JM
John Mitchum
Actor
Died November 29, 2001 (82 years)
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Filmography
| 1994 | Christy (TV Series) |
| 1990 | A Family for Joe (TV Series) · as Preacher |
| 1989 | Jake Spanner, Private Eye · as J.p. Spanner |
| 1987 | The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains · as Atlanta Judge |
| 1986 | Escapes · as Mr. Olson (coffee Break) |
| 1979 | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (TV Series) · as Trapdoor Operator |
| 1978 | |
| 1977 | Telefon · as Harry Bascom |
| 1976 | The Enforcer · as Frank Digiorgio |
| 1976 | Pipe Dreams · as Franklin |
| 1976 | Quincy, M.E. (TV Series) |
| 1976 | The Quest (1976) (TV Series) · as Pirate |
| 1976 | The Outlaw Josey Wales · as Al |
| 1975 | Breakheart Pass · as Red Beard |
| 1975 | The World Through the Eyes of Children · as Preacher |
| 1974 | |
| 1974 | Kolchak: The Night Stalker (TV Series) · as Janitor |
| 1974 | Little House on the Prairie (TV Series) |
| 1974 | The Hanged Man · as Eubie Turpin |
| 1973 | Magnum Force · as Frank Digiorgio |
| 1973 | High Plains Drifter · as Warden |
| 1973 | |
| 1973 | Chase (TV Series) · as Bartender |
| 1973 | Toma (TV Series) · as Art Malone |
| 1973 | Police Story (TV Series) · as Stills |
| 1972 | The Waltons (TV Series) |
| 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 |
| 1971 | One More Train to Rob · as Guard |
| 1971 | The Smith Family (TV Series) · as Drunk |
| 1970 | |
| 1970 | The Young Rebels (TV Series) |
| 1970 | WUSA · as Detective In The Rain |
| 1970 | Chisum · as Baker |
| 1969 | Paint Your Wagon · as Jacob Woodling |
| 1968 | Three Guns for Texas · as George |
| 1968 | The Mod Squad (TV Series) · as Detective At Hospital |
| 1968 | Adam-12 (TV Series) · as Tom Horton |
| 1968 | Bandolero! · as Bath House Customer |
| 1967 | Hondo (TV Series) · as Bartender |
| 1967 | The Way West · as Little Henry |
| 1967 | Ironside (TV Series) · as Slim |
| 1967 | Mr. Terrific (TV Series) · as Harry |
| 1966 | |
| 1966 | El Dorado · as Elmer - Jason's Bartender |
| 1966 | Seconds · as Truck Driver |
| 1966 | Pistols 'n' Petticoats (TV Series) |
| 1966 | The Road West (TV Series) · as Prisoner |
| 1966 | The Iron Horse (TV Series) · as Zekel |
| 1966 | The Plainsman · as Townsman |
| 1966 | Batman (TV Series) · as Rip Snorting |
| 1965 | The Loner (TV Series) · as Townsman |
| 1965 | Laredo (TV Series) |
| 1965 | The Legend of Jesse James (TV Series) · as Bartender |
| 1965 | F Troop (TV Series) · as Balladeer |
| 1965 | Brainstorm · as Guitar-Playing Inmate (uncredited) |
| 1965 | Branded (TV Series) · as Slate |
| 1964 | My Fair Lady · as Ad Lib At Church (uncredited) |
| 1964 | Bewitched (TV Series) |
| 1964 | Destry (TV Series) · as Swanee |
| 1964 | The Munsters (TV Series) |
| 1963 | Channing (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1963 | Cattle King · as Tex |
| 1962 | The Virginian (TV Series) · as Bartender |
| 1962 | The Dakotas (TV Series) · as Townsman |
| 1962 | Hitler · as Hermann Goering |
| 1961 | The Sergeant Was a Lady · as Mp #1 |
| 1961 | Ripcord (TV Series) · as Sam |
| 1961 | Whispering Smith (TV Series) · as Dutch Logan |
| 1960 | Thriller (TV Series) · as Policeman |
| 1959 | Shotgun Slade (TV Series) · as Olaf Knudsen |
| 1959 | |
| 1959 | Hotel de Paree (TV Series) · as Man With Shovel |
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) · as Ace |
| 1959 | Laramie (TV Series) |
| 1959 | Riverboat (TV Series) · as Pickalong |
| 1959 | |
| 1959 | The Deputy (TV Series) · as Stubbs |
| 1959 | Battle Flame · as Maj. Dowling |
| 1959 | The Gunfight at Dodge City · as Rowdy Drunken Cowboy |
| 1959 | Al Capone · as Photographer |
| 1959 | The Third Man (TV Series) · as Rick |
| 1959 | The Untouchables (TV Series) · as Brewery Employee |
| 1959 | Rawhide (TV Series) · as Luke Rose (uncredited) |
| 1959 | Guns Girls and Gangsters · as Armored Car Guard (uncredited) |
| 1958 | Revolt in the Big House · as Guard |
