
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
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Self - Brother (archive footage)★ 4.3
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Christy 1994★ 8.1
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Self★ 7
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Hoodwinked 1989J.P. Spanner★ 6.3
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Atlanta Judge★ 6.6
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Escapes 1986Mr. Olson (Coffee Break)★ 3.2
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Where's Willie? 1978★ NR
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Telefon 1977Harry Bascom★ 6.6
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The Enforcer 1976Frank DiGiorgio★ 6.7
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Quincy, M.E. 1976★ 7.5
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Al★ 7.4
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Crackle of Death 1976★ 6
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Breakheart Pass 1975Red Beard★ 6.6
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Janitor★ 7.6
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★ 7.9
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The Hanged Man 1974Eubie Turpin★ 4
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Magnum Force 1973Frank DiGiorgio★ 7.1
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High Plains Drifter 1973Warden★ 7.3
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Savage 1973Motel Manager★ 5.6
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The Waltons 1972Announcer★ 7.1
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Bloody Trail 1972Hoss★ 2
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Dirty Harry 1971De Georgio★ 7.4
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Chandler 1971Rudy, Bartender★ 4.5
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Mr. Tubbs★ 5.9
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Guard (uncredited)★ 5.4
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Bigfoot 1970Elmer Briggs★ 3
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The Young Rebels 1970★ 4.5
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Chisum 1970Baker★ 6.7
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Paint Your Wagon 1969Jacob Woodling★ 6.4
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The Mod Squad 1968Detective at Hospital (uncredited)★ 6.3
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Adam-12 1968Tom Horton★ 7
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Bandolero! 1968Bath House Customer★ 6.5
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The Way West 1967Little Henry★ 6
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Ironside 1967Slim★ 6.8
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Warning Shot 1967★ 6.3
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Mr. Terrific 1967Harry★ 7.1
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El Dorado 1966Elmer - Jason's Bartender★ 7.4
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★ 7.5
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Batman 1966Rip Snorting★ 7.3
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Laredo 1965★ 6.3
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F Troop 1965★ 6.2
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Bartender★ 4.8
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Brainstorm 1965Guitar-Playing Inmate (uncredited)★ 6.2
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My Fair Lady 1964Ad Lib at Church (uncredited)★ 7.5
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The Munsters 1964★ 7.9
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Bewitched 1964★ 7.9
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Cattle King 1963Tex★ 6
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The Virginian 1962Madison★ 6.5
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Hitler 1962Hermann Goering★ 5.7
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Thriller 1960Policeman★ 6.4
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The Clear Horizon 1960First Officer Mikel★ 5
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The Twilight Zone 1959Erbie★ 8.4
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Laramie 1959★ 6.4
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Riverboat 1959Pickalong★ 6.2
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Bonanza 1959Lou Palmer★ 7.5
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Battle Flame 1959Maj. Dowling★ 6
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Rowdy Drunken Cowboy★ 5.6
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Rawhide 1959Luke Rose (uncredited)★ 7.2
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Armored Car Guard (uncredited)★ 6.1
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Johnny Rocco 1958Police Detective at Stakeout (uncredited)★ 5.2
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Bronco 1958★ 5.2
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John - Saloon Owner / Bartender (uncredited)★ 4.6
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Rand City Bartender★ 6.2
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Up In Smoke 1957Desk Sergeant (uncredited)★ 5.5
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The Tall Stranger 1957★ 6.5
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Ride Out for Revenge 1957Sergeant (uncredited)★ 5.5
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Trackdown 1957★ 6.4
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Suspicion 1957★ 5.9
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Maverick 1957★ 6.8
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Perry Mason 1957Operative★ 7.7
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The Thin Man 1957★ 7.6
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M Squad 1957First Mate★ 5.2
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Death in Small Doses 1957★ 5
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★ 7.4
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Operation Mad Ball 1957Enlisted Man (uncredited)★ 6.5
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Jimmy Logan (uncredited)★ 6.2
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Panic! 1957★ NR
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5 Steps to Danger 1956Bud--Deputy Sheriff★ 6.3
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The Man Is Armed 1956Officer★ 4.8
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State Trooper 1956★ 5
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Nightmare 1956Onlooker at Stan's Suicide Attempt (Uncredited)★ 5.9
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Brent★ 6
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Sandhogger #4★ 6.5
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★ 5.7
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Gunsmoke 1955Joe★ 6.6
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★ 6.6
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Studio 57 1954★ NR
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I Led Three Lives 1953★ NR
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The Lusty Men 1952★ 6.6
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Blackie Myers★ 5.3
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Dragnet 1951★ 6.4
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Submarine Command 1951★ 5.6
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Flying Leathernecks 1951★ 5.9
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Born to Be Bad 1950Guest (Uncredited)★ 5.9
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In a Lonely Place 1950Bar Patron (uncredited)★ 7.6
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The Devil's Sleep 1949Doctor★ 3.2
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Knock on Any Door 1949Jury Member (uncredited)★ 6.1
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Shed No Tears 1948Policeman (Uncredited)★ 5
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The Prairie 1947Asa Bush★ 6