David Janssen
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- March 27, 1931
- Died
- February 13, 1980 (aged 48)
- Birthplace
- Naponee, Nebraska, USA
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
Photos
Filmography
Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Inchon
Movie · as David Feld
City in Fear
Movie · as Vince Perrino
S.O.S. Titanic
Movie · as John Jacob Astor
High Ice
Movie · as Glencoe MacDonald
The Golden Gate Murders
Movie · as Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
Covert Action
Movie · as Lester Horton
Nowhere to Run
Movie · as Harry Adams
Superdome
Movie · as Mike Shelley
Centennial
TV · as Narrator · 12 eps
The Word
TV · as Steve Randall · 4 eps
Golden Rendezvous
Movie · as Charles Conway
Warhead
Movie · as Tony Stevens
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
Movie · as Capt. Pete Douglass
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
Movie · as Michael Delaney
Two-Minute Warning
Movie · as Steve
The Swiss Conspiracy
Movie · as David Christopher
Joys
Movie · as Self
Stalk the Wild Child
Movie · as Dr. James Hazard
Once Is Not Enough
Movie · as Tom Colt
Smile Jenny, You're Dead
Movie · as Harry Orwell
Fer-de-Lance
Movie · as Russ Bogan
Harry O
TV · as Harry Orwell · 44 eps
Dinah!
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Birds of Prey
Movie · as Harry Walker
Pioneer Woman
Movie · as Robert Douglas
Hijack!
Movie · as Jake Wilkenson
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
Movie · as Harry Orwell
Police Story
TV · 1 ep
Moon of the Wolf
Movie · as Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
The Longest Night
Movie · as Alan Chambers
Macho Callahan
Movie · as Diego Callahan
O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
Movie · as James O'Hara
Cannon
TV · 1 ep
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
TV · 22 eps
Night Chase
Movie · as Adrian Vico
Marooned
Movie · as Ted Dougherty
Generation
Movie · as Jim Bolton
Where It's At
Movie · as A.C. Smith
The Green Berets
Movie · as George Beckworth
The Shoes of the Fisherman
Movie · as George Faber
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
TV · as Self (uncredited) · 1 ep
Warning Shot
Movie · as Sgt. Tom Valens
The Hollywood Palace
TV · as Self · 1 ep
My Six Loves
Movie · as Marty Bliss
The Fugitive
TV · as Richard Kimble · 120 eps
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
Movie · as Self
Belle Sommers
Movie · as Danny Castle
The Merv Griffin Show
TV · as Self · 2 eps
The Eleventh Hour
TV · as Hal Kincaid · 1 ep
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV · as Self · 1 ep
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Movie · as Arnold Rothstein
Man-Trap
Movie · as Vince Biskay
Twenty Plus Two
Movie · as Tom Alder
Ring of Fire
Movie · as Sergeant Steve Walsh
Dondi
Movie · as Dealey
Cain's Hundred
TV · as Dan Mullin · 1 ep
Target: The Corruptors!
TV · 1 ep
The Mike Douglas Show
TV · as Self - Co-Host · 1 ep
The Dick Powell Show
TV · as Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan · 1 ep
Hell to Eternity
Movie · as Sgt, Bill Hazen
Route 66
TV · as Karno Starling · 1 ep
Checkmate
TV · as Len Kobalsky · 1 ep
Adventures in Paradise
TV · as Scotty Bell · 1 ep
Lafayette Escadrille
Movie · as Duke Sinclair
Naked City
TV · as Blair Cameron, Carl Ashland · 1 ep
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
TV · as Ross Ingraham · 1 ep
U.S. Marshall
TV · as Arnie Hix
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TV · as Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett · 77 eps
Alcoa Theatre
TV · as Mike Harper · 1 ep
Showdown at Abilene
Movie · as Verne Ward
Never Say Goodbye
Movie · as Dave Heller
Francis in the Haunted House
Movie · as Police Lieutenant Hopkins
Toy Tiger
Movie · as Larry Tripps
The Girl He Left Behind
Movie · as Capt. Genaro
Away All Boats
Movie · as uncredited
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV · as Seth Larker, Dix Porter · 1 ep
Whack-O!
TV · as Boy in hobby class · 6 eps
Chief Crazy Horse
Movie · as Lt. Colin Cartwright
Cult of the Cobra
Movie · as Rico Nardi
Francis in the Navy
Movie · as Lieutenant Anders
To Hell and Back
Movie · as Lt Lee
The Private War of Major Benson
Movie · as Young Lieutenant
The Square Jungle
Movie · as Jack Lindsay
All That Heaven Allows
Movie · as Freddie Norton (uncredited)
The Millionaire
TV · as Peter Miller, David Barrett · 1 ep
Matinee Theater
TV · 1 ep
General Electric Theater
TV · as Pat Howard · 1 ep
Yankee Buccaneer
Movie · as Beckett
No Room for the Groom
Movie · as Soldier (scenes deleted)
Francis Goes to West Point
Movie · as Corporal Thomas
Boston Blackie
TV · as Armored Car Driver (uncredited) · 1 ep
Lux Video Theatre
TV · as Ralph / Joe Davies, Johnny Reynolds, Jr. · 2 eps
Golden Globe Awards
TV · as Self - Nominee · 1 ep