| 1958 | Johnny Rocco · as Police Detective At Stakeout (uncredited) |
| 1958 | Cimarron City (TV Series) · as Cowhand |
| 1958 | Bronco (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Peter Gunn (TV Series) · as Cop Guarding Cell |
| 1958 | The Bonnie Parker Story · as John - Saloon Owner / Bartender (uncredited) |
| 1958 | Quantrill's Raiders · as Sergeant |
| 1958 | Hell's Five Hours · as Roadblock Officer |
| 1958 | Cole Younger, Gunfighter · as Rand City Bartender |
| 1957 | Up in Smoke · as Desk Sergeant (uncredited) |
| 1957 | |
| 1957 | Ride Out for Revenge · as Sergeant (uncredited) |
| 1957 | Tombstone Territory (TV Series) · as Gambler |
| 1957 | Casey Jones (TV Series) · as Foreman |
| 1957 | Trackdown (TV Series) |
| 1957 | Suspicion (TV Series) |
| 1957 | The Restless Gun (TV Series) · as Len |
| 1957 | Maverick (TV Series) |
| 1957 | Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Operator |
| 1957 | The Thin Man (TV Series) |
| 1957 | M Squad (TV Series) · as First Mate |
| 1957 | Wagon Train (TV Series) · as Drunken Cowboy |
| 1957 | |
| 1957 | Black Patch · as Saloon Dealer |
| 1957 | Have Gun, Will Travel (TV Series) · as Mcheath |
| 1957 | Operation Mad Ball · as Enlisted Man (uncredited) |
| 1957 | The Silent Service (TV Series) · as Helmsman |
| 1957 | Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) · as Bartender |
| 1957 | Panic (TV Series) |
| 1956 | Richard Diamond, Private Detective (TV Series) · as Jimmy Logan (uncredited) |
| 1956 | Man in the Vault · as Andy |
| 1956 | 5 Steps to Danger · as Bud--Deputy Sheriff |
| 1956 | The Man Is Armed · as Officer |
| 1956 | Zane Grey Theater (TV Series) · as Cowhand |
| 1956 | Broken Arrow (TV Series) · as Corporal Rollins |
| 1956 | The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV Series) · as Jim Mcdonald |
| 1956 | The Rawhide Years · as Card Player |
| 1956 | Nightmare · as Onlooker At Stan's Suicide Attempt (uncredited) |
| 1956 | The Bold and the Brave · as G.i. In Bar |
| 1956 | State Trooper (TV Series) · as Sheriff Tom Newell |
| 1955 | Lucy Gallant · as One Of Casey's Air Force Buddies |
| 1955 | Screen Directors Playhouse (TV Series) · as Sandhogger #4 |
| 1955 | Sergeant Preston of the Yukon (TV Series) |
| 1955 | The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial (TV Series) · as Jim Gibbs |
| 1955 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) · as Joe |
| 1955 | Judge Roy Bean (TV Series) · as Henchman Clint Hammer |
| 1955 | The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV Series) |
| 1955 | The Jane Wyman Show (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1955 | Science Fiction Theatre (TV Series) · as Detective Sergeant |
| 1955 | The Millionaire (TV Series) · as G.i. |
| 1954 | The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (TV Series) · as Sergeant |
| 1954 | The Lineup (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1954 | Studio 57 (TV Series) |
| 1954 | Lassie (TV Series) · as Jess |
| 1953 | Stalag 17 · as Prisoner Of War |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1953 | I Led 3 Lives (TV Series) |
| 1952 | |
| 1952 | One Minute to Zero · as Artillery Spotter |
| 1952 | Death Valley Days (TV Series) · as Brown |
| 1952 | The Pace That Thrills · as Blackie Myers |
| 1951 | Dragnet (1951) (TV Series) |
| 1951 | |
| 1951 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) · as Jim Gibbs |
| 1951 | The Red Skelton Show (TV Series) · as Police Officer |
| 1951 | Sky King (TV Series) · as Rawson |
| 1951 | |
| 1950 | Right Cross · as Sixth Reporter |
| 1950 | Born to Be Bad · as Guest (uncredited) |
| 1950 | In a Lonely Place · as Bar Patron (uncredited) |
| 1950 | When Willie Comes Marching Home · as Schreves |
| 1949 | The Devil's Sleep · as Doctor |
| 1949 | Fireside Theatre (TV Series) · as Joe |
| 1949 | Knock on Any Door · as Jury Member (uncredited) |
| 1948 | Shed No Tears · as Policeman (uncredited) |