David Janssen
Born
March 27, 1931
Died
February 13, 1980 (48 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Naponee, Nebraska, USA
David Janssen was born David Harold Meyer 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
Known For

Los Angeles Plays Itself
Steve in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)
2004

Inchon
David Feld
1981

City in Fear
Vince Perrino
1980

S.O.S. Titanic
John Jacob Astor
1980

High Ice
Glencoe MacDonald
1980

The Golden Gate Murders
Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
1979

The Word
Steve Randall · (4 episodes)
1978

Centennial
Narrator · (12 episodes)
1978

Covert Action
Lester Horton
1978

Nowhere to Run
Harry Adams
1978

Superdome
Mike Shelley
1978

Golden Rendezvous
Charles Conway
1977

A Sensitive, Passionate Man
Michael Delaney
1977

Mayday at 40,000 Feet
Capt. Pete Douglass
1977

Warhead
Tony Stevens
1977

Two-Minute Warning
Steve
1976

Stalk the Wild Child
Dr. James Hazard
1976

Joys
Self
1976

The Swiss Conspiracy
David Christopher
1976

Once Is Not Enough
Tom Colt
1975

Dinah!
Self · (2 episodes)
1974

Fer-de-Lance
Russ Bogan
1974

Harry O
Harry Orwell · (44 episodes)
1974

Smile Jenny, You're Dead
Harry Orwell
1974

Pioneer Woman
Robert Douglas
1973

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
Harry Orwell
1973

Hijack!
Jake Wilkenson
1973

Police Story
(1 episode)
1973

Birds of Prey
Harry Walker
1973

Moon of the Wolf
Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
1972

The Longest Night
Alan Chambers
1972
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
(22 episodes)
1971

Cannon
(1 episode)
1971

O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
James O'Hara
1971

Macho Callahan
Diego Callahan
1971

Night Chase
Adrian Vico
1970

Generation
Jim Bolton
1969

Marooned
Ted Dougherty
1969

Where It's At
A.C. Smith
1969

The Shoes of the Fisherman
George Faber
1968

The Green Berets
George Beckworth
1968

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self · (1 episode)
1968

Warning Shot
Sgt. Tom Valens
1967

The Hollywood Palace
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1964

The Fugitive
Richard Kimble · (120 episodes)
1963

My Six Loves
Marty Bliss
1963

The Eleventh Hour
Hal Kincaid · (1 episode)
1962

The Merv Griffin Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (1 episode)
1962

Belle Sommers
Danny Castle
1962

The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
Self
1962

The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · (1 episode)
1961

The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961

Target: The Corruptors!
(1 episode)
1961

The Dick Powell Show
Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan · (1 episode)
1961

Man-Trap
Vince Biskay
1961

Cain's Hundred
Dan Mullin · (1 episode)
1961

Twenty Plus Two
Tom Alder
1961

Ring of Fire
Sergeant Steve Walsh
1961

King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein
1961

Dondi
Dealey
1961

Route 66
Karno Starling · (1 episode)
1960

Checkmate
Len Kobalsky · (1 episode)
1960

Hell to Eternity
Sgt, Bill Hazen
1960

Adventures in Paradise
Scotty Bell · (1 episode)
1959

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Ross Ingraham · (1 episode)
1958

Naked City
Blair Cameron · (1 episode)
1958

Naked City
Carl Ashland · (1 episode)
1958

Lafayette Escadrille
Duke Sinclair
1958

Alcoa Theatre
Mike Harper · (1 episode)
1957

Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett · (77 episodes)
1957

The Girl He Left Behind
Capt. Genaro
1956

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Seth Larker · (1 episode)
1956

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Dix Porter · (1 episode)
1956

Whack-O!
Boy in hobby class · (6 episodes)
1956

Showdown at Abilene
Verne Ward
1956

U.S. Marshall
Arnie Hix · (1 episode)
1956

Away All Boats
uncredited
1956

Francis in the Haunted House
Police Lieutenant Hopkins
1956

Toy Tiger
Larry Tripps
1956

Never Say Goodbye
Dave Heller
1956

The Square Jungle
Jack Lindsay
1955

All That Heaven Allows
Freddie Norton (uncredited)
1955

Matinee Theater
(1 episode)
1955

To Hell and Back
Lt Lee
1955

Francis in the Navy
Lieutenant Anders
1955

The Private War of Major Benson
Young Lieutenant
1955

Chief Crazy Horse
Lt. Colin Cartwright
1955

Cult of the Cobra
Rico Nardi
1955

The Millionaire
Peter Miller · (1 episode)
1955

The Millionaire
David Barrett · (1 episode)
1955

General Electric Theater
Pat Howard · (1 episode)
1953

Yankee Buccaneer
Beckett
1952

Francis Goes to West Point
Cpl. Thomas (as Dave Janssen)
1952

No Room for the Groom
Soldier (scenes deleted)
1952

The Adventures of Boston Blackie
Armored Car Driver (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1951
Lux Video Theatre
Ralph / Joe Davies · (2 episodes)
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Johnny Reynolds, Jr. · (1 episode)
1950

Golden Globe Awards
Self - Winner · (1 episode)
1944