David Janssen
Acting • Born 1931-03-27 – Died 1980-02-13
Biography
David Janssen (born David Harold Meyer; March 27, 1931 – February 13, 1980) was an American actor. He was born 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
Filmography
99 credits
Chief Crazy Horse
Movie • 1955
Lt. Colin Cartwright
The Green Berets
Movie • 1968
George Beckworth
Two-Minute Warning
Movie • 1976
Steve
Marooned
Movie • 1969
Ted Dougherty
Cult of the Cobra
Movie • 1955
Rico Nardi
Hell to Eternity
Movie • 1960
Sgt, Bill Hazen
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Movie • 1961
Arnold Rothstein
The Swiss Conspiracy
Movie • 1976
David Christopher
Francis in the Navy
Movie • 1955
Lieutenant Anders
To Hell and Back
Movie • 1955
Lt Lee
Golden Rendezvous
Movie • 1977
Charles Conway
Moon of the Wolf
Movie • 1972
Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
Los Angeles Plays Itself
Movie • 2004
Steve in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)
Man-Trap
Movie • 1961
Vince Biskay
Birds of Prey
Movie • 1973
Harry Walker
Yankee Buccaneer
Movie • 1952
Beckett
City in Fear
Movie • 1980
Vince Perrino
Smile Jenny, You're Dead
Movie • 1974
Harry Orwell
S.O.S. Titanic
Movie • 1980
John Jacob Astor
Generation
Movie • 1969
Jim Bolton
Twenty Plus Two
Movie • 1961
Tom Alder
Warning Shot
Movie • 1967
Sgt. Tom Valens
Once Is Not Enough
Movie • 1975
Tom Colt
Where It's At
Movie • 1969
A.C. Smith
Fer-de-Lance
Movie • 1974
Russ Bogan
Ring of Fire
Movie • 1961
Sergeant Steve Walsh
The Private War of Major Benson
Movie • 1955
Young Lieutenant
Covert Action
Movie • 1978
Lester Horton
Inchon
Movie • 1981
David Feld
Showdown at Abilene
Movie • 1956
Verne Ward
Lafayette Escadrille
Movie • 1958
Duke Sinclair
No Room for the Groom
Movie • 1952
Soldier (scenes deleted)
Dondi
Movie • 1961
Dealey
Never Say Goodbye
Movie • 1956
Dave Heller
High Ice
Movie • 1980
Glencoe MacDonald
Warhead
Movie • 1977
Tony Stevens
My Six Loves
Movie • 1963
Marty Bliss
Pioneer Woman
Movie • 1973
Robert Douglas
Hijack!
Movie • 1973
Jake Wilkenson
Francis in the Haunted House
Movie • 1956
Police Lieutenant Hopkins
Toy Tiger
Movie • 1956
Larry Tripps
Nowhere to Run
Movie • 1978
Harry Adams
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
Movie • 1977
Capt. Pete Douglass
Superdome
Movie • 1978
Mike Shelley
The Shoes of the Fisherman
Movie • 1968
George Faber
The Square Jungle
Movie • 1955
Jack Lindsay
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
Movie • 1962
Self
Macho Callahan
Movie • 1971
Diego Callahan
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
Movie • 1977
Michael Delaney
All That Heaven Allows
Movie • 1955
Freddie Norton (uncredited)
Night Chase
Movie • 1970
Adrian Vico
The Girl He Left Behind
Movie • 1956
Capt. Genaro
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
Movie • 1973
Harry Orwell
Away All Boats
Movie • 1956
uncredited
Francis Goes to West Point
Movie • 1952
Corporal Thomas
The Golden Gate Murders
Movie • 1979
Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
Joys
Movie • 1976
Self
The Longest Night
Movie • 1972
Alan Chambers
Belle Sommers
Movie • 1962
Danny Castle
O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
Movie • 1971
James O'Hara
Stalk the Wild Child
Movie • 1976
Dr. James Hazard
Cain's Hundred
TV • 1961
Dan Mullin
Naked City
TV • 1958
Blair Cameron
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self
Cannon
TV • 1971
Centennial
TV • 1978
Narrator
Target: The Corruptors!
TV • 1961
Harry O
TV • 1974
Harry Orwell
Police Story
TV • 1973
The Fugitive
TV • 1963
Richard Kimble
The Millionaire
TV • 1955
Peter Miller
The Hollywood Palace
TV • 1964
Self
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
TV • 1968
Self (uncredited)
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Ralph / Joe Davies
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TV • 1957
Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett
Route 66
TV • 1960
Karno Starling
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Johnny Reynolds, Jr.
Adventures in Paradise
TV • 1959
Scotty Bell
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Pat Howard
The Eleventh Hour
TV • 1962
Hal Kincaid
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
TV • 1958
Ross Ingraham
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
TV • 1971
Matinee Theater
TV • 1955
Alcoa Theatre
TV • 1957
Mike Harper
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Seth Larker
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Dix Porter
Naked City
TV • 1958
Carl Ashland
The Millionaire
TV • 1955
David Barrett
Dinah!
TV • 1974
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self - Co-Host
The Word
TV • 1978
Steve Randall
Checkmate
TV • 1960
Len Kobalsky
U.S. Marshall
TV • 1956
Arnie Hix
The Dick Powell Show
TV • 1961
Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
Whack-O!
TV • 1956
Boy in hobby class
Boston Blackie
TV • 1951
Armored Car Driver (uncredited)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Nominee