
Fer-de-Lance
Russ Bogan
The Square Jungle
Jack Lindsay
Pioneer Woman
Robert Douglas
High Ice
Glencoe MacDonald
Ring of Fire
Sergeant Steve Walsh
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
Michael Delaney
Warhead
Tony Stevens
Covert Action
Lester Horton
O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
James O'Hara
Stalk the Wild Child
Dr. James Hazard
Dondi
Dealey
Toy Tiger
Larry Tripps
Hijack!
Jake Wilkenson
Nowhere to Run
Harry Adams
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
Harry Orwell
Belle Sommers
Danny Castle
TV Shows (28)
The Fugitive
Richard Kimble · 120 eps
Cannon
1 eps
Matinee Theater
1 eps
Route 66
Karno Starling · 1 eps
Naked City
Blair Cameron · 1 eps
Naked City
Carl Ashland · 1 eps
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Dix Porter · 1 eps
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Seth Larker · 1 eps
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett · 77 eps
The Millionaire
Peter Miller · 1 eps
The Millionaire
David Barrett · 1 eps
Adventures in Paradise
Scotty Bell · 1 eps
Police Story
1 eps
Harry O
Harry Orwell · 44 eps
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Ross Ingraham · 1 eps
Checkmate
Len Kobalsky · 1 eps
The Dick Powell Show
Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan · 1 eps
Boston Blackie
Armored Car Driver (uncredited) · 1 eps
Alcoa Theatre
Mike Harper · 1 eps
Centennial
Narrator · 12 eps
Cain's Hundred
Dan Mullin · 1 eps
Target: The Corruptors!
1 eps
The Eleventh Hour
Hal Kincaid · 1 eps
Whack-O!
Boy in hobby class · 6 eps
General Electric Theater
Pat Howard · 1 eps
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
22 eps
U.S. Marshall
Arnie Hix
The Word
Steve Randall · 4 eps
Self / Appearances (11)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · 1 eps
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · 1 eps
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · 1 eps
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · 1 eps
The Merv Griffin Show
Self · 2 eps
Dinah!
Self · 2 eps
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited) · 1 eps
The Hollywood Palace
Self · 1 eps
Joys
Self
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
Self
Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy
Self (archive footage)