GM
Gordon Mitchell
Actor
Born July 29, 1923Died September 20, 2003 (80 years)
Gordon Mitchell was born "Charles Pendleton" in Colorado and served his country in both World War II and the Korean War (during which he was briefly a POW). Afterward he worked as a teacher in inner city schools in California and got heavily involved in personal fitness and bodybuilding. He became friends with Joe Gold (of Gold's Gym), joining Mae West's comedy act as one of her "strongmen" who would carry her on and off the stage. During this time he also found himself in demand as an extra in several Hollywood films including "Lil Abner", "The Enemy Below", and "The Ten Commandments" (in which he and Joe Gold bring Moses to Ramsey's court in chains). When the Peplum craze began in Italy and his fellow Muscle Beach star Steve Reeves became a huge star. Gordon (along with Reg Park, Mark Forrest, Brad Harris, Mickey Hargitay, and Richard Harrison) similarly jumped on the bandwagon and headed to Italy to find stardom and financially greener pastures.
Thanks to his unconventional appearance (small, sharp eyes and craggy face) and enthusiasm for his work, Mitchell found himself one of the most in-demand performers in Italy's Sword & Sandal craze of the early 60's, working with several top directors including Marino Girolami, Alberto De Martino, and Michele Lupo. Unlike most of his peers who left Italy once the genre ran its course, Mitchell stayed on to play villains in numerous Spaghetti Westerns, Giallos, War Films, and Science Fiction movies. He also had a small but key role in the Elizabeth Taylor / Marlon Brandon vehicle "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967) during this time though perhaps his most prestigious role would be the rogue who helps the two protagonists kidnap the noble in Fellini's "Satyricon" (1969). Mitchell used his extra cash to buy and build his own movie studio (Cave Studios) which he single-handedly constructed outside of Rome. It went largely unused except by ultra-low budget director Demofilo Fidani who would often cast Mitchell as well.
In the late 1980's when the Italian genre film industry had basically self-destructed, unable to compete with American films even for video rentals, Mitchell packed his bags and moved back to California. Once home, he re-teamed with old friend Joe Gold to manage World Gym, at which Mitchell acted as COO and lived at the top floor of its headquarters in Marina Del Rey. Continuing for years to act in low budget films purely for the fun of it, Mitchell passed away in his sleep at age 80 in 2003. Having just won the California recall election the day prior, Arnold Schwarzenegger took time out of his busy schedule to pay his respects at Mitchell's Memorial Service at the World Gym Headquarters along with many other bodybuilders who credit Mitchell with getting them into their careers.
Thanks to his unconventional appearance (small, sharp eyes and craggy face) and enthusiasm for his work, Mitchell found himself one of the most in-demand performers in Italy's Sword & Sandal craze of the early 60's, working with several top directors including Marino Girolami, Alberto De Martino, and Michele Lupo. Unlike most of his peers who left Italy once the genre ran its course, Mitchell stayed on to play villains in numerous Spaghetti Westerns, Giallos, War Films, and Science Fiction movies. He also had a small but key role in the Elizabeth Taylor / Marlon Brandon vehicle "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967) during this time though perhaps his most prestigious role would be the rogue who helps the two protagonists kidnap the noble in Fellini's "Satyricon" (1969). Mitchell used his extra cash to buy and build his own movie studio (Cave Studios) which he single-handedly constructed outside of Rome. It went largely unused except by ultra-low budget director Demofilo Fidani who would often cast Mitchell as well.
In the late 1980's when the Italian genre film industry had basically self-destructed, unable to compete with American films even for video rentals, Mitchell packed his bags and moved back to California. Once home, he re-teamed with old friend Joe Gold to manage World Gym, at which Mitchell acted as COO and lived at the top floor of its headquarters in Marina Del Rey. Continuing for years to act in low budget films purely for the fun of it, Mitchell passed away in his sleep at age 80 in 2003. Having just won the California recall election the day prior, Arnold Schwarzenegger took time out of his busy schedule to pay his respects at Mitchell's Memorial Service at the World Gym Headquarters along with many other bodybuilders who credit Mitchell with getting them into their careers.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 2019 | Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood · as Man Pursuing Dalton |
| 2004 | Malevolence · as Don Fabrizio De Martino |
| 2002 | An Enraged New World · as General Murchison |
| 1995 | Bikini Drive-in · as Goliath |
| 1989 | I promessi sposi (TV Series) · as Don Gonzalo |
| 1988 | Blood Delirium · as Hermann |
| 1987 | Overdose · as Costa |
| 1987 | SFX Retaliator · as Morgan |
| 1987 | Evil Spawn · as Dan Thorn |
| 1987 | Cross of the Seven Jewels · as Black Mass Leader |
| 1986 | |
| 1986 | |
