John Mitchum
Acting • Born 1919-09-06 – Died 2001-11-29
Biography
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.
Filmography
119 credits
Dirty Harry
Movie • 1971
De Georgio
The Enforcer
Movie • 1976
Frank DiGiorgio
Paint Your Wagon
Movie • 1969
Jacob Woodling
Where's Willie?
Movie • 1978
Telefon
Movie • 1977
Harry Bascom
The Way West
Movie • 1967
Little Henry
The Devil's Sleep
Movie • 1949
Doctor
Shed No Tears
Movie • 1948
Policeman (Uncredited)
The Man Is Armed
Movie • 1956
Officer
The Bonnie Parker Story
Movie • 1958
John - Saloon Owner / Bartender (uncredited)
5 Steps to Danger
Movie • 1956
Bud--Deputy Sheriff
The Gunfight at Dodge City
Movie • 1959
Rowdy Drunken Cowboy
Chandler
Movie • 1971
Rudy, Bartender
Hitler
Movie • 1962
Hermann Goering
Johnny Rocco
Movie • 1958
Police Detective at Stakeout (uncredited)
Escapes
Movie • 1986
Mr. Olson (Coffee Break)
Cole Younger, Gunfighter
Movie • 1958
Rand City Bartender
Cattle King
Movie • 1963
Tex
Warning Shot
Movie • 1967
Flying Leathernecks
Movie • 1951
The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains
Movie • 1987
Atlanta Judge
Knock on Any Door
Movie • 1949
Jury Member (uncredited)
Bigfoot
Movie • 1970
Elmer Briggs
Submarine Command
Movie • 1951
Bloody Trail
Movie • 1972
Hoss
The Tall Stranger
Movie • 1957
Magnum Force
Movie • 1973
Frank DiGiorgio
Battle Flame
Movie • 1959
Maj. Dowling
In a Lonely Place
Movie • 1950
Bar Patron (uncredited)
My Fair Lady
Movie • 1964
Ad Lib at Church (uncredited)
Chisum
Movie • 1970
Baker
Operation Mad Ball
Movie • 1957
Enlisted Man (uncredited)
The Lusty Men
Movie • 1952
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Movie • 1976
Al
Brainstorm
Movie • 1965
Guitar-Playing Inmate (uncredited)
Death in Small Doses
Movie • 1957
Handler (uncredited)
Bandolero!
Movie • 1968
Bath House Customer
Hoodwinked
Movie • 1989
J.P. Spanner
Ride Out for Revenge
Movie • 1957
Sergeant (uncredited)
The Pace That Thrills
Movie • 1952
Blackie Myers
Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star
Movie • 1991
Self
Up In Smoke
Movie • 1957
Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
The Prairie
Movie • 1947
Asa Bush
Perils of the Wilderness
Movie • 1956
Brent
The Hanged Man
Movie • 1974
Eubie Turpin
High Plains Drifter
Movie • 1973
Warden
Born to Be Bad
Movie • 1950
Guest (uncredited)
Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate
Movie • 1971
Mr. Tubbs
El Dorado
Movie • 1966
Elmer - Jason's Bartender
Guns, Girls and Gangsters
Movie • 1959
Armored Car Guard (uncredited)
Nightmare
Movie • 1956
Onlooker at Stan's Suicide Attempt (Uncredited)
Savage
Movie • 1973
Motel Manager
Crackle of Death
Movie • 1976
Janitor
Breakheart Pass
Movie • 1975
Red Beard
One More Train to Rob
Movie • 1971
Guard (uncredited)
Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
Movie • 2019
Self - Brother (archive footage)
The Plainsman
Movie • 1966
Townsman (uncredited)
A Family for Joe
Movie • 1990
Preacher
Trackdown
TV • 1957
F Troop
TV • 1965
Little House on the Prairie
TV • 1974
Batman
TV • 1966
Rip Snorting
The Munsters
TV • 1964
Quincy, M.E.
TV • 1976
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1959
Erbie
Dragnet
TV • 1951
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Joe
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Operative
Bewitched
TV • 1964
Christy
TV • 1994
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1959
Ace
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
TV • 1974
Janitor
Laredo
TV • 1965
Pistols 'n' Petticoats
TV • 1966
Rawhide
TV • 1959
Luke Rose (uncredited)
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV • 1957
I Led Three Lives
TV • 1953
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Madison
Thriller
TV • 1960
Policeman
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
TV • 1955
The Young Rebels
TV • 1970
The Thin Man
TV • 1957
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TV • 1957
Jimmy Logan (uncredited)
M Squad
TV • 1957
First Mate
The Clear Horizon
TV • 1960
First Officer Mikel
Bronco
TV • 1958
Laramie
TV • 1959
Riverboat
TV • 1959
Pickalong
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
TV • 1955
The Legend of Jesse James
TV • 1965
Bartender
State Trooper
TV • 1956
Panic!
TV • 1957
Maverick
TV • 1957
Mr. Terrific
TV • 1967
Harry
Suspicion
TV • 1957
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Bob
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Pooch
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Bartender
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Sam the Bartender
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Bucky the Bartender
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Norm
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Wills
Adam-12
TV • 1968
Tom Horton
State Trooper
TV • 1956
Sheriff Tom Newell
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Operator
Screen Director's Playhouse
TV • 1955
Sandhogger #4
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Lou Palmer
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Bartender #1
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV • 1957
McHeath
F Troop
TV • 1965
Balladeer
Ironside
TV • 1967
Slim
Batman
TV • 1966
Hot Dog Harrigan
Studio 57
TV • 1954
Ironside
TV • 1967
Photo Lab Foreman
The Mod Squad
TV • 1968
Detective at Hospital (uncredited)
The Waltons
TV • 1972
Announcer
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV • 1957
Sanders - Gold Robber
F Troop
TV • 1965
Trooper Hoffenmueller
The Untouchables
TV • 1959
Freddie