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person_profile-John Mitchum

John Mitchum Died at age: 82

Actor | Producer

Fullname:

John Mitchum

Date of Birth:

Sep 06, 1919

Country of birth:

USA

Died:

Nov 29, 2001

Biography of

John Mitchum

    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.

Photos of

John Mitchum

Photos ( 1 Photos

Filmography of

John Mitchum

Found 57 Movies in total

Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast

Self - Brother (archive footage) ( Actor )

... 2019

... 1991

Hoodwinked

J.P. Spanner ( Actor )

... 1989

The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains

Atlanta Judge ( Actor )

... 1987

Escapes

Mr. Olson ( Actor )

... 1986

... 1978

Telefon

Harry Bascom ( Actor )

... 1977

The Enforcer

DiGiorgio ( Actor )

... 1976

... 1976

... 1976

Breakheart Pass

Red Beard ( Actor )

... 1975

The Hanged Man

Eubie Turpin ( Actor )

... 1974

Magnum Force

DiGiorgio ( Actor )

... 1973

High Plains Drifter

Warden ( Actor )

... 1973

Savage

Motel Manager ( Actor )

... 1973

Bloody Trail

Hoss ( Actor )

... 1972

Dirty Harry

De Georgio ( Actor )

... 1971

Chandler

Rudy, Bartender ( Actor )

... 1971

... 1971

One More Train to Rob

Guard (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1971

Bigfoot

Elmer Briggs ( Actor )

... 1970

Chisum

Actor

... 1970

Paint Your Wagon

Jacob Woodling ( Actor )

... 1969

Bandolero!

Bath House Customer ( Actor )

... 1968

The Way West

Little Henry ( Actor )

... 1967

... 1967

El Dorado

Elmer - Jason's Bartender ( Actor )

... 1966

Brainstorm

Guitar-Playing Inmate (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1965

My Fair Lady

Ad Lib at Church (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1964

Cattle King

Tex ( Actor )

... 1963

Hitler

Hermann Goering ( Actor )

... 1962

Battle Flame

Maj. Dowling ( Actor )

... 1959

The Gunfight at Dodge City

Rowdy Drunken Cowboy ( Actor )

... 1959

Guns, Girls and Gangsters

Armored Car Guard (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1959

Johnny Rocco

Police Detective at Stakeout (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1958

The Bonnie Parker Story

John - Saloon Owner / Bartender (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1958

Cole Younger, Gunfighter

Rand City Bartender ( Actor )

... 1958

Up In Smoke

Desk Sergeant (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1957

... 1957

Ride Out for Revenge

Sergeant (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1957

... 1957

Operation Mad Ball

Enlisted Man (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1957

5 Steps to Danger

Bud--Deputy Sheriff ( Actor )

... 1956

The Man Is Armed

Officer ( Actor )

... 1956

Nightmare

Onlooker at Stan's Suicide Attempt (Uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1956

... 1956

... 1952

The Pace That Thrills

Blackie Myers ( Actor )

... 1952

... 1951

... 1951

Born to Be Bad

Guest (Uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1950

In a Lonely Place

Bar Patron (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1950

The Devil's Sleep

Doctor ( Actor )

... 1949

Knock on Any Door

Jury Member (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1949

Shed No Tears

Policeman (Uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1948

The Prairie

Asa Bush ( Actor )

... 1947