David Janssen

Acting

1931 – 1980 · Naponee, Nebraska, USA

88 titres

▸ Biographie

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

Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy
Film · 2007
Self (archive footage)
★ 3.9
Inchon
Film · 1981
David Feld
★ 5.7
City in Fear
Film · 1980
Vince Perrino
★ 6.0
S.O.S. Titanic
Film · 1980
John Jacob Astor
★ 6.6
High Ice
Film · 1980
Glencoe MacDonald
★ 8.4
The Golden Gate Murders
Film · 1979
Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
★ 4.8
The Word
TV series · 1978
Steve Randall
★ 7.7
Centennial
TV series · 1978
Narrator
★ 7.0
Covert Action
Film · 1978
Lester Horton
★ 7.0
Nowhere to Run
Film · 1978
Harry Adams
★ 4.5
Superdome
Film · 1978
Mike Shelley
★ 5.5
Golden Rendezvous
Film · 1977
Charles Conway
★ 5.5
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
Film · 1977
Michael Delaney
★ 6.4
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
Film · 1977
Capt. Pete Douglass
★ 3.7
Warhead
Film · 1977
Tony Stevens
★ 6.3
Two-Minute Warning
Film · 1976
Steve
★ 9.0
Stalk the Wild Child
Film · 1976
Dr. James Hazard
★ 6.0
Joys
Film · 1976
Self
★ 5.0
The Swiss Conspiracy
Film · 1976
David Christopher
★ 5.2
Once Is Not Enough
Film · 1975
Tom Colt
★ 5.4
Fer-de-Lance
Film · 1974
Russ Bogan
★ 5.2
Harry O
TV series · 1974
Harry Orwell
★ 6.8
Smile Jenny, You're Dead
Film · 1974
Harry Orwell
★ 4.6
Pioneer Woman
Film · 1973
Robert Douglas
★ 6.7
Hijack!
Film · 1973
Jake Wilkenson
★ 7.0
Police Story
TV series · 1973
Role
★ 6.3
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
Film · 1973
Harry Orwell
★ 5.8
Birds of Prey
Film · 1973
Harry Walker
★ 4.7
Moon of the Wolf
Film · 1972
Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
★ 7.3
The Longest Night
Film · 1972
Alan Chambers
★ 6.0
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
TV series · 1971
Role
★ 6.7
Cannon
TV series · 1971
Role
★ 9.0
O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
Film · 1971
James O'Hara
★ 4.5
Macho Callahan
Film · 1971
Diego Callahan
★ 5.9
Night Chase
Film · 1970
Adrian Vico
★ 5.5
Generation
Film · 1969
Jim Bolton
★ 6.0
Marooned
Film · 1969
Ted Dougherty
★ 4.0
Where It's At
Film · 1969
A.C. Smith
★ 6.8
The Shoes of the Fisherman
Film · 1968
George Faber
★ 5.7
The Green Berets
Film · 1968
George Beckworth
★ 6.8
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
TV series · 1968
Self (uncredited)
★ 6.4
Warning Shot
Film · 1967
Sgt. Tom Valens
★ 5.0
The Hollywood Palace
TV series · 1964
Self
★ 7.3
The Fugitive
TV series · 1963
Richard Kimble
★ 5.7
My Six Loves
Film · 1963
Marty Bliss
★ 6.7
The Eleventh Hour
TV series · 1962
Hal Kincaid
★ 9.0
Belle Sommers
Film · 1962
Danny Castle
★ 7.0
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
Film · 1962
Self
★ 5.7
Target: The Corruptors!
TV series · 1961
Role
★ 5.7
The Dick Powell Show
TV series · 1961
Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan
★ 5.8
Man-Trap
Film · 1961
Vince Biskay
★ 5.2
Cain's Hundred
TV series · 1961
Dan Mullin
★ 6.8
Twenty Plus Two
Film · 1961
Tom Alder
★ 5.9
Ring of Fire
Film · 1961
Sergeant Steve Walsh
★ 6.4
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Film · 1961
Arnold Rothstein
★ 4.1
Dondi
Film · 1961
Dealey
★ 6.7
Route 66
TV series · 1960
Karno Starling
★ 4.8
Checkmate
TV series · 1960
Len Kobalsky
★ 6.3
Hell to Eternity
Film · 1960
Sgt, Bill Hazen
★ 6.1
Adventures in Paradise
TV series · 1959
Scotty Bell
★ 7.8
U.S. Marshall
TV series · 1958
Arnie Hix
★ 6.3
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
TV series · 1958
Ross Ingraham
★ 5.7
Naked City
TV series · 1958
Blair Cameron
★ 4.5
Lafayette Escadrille
Film · 1958
Duke Sinclair
★ 7.0
Alcoa Theatre
TV series · 1957
Mike Harper
★ 6.8
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TV series · 1957
Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett
★ 4.5
The Girl He Left Behind
Film · 1956
Capt. Genaro
★ 6.2
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV series · 1956
Seth Larker
★ 7.0
Whack-O!
TV series · 1956
Boy in hobby class
★ 5.3
Showdown at Abilene
Film · 1956
Verne Ward
★ 5.3
Away All Boats
Film · 1956
uncredited
★ 5.8
Francis in the Haunted House
Film · 1956
Police Lieutenant Hopkins
★ 6.9
Toy Tiger
Film · 1956
Larry Tripps
★ 6.4
Never Say Goodbye
Film · 1956
Dave Heller
★ 6.1
The Square Jungle
Film · 1955
Jack Lindsay
★ 5.3
Matinee Theater
TV series · 1955
Role
★ 6.6
To Hell and Back
Film · 1955
Lt Lee
★ 7.3
All That Heaven Allows
Film · 1955
Freddie Norton (uncredited)
★ 5.6
Francis in the Navy
Film · 1955
Lieutenant Anders
★ 6.7
The Private War of Major Benson
Film · 1955
Young Lieutenant
★ 5.6
Chief Crazy Horse
Film · 1955
Lt. Colin Cartwright
★ 6.0
Cult of the Cobra
Film · 1955
Rico Nardi
★ 5.8
The Millionaire
TV series · 1955
Peter Miller
★ 6.8
General Electric Theater
TV series · 1953
Pat Howard
★ 6.0
Yankee Buccaneer
Film · 1952
Beckett
★ 5.7
Francis Goes to West Point
Film · 1952
Corporal Thomas
★ 5.8
No Room for the Groom
Film · 1952
Soldier (scenes deleted)
★ 4.0
Boston Blackie
TV series · 1951
Armored Car Driver (uncredited)

What should I watch tonight?

David Janssen

What should I watch tonight?

David Janssen