| 1986 | Cobra Mission · as Col. Mortimer |
| 1986 | The Mines of Kilimanjaro · as Rolf |
| 1984 | White Fire · as Olaf |
| 1984 | She · as Hector |
| 1984 | Diamond Connection · as Abdul Pascha |
| 1983 | Se tutto va bene siamo rovinati · as Jack Volpetti |
| 1983 | Endgame - Bronx lotta finale · as Col. Morgan |
| 1983 | Rush · as Yor |
| 1982 | Marco Polo (TV Series) · as Capitano Arnolfo |
| 1982 | Vai avanti tu che mi vien da ridere · as Killer |
| 1981 | La dottoressa preferisce i marinai · as Killer Russo |
| 1981 | Nightfall · as Maserati |
| 1981 | Inchon · as Ghq Officer |
| 1980 | The Umbrella Coup · as Moskovitz, Le Tueur À Gages |
| 1980 | Holocaust 2: The Revenge · as Felix Oppenheimer |
| 1980 | Emanuelle, Queen of Sados · as Robert |
| 1980 | Happy Birthday, Harry · as Mr. Temple |
| 1979 | Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot · as Pretorius |
| 1979 | Strategia per una missione di morte · as Paul |
| 1978 | Operation Orient · as Haine |
| 1977 | Zanna Bianca e il grande Kid · as Morgan |
| 1977 | Natascha - Todesgrüße aus Moskau · as Gooming |
| 1977 | Oil · as Joe |
| 1977 | Achtung! The Desert Tigers · as Kommandant Von Stolzen |
| 1976 | Special Squad Shoots on Sight · as David |
| 1975 | That Man from Chicago · as Mike |
| 1975 | Due Magnum .38 per una città di carogne · as Renato Proietti |
| 1975 | Tiger from River Kwai · as Jack Mason |
| 1975 | La pelle sotto gli artigli · as Professor Helmut |
| 1975 | Seven Devils on Horseback · as Cooper |
| 1974 | My Darling Domestic · as General Von Werner |
| 1974 | |
| 1974 | Una donna per 7 bastardi · as Gordon |
| 1974 | Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks · as Igor |
| 1974 | Four for All · as Margherito |
| 1973 | The Dragon Strikes Back · as Burying Sam |
| 1973 | The Slave · as Von Thirac |
| 1973 | Curse of the Red Butterfly · as Caliph Married To The Queen |
| 1973 | Anything for a Friend · as Miller |
| 1972 | His Colt, Himself, His Revenge · as Martin |
| 1972 | Frankenstein '80 · as Dr. Otto Frankenstein |
| 1972 | Stay Away from Trinity... When He Comes to Eldorado · as Jonathan Duke |
| 1972 | The French Sex Murders · as Man In Nightclub |
| 1972 | Magnificent West · as Martin |
| 1972 | The Big Bust-Out · as El Kadir |
| 1972 | Slaughter Day · as Gordon |
| 1971 | Adios Compañeros · as Ironhead |
| 1971 | Lobo the Bastard · as Ray Potter |
| 1971 | Angel's Leap · as Henry Di Fusco |
| 1971 | Day of Judgment · as Deputy |
| 1971 | Down with Your Hands... You Scum! · as Buck/butch Bradley |
| 1971 | Coffin Full of Dollars · as John Hamilton |
| 1971 | Finders Killers · as Chris Forest |
| 1971 | Io non spezzo... rompo · as Joe Il Rosso |
| 1970 | Dead Men Don't Make Shadows · as Roger Murdock |
| 1970 | Django and Sartana's Showdown in the West · as Black Burt Keller / Burt Kelly |
| 1969 | Lisa dagli occhi blu · as Football Player |
| 1969 | I Am Sartana, Your Angel of Death · as Degueyo |
| 1969 | Satyricon · as Il Predone |
| 1969 | |
| 1969 | |
| 1969 | Seven Times Seven · as Big Ben |
| 1968 | Cry of Death · as Donkey / Morgan Pitt |
| 1968 | Dead for a Dollar · as Roy Fulton |
| 1968 | The Killer Likes Candy · as Toni |
| 1968 | Beyond the Law · as Burton |
| 1968 | Sapevano solo uccidere · as Clayton |
| 1968 | Fenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen · as Gregory Falco |
| 1967 | John the Bastard · as Danite |
| 1967 | Reflections in a Golden Eye · as Stables Sergeant |
| 1967 | Death on the Run · as The Albanian |
| 1967 | Totò ciak · as Ringo |
| 1967 | Crazy Westerners · as Häuptling Sitzender Büffel |
| 1967 | Born to Kill · as Rod Gordon |
| 1966 | Uccidi o muori · as Baltimore Joe/ringo |
| 1966 | Thompson 1880 · as Glenn Sheppard |
| 1966 | Star Pilot · as Murdu |
| 1966 | Three Graves for a Winchester · as Frank |
| 1965 | Lady Morgan's Vengeance · as Roger |
| 1965 | I Spy (TV Series) |
| 1965 | Hercules and the Princess of Troy · as Pirate Captain |
| 1965 | The Stone Forest · as Hunding |
| 1965 | Erik, the Viking · as Sven |
| 1964 | Simbad contro i sette saraceni · as Omar |
| 1964 | La vendetta di Spartacus · as Arminio |
| 1964 | Seven Slaves Against the World · as Balisten |
| 1963 | Brennus, Enemy of Rome · as Brenno |
| 1962 | Fury of Achilles · as Achilles |
| 1962 | Invasion 1700 · as Ulrich |
| 1962 | Kerim, Son of the Sheik · as Yussuf |
| 1962 | Caesar Against the Pirates · as Hamar |
| 1962 | Vulcan, Son of Jupiter · as Pluto |
| 1961 | The Giant of Metropolis · as Obro |
| 1961 | The Centurion · as General Metellus |
| 1961 | Atlas Against the Cyclops · as Maciste |
| 1960 | Spartacus · as Gladiator (uncredited) |
| 1959 | Li'l Abner · as Muscleman Rufe |
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) · as Soldier |
| 1959 | Rio Bravo · as Bar Cowboy Watching Fistfight (uncredited) |
| 1958 | The Buccaneer · as Pirate |
| 1958 | Peter Gunn (TV Series) · as Sideshow Strongman |
| 1958 | The Young Lions · as Minor Role (uncredited) |
| 1957 | The Enemy Below · as German Sailor |
| 1957 | Maverick (TV Series) · as Miles Craven |
| 1957 | The Spirit of St. Louis · as (uncredited) |
| 1956 | Around the World in 80 Days · as Extra (uncredited) |
| 1956 | The Ten Commandments · as Egyptian Guard |
| 1955 | |
| 1954 | Prisoner of War · as Bit Role |