David Janssen
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- March 27, 1931
- Died
- February 13, 1980
- Birthplace
- Naponee, Nebraska, USA
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
Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy 2007
as Self (archive footage)
Inchon 1981
as David Feld
City in Fear 1980
as Vince Perrino
S.O.S. Titanic 1980
as John Jacob Astor
High Ice 1980
as Glencoe MacDonald
The Golden Gate Murders 1979
as Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
Covert Action 1978
as Lester Horton
Nowhere to Run 1978
as Harry Adams
Superdome 1978
as Mike Shelley
Golden Rendezvous 1977
as Charles Conway
A Sensitive, Passionate Man 1977
as Michael Delaney
Mayday at 40,000 Feet 1977
as Capt. Pete Douglass
Warhead 1977
as Tony Stevens
Two-Minute Warning 1976
as Steve
Stalk the Wild Child 1976
as Dr. James Hazard
Joys 1976
as Self
The Swiss Conspiracy 1976
as David Christopher
Once Is Not Enough 1975
as Tom Colt
Fer-de-Lance 1974
as Russ Bogan
Smile Jenny, You're Dead 1974
as Harry Orwell
Pioneer Woman 1973
as Robert Douglas
Hijack! 1973
as Jake Wilkenson
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On 1973
as Harry Orwell
Birds of Prey 1973
as Harry Walker
Moon of the Wolf 1972
as Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
The Longest Night 1972
as Alan Chambers
O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra 1971
as James O'Hara
Macho Callahan 1971
as Diego Callahan
Night Chase 1970
as Adrian Vico
Generation 1969
as Jim Bolton
Marooned 1969
as Ted Dougherty
Where It's At 1969
as A.C. Smith
The Shoes of the Fisherman 1968
as George Faber
The Green Berets 1968
as George Beckworth
Warning Shot 1967
as Sgt. Tom Valens
My Six Loves 1963
as Marty Bliss
Belle Sommers 1962
as Danny Castle
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers 1962
as Self
Man-Trap 1961
as Vince Biskay
Twenty Plus Two 1961
as Tom Alder
Ring of Fire 1961
as Sergeant Steve Walsh
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein 1961
as Arnold Rothstein
Dondi 1961
as Dealey
Hell to Eternity 1960
as Sgt, Bill Hazen
Lafayette Escadrille 1958
as Duke Sinclair
The Girl He Left Behind 1956
as Capt. Genaro
Showdown at Abilene 1956
as Verne Ward
Away All Boats 1956
as uncredited
Francis in the Haunted House 1956
as Police Lieutenant Hopkins
Toy Tiger 1956
as Larry Tripps
Never Say Goodbye 1956
as Dave Heller
The Square Jungle 1955
as Jack Lindsay
To Hell and Back 1955
as Lt Lee
All That Heaven Allows 1955
as Freddie Norton (uncredited)
Francis in the Navy 1955
as Lieutenant Anders
The Private War of Major Benson 1955
as Young Lieutenant
Chief Crazy Horse 1955
as Lt. Colin Cartwright
Cult of the Cobra 1955
as Rico Nardi
Yankee Buccaneer 1952
as Beckett
Francis Goes to West Point 1952
as Corporal Thomas
No Room for the Groom 1952
as Soldier (scenes deleted)
Credits from TMDB.