Gordon Mitchell
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Jul 29, 1923
- Died
- Sep 20, 2003 (aged 80)
- Place of birth
- Denver, Colorado, USA
- Credits
- 138
Gordon Mitchell was born "Charles Pendleton" in Colorado and served his country in both World War II and the Korean War (during which he was briefly a POW). Afterward he worked as a teacher in inner city schools in California and got heavily involved in personal fitness and bodybuilding. He became friends with Joe Gold (of Gold's Gym), joining Mae West's comedy act as one of her "strongmen" who would carry her on and off the stage. During this time he also found himself in demand as an extra in several Hollywood films including "Lil Abner", "The Enemy Below", and "The Ten Commandments" (in which he and Joe Gold bring Moses to Ramsey's court in chains). When the Peplum craze began in Italy and his fellow Muscle Beach star Steve Reeves became a huge star. Gordon (along with Reg Park, Mark Forrest, Brad Harris, Mickey Hargitay, and Richard Harrison) similarly jumped on the bandwagon and headed to Italy to find stardom and financially greener pastures.
Thanks to his unconventional appearance (small, sharp eyes and craggy face) and enthusiasm for his work, Mitchell found himself one of the most in-demand performers in Italy's Sword & Sandal craze of the early 60's, working with several top directors including Marino Girolami, Alberto De Martino, and Michele Lupo. Unlike most of his peers who left Italy once the genre ran its course, Mitchell stayed on to play villains in numerous Spaghetti Westerns, Giallos, War Films, and Science Fiction movies. He also had a small but key role in the Elizabeth Taylor / Marlon Brandon vehicle "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967) during this time though perhaps his most prestigious role would be the rogue who helps the two protagonists kidnap the noble in Fellini's "Satyricon" (1969). Mitchell used his extra cash to buy and build his own movie studio (Cave Studios) which he single-handedly constructed outside of Rome. It went largely unused except by ultra-low budget director Demofilo Fidani who would often cast Mitchell as well.
In the late 1980's when the Italian genre film industry had basically self-destructed, unable to compete with American films even for video rentals, Mitchell packed his bags and moved back to California. Once home, he re-teamed with old friend Joe Gold to manage World Gym, at which Mitchell acted as COO and lived at the top floor of its headquarters in Marina Del Rey. Continuing for years to act in low budget films purely for the fun of it, Mitchell passed away in his sleep at age 80 in 2003. Having just won the California recall election the day prior, Arnold Schwarzenegger took time out of his busy schedule to pay his respects at Mitchell's Memorial Service at the World Gym Headquarters along with many other bodybuilders who credit Mitchell with getting them into their careers.
Known for
Spartacus
1960Movie
Gladiator (uncredited)
Rio Bravo
1959Movie
Bar Cowboy Watching Fistfight (uncredited)
The Twilight Zone
1959TV
Soldier
Around the World in 80 Days
1956Movie
Extra (uncredited)
Satyricon
1969Movie
Il predone
The Man with the Golden Arm
1955Movie
Filmography
Malevolence
2004Movie
Don Fabrizio De Martino
An Enraged New World
2002Movie
General Murchison
Kino kolossal - Herkules, Maciste & Co
2000Movie
Self
Bikini Drive-In
1995Movie
Goliath
The Alien Within
1990Movie
Dan Thorn
Overdose
1989Movie
Costa
I promessi sposi
1989TV
Don Gonzalo
Blood Delirium
1988Movie
Hermann
Faida
1988Movie
SFX Retaliator
1988Movie
Morgan
Cross of the Seven Jewels
1987Movie
Black Mass Leader
Commando Invasion
1987Movie
Three Men on Fire
1986Movie
Dr. Andrew Milhench
The Mines of Kilimanjaro
1986Movie
Rolf
Cobra Mission
1986Movie
Col. Mortimer
White Fire
1984Movie
Olaf
She
1984Movie
Hector
If All Goes Well We Are Ruined
1983Movie
Jack Volpetti
Endgame
1983Movie
Col. Morgan
Rush
1983Movie
Yor
The Commissioner
1983Movie
(uncredited)
Secret Force
1983Movie
Marco Polo
1982TV
Capitano Arnolfo
The Yellow Panther
1982Movie
killer
Diamond Connection
1982Movie
Abdul Pascha
Curse of the Red Butterfly
1982Movie
Brado
The Doctor Prefers Sailors
1981Movie
killer russo
Kopfschuß
1981Movie
Maserati
Trois filles dans le vent
1981Movie
Gordon Mitchell
Umbrella Coup
1980Movie
Moskovitz, le tueur à gages
Holocaust II
1980Movie
Felix Oppenheimer
Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados
1980Movie
Robert
Fever of 40!
