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John Mitchum

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.

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Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast

Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast

2019

as Self - Brother (archive footage)

Christy

Christy

1994

Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star

Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star

1991

as Self

Hoodwinked

Hoodwinked

1989

as J.P. Spanner

The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains

The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains

1987

as Atlanta Judge

Escapes

Escapes

1986

as Mr. Olson (Coffee Break)

Where's Willie?

Where's Willie?

1978

Telefon

Telefon

1977

as Harry Bascom

The Enforcer

The Enforcer

1976

as Frank DiGiorgio

Quincy, M.E.

Quincy, M.E.

1976

The Outlaw Josey Wales

The Outlaw Josey Wales

1976

as Al

Crackle of Death

Crackle of Death

1976

Breakheart Pass

Breakheart Pass

1975

as Red Beard

Kolchak: The Night Stalker

Kolchak: The Night Stalker

1974

as Janitor

Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie

1974

The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man

1974

as Eubie Turpin

Magnum Force

Magnum Force

1973

as Frank DiGiorgio

High Plains Drifter

High Plains Drifter

1973

as Warden

Savage

Savage

1973

as Motel Manager

The Waltons

The Waltons

1972

as Announcer

Bloody Trail

Bloody Trail

1972

as Hoss

Dirty Harry

Dirty Harry

1971

as De Georgio

Chandler

Chandler

1971

as Rudy, Bartender

Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate

Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate

1971

as Mr. Tubbs

One More Train to Rob

One More Train to Rob

1971

as Guard (uncredited)

Bigfoot

Bigfoot

1970

as Elmer Briggs

The Young Rebels

The Young Rebels

1970

Chisum

Chisum

1970

as Baker

Paint Your Wagon

Paint Your Wagon

1969

as Jacob Woodling

The Mod Squad

The Mod Squad

1968

as Detective at Hospital (uncredited)

Adam-12

Adam-12

1968

as Tom Horton

Bandolero!

Bandolero!

1968

as Bath House Customer

The Way West

The Way West

1967

as Little Henry

Ironside

Ironside

1967

as Slim

Ironside

Ironside

1967

as Photo Lab Foreman

Warning Shot

Warning Shot

1967

Mr. Terrific

Mr. Terrific

1967

as Harry

El Dorado

El Dorado

1966

as Elmer - Jason's Bartender

Pistols 'n' Petticoats

Pistols 'n' Petticoats

1966

Batman

Batman

1966

as Rip Snorting

Batman

Batman

1966

as Hot Dog Harrigan

Laredo

Laredo

1965

F Troop

F Troop

1965

F Troop

F Troop

1965

as Balladeer

The Legend of Jesse James

The Legend of Jesse James

1965

as Bartender

Brainstorm

Brainstorm

1965

as Guitar-Playing Inmate (uncredited)

My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady

1964

as Ad Lib at Church (uncredited)

The Munsters

The Munsters

1964

Bewitched

Bewitched

1964

Cattle King

Cattle King

1963

as Tex

The Virginian

The Virginian

1962

as Madison

The Virginian

The Virginian

1962

as Pooch

The Virginian

The Virginian

1962

as Sam the Bartender

The Virginian

The Virginian

1962

as Bartender

The Virginian

The Virginian

1962

as Bucky the Bartender

Hitler

Hitler

1962

as Hermann Goering

Thriller

Thriller

1960

as Policeman

The Clear Horizon

The Clear Horizon

1960

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

1959

as Erbie

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

1959

as Ace

Laramie

Laramie

1959

Riverboat

Riverboat

1959

as Pickalong

Bonanza

Bonanza

1959

as Lou Palmer

Bonanza

Bonanza

1959

as Bartender #1

Battle Flame

Battle Flame

1959

as Maj. Dowling

The Gunfight at Dodge City

The Gunfight at Dodge City

1959

as Rowdy Drunken Cowboy

Rawhide

Rawhide

1959

as Luke Rose (uncredited)

Guns, Girls and Gangsters

Guns, Girls and Gangsters

1959

as Armored Car Guard (uncredited)

Johnny Rocco

Johnny Rocco

1958

as Police Detective at Stakeout (uncredited)

Bronco

Bronco

1958

The Bonnie Parker Story

The Bonnie Parker Story

1958

as John - Saloon Owner / Bartender (uncredited)

Cole Younger, Gunfighter

Cole Younger, Gunfighter

1958

as Rand City Bartender

Up In Smoke

Up In Smoke

1957

as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

The Tall Stranger

The Tall Stranger

1957

Ride Out for Revenge

Ride Out for Revenge

1957

as Sergeant (uncredited)

Trackdown

Trackdown

1957

Suspicion

Suspicion

1957

Maverick

Maverick

1957

Perry Mason

Perry Mason

1957

as Operative

Perry Mason

Perry Mason

1957

as Operator

The Thin Man

The Thin Man

1957

M Squad

M Squad

1957

as First Mate

Death in Small Doses

Death in Small Doses

1957

Have Gun, Will Travel

Have Gun, Will Travel

1957

Have Gun, Will Travel

Have Gun, Will Travel

1957

as McHeath

Operation Mad Ball

Operation Mad Ball

1957

as Enlisted Man (uncredited)

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

1957

as Jimmy Logan (uncredited)

Panic!

Panic!

1957

5 Steps to Danger

5 Steps to Danger

1956

as Bud--Deputy Sheriff

The Man Is Armed

The Man Is Armed

1956

as Officer

State Trooper

State Trooper

1956

State Trooper

State Trooper

1956

as Sheriff Tom Newell

Nightmare

Nightmare

1956

as Onlooker at Stan's Suicide Attempt (Uncredited)

Perils of the Wilderness

Perils of the Wilderness

1956

as Brent

Screen Director's Playhouse

Screen Director's Playhouse

1955

as Sandhogger #4

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

1955

as Joe

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

1955

as Bob

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

1955

as Norm

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

1955

as Wills

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

1955

Studio 57

Studio 57

1954

I Led Three Lives

I Led Three Lives

1953

The Lusty Men

The Lusty Men

1952

The Pace That Thrills

The Pace That Thrills

1952

as Blackie Myers

Dragnet

Dragnet

1951

Submarine Command

Submarine Command

1951

Flying Leathernecks

Flying Leathernecks

1951

Born to Be Bad

Born to Be Bad

1950

as Guest (Uncredited)

In a Lonely Place

In a Lonely Place

1950

as Bar Patron (uncredited)

The Devil's Sleep

The Devil's Sleep

1949

as Doctor

Knock on Any Door

Knock on Any Door

1949

as Jury Member (uncredited)

Shed No Tears

Shed No Tears

1948

as Policeman (Uncredited)

The Prairie

The Prairie

1947

as Asa Bush