David Janssen
David Janssen was born David Harold Meyer in 1931 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
Credits
- 2004 · Los Angeles Plays Itself as Steve in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)
- 1981 · Inchon as David Feld
- 1980 · City in Fear as Vince Perrino
- 1980 · S.O.S. Titanic as John Jacob Astor
- 1980 · High Ice as Glencoe MacDonald
- 1979 · The Golden Gate Murders as Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
- 1978 · The Word as Steve Randall
- 1978 · Centennial as Narrator
- 1978 · Covert Action as Lester Horton
- 1978 · Nowhere to Run as Harry Adams
- 1978 · Superdome as Mike Shelley
- 1977 · Golden Rendezvous as Charles Conway
- 1977 · A Sensitive, Passionate Man as Michael Delaney
- 1977 · Mayday at 40,000 Feet as Capt. Pete Douglass
- 1977 · Warhead as Tony Stevens
- 1976 · Two-Minute Warning as Steve
- 1976 · Stalk the Wild Child as Dr. James Hazard
- 1976 · Joys as Self
- 1976 · The Swiss Conspiracy as David Christopher
- 1975 · Once Is Not Enough as Tom Colt
- 1974 · Dinah! as Self
- 1974 · Fer-de-Lance as Russ Bogan
- 1974 · Harry O as
- 1974 · Smile Jenny, You're Dead as Harry Orwell
- 1973 · Pioneer Woman as Robert Douglas
- 1973 · Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On as Harry Orwell
- 1973 · Hijack! as Jake Wilkenson
- 1973 · Police Story as
- 1973 · Birds of Prey as Harry Walker
- 1972 · Moon of the Wolf as Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
- 1972 · The Longest Night as Alan Chambers
- 1971 · O'Hara, U.S. Treasury as
- 1971 · Cannon as
- 1971 · O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra as James O'Hara
- 1971 · Macho Callahan as Diego Callahan
- 1970 · Night Chase as Adrian Vico
- 1969 · Generation as Jim Bolton
- 1969 · Marooned as Ted Dougherty
- 1969 · Where It's At as A.C. Smith
- 1968 · The Shoes of the Fisherman as George Faber
- 1968 · The Green Berets as George Beckworth
- 1967 · Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In as Self
- 1967 · Warning Shot as Sgt. Tom Valens
- 1966 · Goldene Kamera Verleihung as Self
- 1964 · The Hollywood Palace as Self - Host
- 1963 · The Fugitive as Richard Kimble
- 1963 · My Six Loves as Marty Bliss
- 1962 · The Eleventh Hour as Hal Kincaid
- 1962 · The Merv Griffin Show as Self
- 1962 · Belle Sommers as Danny Castle
- 1962 · The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers as Self
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self - Co-Host
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- 1961 · Target: The Corruptors! as
- 1961 · The Dick Powell Show as Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan
- 1961 · Man-Trap as Vince Biskay
- 1961 · Cain's Hundred as Dan Mullin
- 1961 · Twenty Plus Two as Tom Alder
- 1961 · Ring of Fire as Sergeant Steve Walsh
- 1961 · King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein as Arnold Rothstein
- 1961 · Dondi as Dealey
- 1960 · Route 66 as Karno Starling
- 1960 · Checkmate as Len Kobalsky
- 1960 · Hell to Eternity as Sgt, Bill Hazen
- 1959 · Adventures in Paradise as Scotty Bell
- 1958 · Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse as Ross Ingraham
- 1958 · Naked City as Blair Cameron
- 1958 · Naked City as Carl Ashland
- 1958 · Lafayette Escadrille as Duke Sinclair
- 1957 · Alcoa Theatre as Mike Harper
- 1957 · Richard Diamond, Private Detective as Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett
- 1956 · The Girl He Left Behind as Capt. Genaro
- 1956 · Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre as Seth Larker
- 1956 · Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre as Dix Porter
- 1956 · Showdown at Abilene as Verne Ward
- 1956 · U.S. Marshall as Arnie Hix
- 1956 · Away All Boats as uncredited
- 1956 · Francis in the Haunted House as Police Lieutenant Hopkins
- 1956 · Toy Tiger as Larry Tripps
- 1956 · Never Say Goodbye as Dave Heller
- 1955 · The Square Jungle as Jack Lindsay
- 1955 · All That Heaven Allows as Freddie Norton (uncredited)
- 1955 · Matinee Theater as
- 1955 · To Hell and Back as Lt Lee
- 1955 · Francis in the Navy as Lieutenant Anders
- 1955 · The Private War of Major Benson as Young Lieutenant
- 1955 · Chief Crazy Horse as Lt. Colin Cartwright
- 1955 · Cult of the Cobra as Rico Nardi
- 1955 · The Millionaire as Peter Miller
- 1955 · The Millionaire as David Barrett
- 1953 · General Electric Theater as Pat Howard
- 1952 · Yankee Buccaneer as Beckett
- 1952 · Francis Goes to West Point as Cpl. Thomas (as Dave Janssen)
- 1952 · No Room for the Groom as Soldier (scenes deleted)
- 1950 · Lux Video Theatre as Ralph / Joe Davies
- 1950 · Lux Video Theatre as Johnny Reynolds, Jr.