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