John Mitchum
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- September 6, 1919
- Died
- November 29, 2001 (aged 82)
- Birthplace
- Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
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
Photos
Filmography
Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
Movie · as Self - Brother (archive footage)
Christy
TV · 1 ep
Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star
Movie · as Self
A Family for Joe
Movie · as Preacher
Hoodwinked
Movie · as J.P. Spanner
The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains
Movie · as Atlanta Judge
Escapes
Movie · as Mr. Olson (Coffee Break)
Where's Willie?
Movie
Telefon
Movie · as Harry Bascom
The Enforcer
Movie · as Frank DiGiorgio
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Movie · as Al
Crackle of Death
Movie · as Janitor
Quincy, M.E.
TV · 1 ep
Breakheart Pass
Movie · as Red Beard
The Hanged Man
Movie · as Eubie Turpin
Little House on the Prairie
TV · as Sam Benson · 1 ep
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
TV · as Janitor · 1 ep
Magnum Force
Movie · as Frank DiGiorgio
High Plains Drifter
Movie · as Warden
Savage!
Movie · as Motel Manager
Bloody Trail
Movie · as Hoss
The Waltons
TV · as Announcer · 1 ep
Dirty Harry
Movie · as De Georgio
Chandler
Movie · as Rudy, Bartender
Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate
Movie · as Mr. Tubbs
One More Train to Rob
Movie · as Guard (uncredited)
Bigfoot
Movie · as Elmer Briggs
Chisum
Movie · as Baker
The Young Rebels
TV · 1 ep
Paint Your Wagon
Movie · as Jacob Woodling
Bandolero!
Movie · as Bath House Customer
Adam-12
TV · as Tom Horton · 1 ep
The Mod Squad
TV · as Detective at Hospital (uncredited) · 1 ep
The Way West
Movie · as Little Henry
Warning Shot
Movie
Mr. Terrific
TV · as Harry · 1 ep
Ironside
TV · as Slim, Photo Lab Foreman · 1 ep
El Dorado
Movie · as Elmer - Jason's Bartender
The Plainsman
Movie · as Townsman (uncredited)
Batman
TV · as Rip Snorting, Hot Dog Harrigan · 2 eps
Pistols 'n' Petticoats
TV · 1 ep
Brainstorm
Movie · as Guitar-Playing Inmate (uncredited)
F Troop
TV · as Balladeer, Trooper Hoffenmueller · 2 eps
Laredo
TV · 1 ep
The Legend of Jesse James
TV · as Bartender · 1 ep
My Fair Lady
Movie · as Ad Lib at Church (uncredited)
The Munsters
TV · 1 ep
Bewitched
TV · 2 eps
Cattle King
Movie · as Tex
Hitler
Movie · as Hermann Goering
The Virginian
TV · as Madison, Pooch, Bartender, Sam the Bartender, Bucky the Bartender · 1 ep
Thriller
TV · as Policeman · 1 ep
The Clear Horizon
TV · as First Officer Mikel · 230 eps
The Gunfight at Dodge City
Movie · as Rowdy Drunken Cowboy
Battle Flame
Movie · as Maj. Dowling
Guns Girls and Gangsters
Movie · as Armored Car Guard (uncredited)
The Twilight Zone
TV · as Erbie, Ace · 1 ep
Rawhide
TV · as Luke Rose (uncredited) · 1 ep
Laramie
TV · 1 ep
Riverboat
TV · as Pickalong · 44 eps
Bonanza
TV · as Lou Palmer, Bartender #1 · 1 ep
The Untouchables
TV · as Freddie · 1 ep
The Bonnie Parker Story
Movie · as John - Saloon Owner / Bartender (uncredited)
Johnny Rocco
Movie · as Police Detective at Stakeout (uncredited)
Cole Younger, Gunfighter
Movie · as Rand City Bartender
Bronco
TV · 1 ep
The Tall Stranger
Movie
Operation Mad Ball
Movie · as Enlisted Man (uncredited)
Death in Small Doses
Movie · as Handler (uncredited)
Ride Out for Revenge
Movie · as Sergeant (uncredited)
Up In Smoke
Movie · as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Trackdown
TV · 1 ep
Perry Mason
TV · as Operative, Operator · 1 ep
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV · as McHeath, Sanders - Gold Robber · 2 eps
The Thin Man
TV · 1 ep
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TV · as Jimmy Logan (uncredited) · 1 ep
M Squad
TV · as First Mate · 1 ep
Panic!
TV · 1 ep
Maverick
TV · 1 ep
Suspicion
TV · 1 ep
The Man Is Armed
Movie · as Officer
5 Steps to Danger
Movie · as Bud--Deputy Sheriff
Perils of the Wilderness
Movie · as Brent
Nightmare
Movie · as Onlooker at Stan's Suicide Attempt (Uncredited)
State Trooper
TV · as Sheriff Tom Newell · 2 eps
Gunsmoke
TV · as Joe, Bob, Norm, Wills · 2 eps
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
TV · 1 ep
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
TV · 1 ep
Screen Director's Playhouse
TV · as Sandhogger #4 · 1 ep
Studio 57
TV · 1 ep
I Led Three Lives
TV · 1 ep
The Lusty Men
Movie
The Pace That Thrills
Movie · as Blackie Myers
Flying Leathernecks
Movie · as Lt. Black (uncredited)
Submarine Command
Movie
Dragnet
TV · 2 eps
In a Lonely Place
Movie · as Bar Patron (uncredited)
Born to Be Bad
Movie · as Guest (uncredited)
The Devil's Sleep
Movie · as Doctor
Knock on Any Door
Movie · as Jury Member (uncredited)
Shed No Tears
Movie · as Policeman (Uncredited)
The Prairie
Movie · as Asa Bush