John Mitchum
Born
September 6, 1919
Died
November 29, 2001 (82 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
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

Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
Self - Brother (archive footage)
2019

Christy
(1 episode)
1994

Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star
Self
1991

Hoodwinked
J.P. Spanner
1989

The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains
Atlanta Judge
1987

Escapes
Mr. Olson (Coffee Break)
1986

Where's Willie?
1978

Telefon
Harry Bascom
1977

The Enforcer
Frank DiGiorgio
1976

Quincy, M.E.
(1 episode)
1976

The Outlaw Josey Wales
Al
1976

Crackle of Death
1976

Breakheart Pass
Red Beard
1975

Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Janitor · (1 episode)
1974

Little House on the Prairie
(1 episode)
1974

The Hanged Man
Eubie Turpin
1974

Magnum Force
Frank DiGiorgio
1973

High Plains Drifter
Warden
1973

Savage
Motel Manager
1973

The Waltons
Announcer · (1 episode)
1972

Bloody Trail
Hoss
1972

Dirty Harry
De Georgio
1971

Chandler
Rudy, Bartender
1971

Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate
Mr. Tubbs
1971

One More Train to Rob
Guard (uncredited)
1971

Bigfoot
Elmer Briggs
1970

The Young Rebels
(1 episode)
1970

Chisum
Baker
1970

Paint Your Wagon
Jacob Woodling
1969

The Mod Squad
Detective at Hospital (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1968

Adam-12
Tom Horton · (1 episode)
1968

Bandolero!
Bath House Customer
1968

The Way West
Little Henry
1967

Ironside
Slim · (1 episode)
1967

Ironside
Photo Lab Foreman · (1 episode)
1967

Warning Shot
1967

Mr. Terrific
Harry · (1 episode)
1967

El Dorado
Elmer - Jason's Bartender
1966

Pistols 'n' Petticoats
(1 episode)
1966

The Plainsman
Townsman (uncredited)
1966

Batman
Rip Snorting · (2 episodes)
1966

Batman
Hot Dog Harrigan · (1 episode)
1966

Laredo
(1 episode)
1965

F Troop
(3 episodes)
1965

F Troop
Balladeer · (1 episode)
1965

The Legend of Jesse James
Bartender · (1 episode)
1965

Brainstorm
Guitar-Playing Inmate (uncredited)
1965

My Fair Lady
Ad Lib at Church (uncredited)
1964

The Munsters
(1 episode)
1964

Bewitched
(2 episodes)
1964

Cattle King
Tex
1963

The Virginian
Madison · (1 episode)
1962

The Virginian
Pooch · (1 episode)
1962

The Virginian
Bartender · (3 episodes)
1962

The Virginian
Sam the Bartender · (1 episode)
1962

The Virginian
Bucky the Bartender · (1 episode)
1962

Hitler
Hermann Goering
1962

Thriller
Policeman · (1 episode)
1960
The Clear Horizon
First Officer Mikel · (230 episodes)
1960

The Twilight Zone
Erbie · (1 episode)
1959

The Twilight Zone
Ace · (1 episode)
1959

Laramie
(1 episode)
1959

Riverboat
Pickalong · (44 episodes)
1959

Bonanza
Lou Palmer · (1 episode)
1959

Bonanza
Bartender #1 · (1 episode)
1959

Battle Flame
Maj. Dowling
1959

The Gunfight at Dodge City
Rowdy Drunken Cowboy
1959

Rawhide
Luke Rose (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1959

Guns, Girls and Gangsters
Armored Car Guard (uncredited)
1959

Johnny Rocco
Police Detective at Stakeout (uncredited)
1958

Bronco
(1 episode)
1958

The Bonnie Parker Story
John - Saloon Owner / Bartender (uncredited)
1958

Cole Younger, Gunfighter
Rand City Bartender
1958

Up In Smoke
Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1957

The Tall Stranger
1957

Ride Out for Revenge
Sergeant (uncredited)
1957

Trackdown
(1 episode)
1957

Suspicion
(1 episode)
1957

Maverick
(1 episode)
1957

Perry Mason
Operative · (1 episode)
1957

Perry Mason
Operator · (1 episode)
1957

The Thin Man
(1 episode)
1957

M Squad
First Mate · (1 episode)
1957

Death in Small Doses
1957

Have Gun, Will Travel
(2 episodes)
1957

Have Gun, Will Travel
McHeath · (1 episode)
1957

Have Gun, Will Travel
Sanders - Gold Robber · (1 episode)
1957

Operation Mad Ball
Enlisted Man (uncredited)
1957

Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Jimmy Logan (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1957

Panic!
(1 episode)
1957

5 Steps to Danger
Bud--Deputy Sheriff
1956

The Man Is Armed
Officer
1956

State Trooper
(2 episodes)
1956

State Trooper
Sheriff Tom Newell · (1 episode)
1956

Nightmare
Onlooker at Stan's Suicide Attempt (Uncredited)
1956

Perils of the Wilderness
Brent
1956

Screen Director's Playhouse
Sandhogger #4 · (1 episode)
1955

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
(1 episode)
1955

Gunsmoke
Joe · (2 episodes)
1955

Gunsmoke
Bob · (1 episode)
1955

Gunsmoke
Norm · (1 episode)
1955

Gunsmoke
Wills · (1 episode)
1955

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
(1 episode)
1955

Studio 57
(1 episode)
1954

I Led Three Lives
(1 episode)
1953

The Lusty Men
1952

The Pace That Thrills
Blackie Myers
1952

Dragnet
(2 episodes)
1951

Submarine Command
1951

Flying Leathernecks
1951

Born to Be Bad
Guest (Uncredited)
1950

In a Lonely Place
Bar Patron (uncredited)
1950

The Devil's Sleep
Doctor
1949

Knock on Any Door
Jury Member (uncredited)
1949

Shed No Tears
Policeman (Uncredited)
1948

The Prairie
Asa Bush
1947