David Janssen
Acteur·rice
27 mars 1931
Naponee, Nebraska, USA
Died 13 février 1980
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
Known for
As an actor
Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy
2007 · Self (archive footage)
Inchon
1981 · David Feld
City in Fear
1980 · Vince Perrino
S.O.S. Titanic
1980 · John Jacob Astor
High Ice
1980 · Glencoe MacDonald
The Golden Gate Murders
1979 · Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
Covert Action
1978 · Lester Horton
Nowhere to Run
1978 · Harry Adams
Superdome
1978 · Mike Shelley
Centennial
1978 · Narrator
The Word
1978 · Steve Randall
Golden Rendezvous
1977 · Charles Conway
Warhead
1977 · Tony Stevens
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
1977 · Capt. Pete Douglass
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
1977 · Michael Delaney
Two-Minute Warning
1976 · Steve
The Swiss Conspiracy
1976 · David Christopher
Joys
1976 · Self
Stalk the Wild Child
1976 · Dr. James Hazard
Once Is Not Enough
1975 · Tom Colt
Smile Jenny, You're Dead
1974 · Harry Orwell
Fer-de-Lance
1974 · Russ Bogan
Harry O
1974 · Harry Orwell
Dinah!
1974 · Self
Birds of Prey
1973 · Harry Walker
Pioneer Woman
1973 · Robert Douglas
Hijack!
1973 · Jake Wilkenson
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
1973 · Harry Orwell
Police Story
1973
Moon of the Wolf
1972 · Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
The Longest Night
1972 · Alan Chambers
Macho Callahan
1971 · Diego Callahan
O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
1971 · James O'Hara
Cannon
1971
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
1971
Night Chase
1970 · Adrian Vico
Marooned
1969 · Ted Dougherty
Generation
1969 · Jim Bolton
Where It's At
1969 · A.C. Smith
The Green Berets
1968 · George Beckworth
The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968 · George Faber
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968 · Self (uncredited)
Warning Shot
1967 · Sgt. Tom Valens
The Hollywood Palace
1964 · Self
My Six Loves
1963 · Marty Bliss
The Fugitive
1963 · Richard Kimble
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1962 · Self
Belle Sommers
1962 · Danny Castle
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self
The Eleventh Hour
1962 · Hal Kincaid
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961 · Arnold Rothstein
Man-Trap
1961 · Vince Biskay
Twenty Plus Two
1961 · Tom Alder
Ring of Fire
1961 · Sergeant Steve Walsh
Dondi
1961 · Dealey
Cain's Hundred
1961 · Dan Mullin
Target: The Corruptors!
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self - Co-Host, Self
The Dick Powell Show
1961 · Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan
Hell to Eternity
1960 · Sgt, Bill Hazen
Route 66
1960 · Karno Starling
Checkmate
1960 · Len Kobalsky
Adventures in Paradise
1959 · Scotty Bell
Lafayette Escadrille
1958 · Duke Sinclair
Naked City
1958 · Blair Cameron, Carl Ashland
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958 · Ross Ingraham
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957 · Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett
Alcoa Theatre
1957 · Mike Harper
Showdown at Abilene
1956 · Verne Ward
Never Say Goodbye
1956 · Dave Heller
Francis in the Haunted House
1956 · Police Lieutenant Hopkins
Toy Tiger
1956 · Larry Tripps
The Girl He Left Behind
1956 · Capt. Genaro
Away All Boats
1956 · uncredited
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956 · Seth Larker, Dix Porter
U.S. Marshall
1956 · Arnie Hix
Whack-O!
1956 · Boy in hobby class
Chief Crazy Horse
1955 · Lt. Colin Cartwright
Cult of the Cobra
1955 · Rico Nardi
Francis in the Navy
1955 · Lieutenant Anders
To Hell and Back
1955 · Lt Lee
The Private War of Major Benson
1955 · Young Lieutenant
The Square Jungle
1955 · Jack Lindsay
All That Heaven Allows
1955 · Freddie Norton (uncredited)
The Millionaire
1955 · Peter Miller, David Barrett
Matinee Theater
1955
General Electric Theater
1953 · Pat Howard
Yankee Buccaneer
1952 · Beckett
No Room for the Groom
1952 · Soldier (scenes deleted)
Francis Goes to West Point
1952 · Corporal Thomas
Boston Blackie
1951 · Armored Car Driver (uncredited)
Lux Video Theatre
1950 · Ralph / Joe Davies, Johnny Reynolds, Jr.
Golden Globe Awards
1944 · Self - Nominee