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.
Known For
Credits
- 1994 · Christy as
- 1991 · Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star as Self
- 1989 · Hoodwinked as J.P. Spanner
- 1987 · The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains as Atlanta Judge
- 1986 · Escapes as Mr. Olson (Coffee Break)
- 1978 · Where's Willie? as
- 1977 · Telefon as Harry Bascom
- 1976 · The Enforcer as Frank DiGiorgio
- 1976 · Quincy, M.E. as
- 1976 · The Outlaw Josey Wales as Al
- 1976 · Crackle of Death as
- 1975 · Breakheart Pass as Red Beard
- 1974 · Kolchak: The Night Stalker as Janitor
- 1974 · Little House on the Prairie as
- 1974 · The Hanged Man as Eubie Turpin
- 1973 · Magnum Force as Frank DiGiorgio
- 1973 · High Plains Drifter as Warden
- 1973 · Savage as Motel Manager
- 1972 · The Waltons as
- 1972 · Bloody Trail as Hoss
- 1971 · Dirty Harry as De Georgio
- 1971 · Chandler as Rudy, Bartender
- 1971 · Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate as Mr. Tubbs
- 1970 · Bigfoot as Elmer Briggs
- 1970 · The Young Rebels as
- 1970 · Chisum as Baker
- 1969 · Paint Your Wagon as Jacob Woodling
- 1968 · Adam-12 as Tom Horton
- 1968 · Bandolero! as Bath House Customer
- 1967 · The Way West as Little Henry
- 1967 · Ironside as
- 1967 · Ironside as Slim
- 1967 · Warning Shot as
- 1967 · Mr. Terrific as Harry
- 1966 · El Dorado as Elmer - Jason's Bartender
- 1966 · Pistols 'n' Petticoats as
- 1966 · Batman as Rip Snorting
- 1966 · Batman as Hot Dog Harrigan
- 1965 · Laredo as
- 1965 · F Troop as
- 1965 · F Troop as Balladeer
- 1965 · The Legend of Jesse James as Bartender
- 1965 · Brainstorm as Guitar-Playing Inmate (uncredited)
- 1964 · My Fair Lady as Ad Lib at Church (uncredited)
- 1964 · The Munsters as
- 1964 · Bewitched as
- 1963 · Cattle King as Tex
- 1962 · The Virginian as Madison
- 1962 · The Virginian as Pooch
- 1962 · The Virginian as Sam the Bartender
- 1962 · The Virginian as Bartender
- 1962 · The Virginian as Bucky the Bartender
- 1962 · Hitler as Hermann Goering
- 1960 · Thriller as Policeman
- 1960 · The Clear Horizon as
- 1959 · The Twilight Zone as Erbie
- 1959 · The Twilight Zone as Ace
- 1959 · Laramie as
- 1959 · Riverboat as Pickalong
- 1959 · Bonanza as Lou Palmer
- 1959 · Bonanza as Bartender #1
- 1959 · Battle Flame as Maj. Dowling
- 1959 · The Gunfight at Dodge City as Rowdy Drunken Cowboy
- 1959 · Rawhide as Luke Rose (uncredited)
- 1959 · Guns, Girls and Gangsters as Armored Car Guard (uncredited)
- 1958 · Johnny Rocco as Police Detective at Stakeout (uncredited)
- 1958 · Bronco as
- 1958 · The Bonnie Parker Story as John - Saloon Owner / Bartender (uncredited)
- 1958 · Cole Younger, Gunfighter as Rand City Bartender
- 1957 · Up In Smoke as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
- 1957 · The Tall Stranger as
- 1957 · Ride Out for Revenge as Sergeant (uncredited)
- 1957 · Trackdown as
- 1957 · Suspicion as
- 1957 · Maverick as
- 1957 · Perry Mason as Operative
- 1957 · Perry Mason as Operator
- 1957 · M Squad as First Mate
- 1957 · The Thin Man as
- 1957 · Death in Small Doses as
- 1957 · Have Gun, Will Travel as
- 1957 · Have Gun, Will Travel as McHeath
- 1957 · Operation Mad Ball as Enlisted Man (uncredited)
- 1957 · Richard Diamond, Private Detective as Jimmy Logan (uncredited)
- 1957 · Panic! as
- 1956 · Five Steps to Danger as Bud--Deputy Sheriff
- 1956 · The Man Is Armed as Officer
- 1956 · State Trooper as
- 1956 · State Trooper as Sheriff Tom Newell
- 1956 · Nightmare as Onlooker at Stan's Suicide Attempt (Uncredited)
- 1956 · Perils of the Wilderness as Brent
- 1955 · Screen Director's Playhouse as Sandhogger #4
- 1955 · Sergeant Preston of the Yukon as
- 1955 · Gunsmoke as Joe
- 1955 · Gunsmoke as Bob
- 1955 · Gunsmoke as Norm
- 1955 · Gunsmoke as Wills
- 1955 · The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp as
- 1954 · Studio 57 as
- 1953 · I Led Three Lives as
- 1952 · The Lusty Men as
- 1952 · The Pace That Thrills as Blackie Myers
- 1951 · Dragnet as
- 1951 · Submarine Command as
- 1951 · Flying Leathernecks as
- 1950 · Born to Be Bad as Guest (Uncredited)
- 1950 · In a Lonely Place as Bar Patron (uncredited)
- 1949 · The Devil's Sleep as Doctor
- 1949 · Knock on Any Door as Jury Member (uncredited)
- 1948 · Shed No Tears as Policeman (Uncredited)
- 1947 · The Prairie as Asa Bush