1980Movie
Mr. Temple
The Iron Hand of the Mafia
1980Movie
Don Nicola
Porno erotico western
1979Movie
(as Charles Pendleton)
Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot
1979Movie
Pretorius
Strategy for a Mission of Death
1979Movie
Paul
A Very Special Woman
1979Movie
Gordon
Santa Lucia
1979Movie
Amerikaner
White Fang and the Kid
1978Movie
Morgan
Operation Orient
1978Movie
Haine
Fists, Dollars and Spinach
1978Movie
Frank Stilo
The Slayers
1977Movie
Pablo
Natascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau
1977Movie
Gooming
Oil
1977Movie
Joe
Achtung! The Desert Tigers
1977Movie
Kommandant von Stolzen
Special Squad Shoots on Sight
1976Movie
David
Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion
1975Movie
Renato Proietti
The Tiger From the River Kwai
1975Movie
Jack Mason
The Man from Chicago
1975Movie
Mike
The Skin Under the Claws
1975Movie
Professor Helmut
Seven Savage Men
1975Movie
Cooper
Four for All
1975Movie
Margherito
Anasının Gözü
1975Movie
The Household
1974Movie
General Von Werner
Little Godfather from Hong Kong
1974Movie
The Sewer Rats
1974Movie
Gordon
Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks
1974Movie
Igor
The Fighting Fist of Shanghai Joe
1973Movie
Burying Sam
His Colt, Himself, His Revenge
1973Movie
Martin
From the Archives of the Criminal Police
1973Movie
Peter Wilcox
Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West
1973Movie
Mike
My Darling Slave
1973Movie
Von Thirac
Anything for a Friend
1973Movie
Miller
Frankenstein '80
1972Movie
Dr. Otto Frankenstein
Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado
1972Movie
Jonathan Duke
The French Sex Murders
1972Movie
Man in Nightclub
My Name Is Texas Bill
1972Movie
Martin
The Crucified Girls of San Ramon
1972Movie
El Kadir
A Gunman Called Dakota
1972Movie
Dakota
Slaughter Day
1972Movie
Gordon
His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria
1971Movie
Ray Potter
Savage Guns
1971Movie
Gordon Mitchell
Angel's Leap
1971Movie
Henry Di Fusco
Day of Judgment
1971Movie
Deputy
Let's Go And Kill Sartana
1971Movie
Greg "The Crazy Person"
Down with Your Hands... You Scum!
1971Movie
Buck/Butch Bradley
Adios Compañeros
1971Movie
Ironhead
Coffin Full of Dollars
1971Movie
John Hamilton
Finders Killers
1971Movie
Chris Forest
Tre nel mille
1971Movie
Io non spezzo... rompo
1971Movie
Joe il Rosso
Treasure of the Lost Desert
1971Movie
Dead Men Don't Make Shadows
1970Movie
Roger Murdock
Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End
1970Movie
Black Burt Keller / Burt Kelly
The Arizona Kid
1970Movie
Coyote
Lisa with the Blue Eyes
1969Movie
Football player
I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death
1969Movie
Degueyo
Satyricon
1969Movie
Il predone
Ora X Pattuglia Suicida
1969Movie
The Wings of War
1969Movie
Cry of Death
1968Movie
Donkey / Morgan Pitt
Dead for a Dollar
1968Movie
Roy Fulton
Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten
1968Movie
Alfredo
All on the Red
1968Movie
Erikson
Seven Times Seven
1968Movie
Big Ben
The Killer Likes Candy
1968Movie
Toni
Beyond the Law
1968Movie
Burton
Cheers... Cyanide!
1968Movie
Al Rubino
I'll Die for Vengeance
1968Movie
Clayton
Fenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen
1968Movie
Gregory Falco
John the Bastard
1967Movie
Danite
Reflections in a Golden Eye
1967Movie
Stables Sergeant
Death on the Run
1967Movie
The Albanian
The Crazy Westerners
1967Movie
Bandit Leader
Born to Kill
1967Movie
Rod Gordon
Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak
1967Movie
Ringo
È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere
1966Movie
Van Himst
L'Estate
1966Movie
Self
Kill or Be Killed
1966Movie
Baltimore Joe/Ringo
Thompson 1880
1966Movie
Glenn Sheppard
Star Pilot
1966Movie
Murdu
Three Bullets for Ringo
1966Movie
Frank
Lady Morgan's Vengeance
1965Movie
Roger
Erik the Viking
1965Movie
Sven
I Spy
1965TV
The Stone Forest
1965Movie
Hunding
Hercules and the Princess of Troy
1965Movie
Pirate Captain
Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens
1964Movie
Omar
The Revenge of the Gladiators
1964Movie
Arminio
Seven Slaves Against the World
1964Movie
Balisten
Brennus, Enemy of Rome
1963Movie
Brenno
The Fury of Achilles
1962Movie
Achilles
Invasion 1700
1962Movie
Ulrich
Kerim, Son of the Sheik
1962Movie
Yussuf
Caesar Against the Pirates
1962Movie
Hamar
Vulcan, Son of Giove
1962Movie
Pluto
The Giant of Metropolis
1961Movie
Obro
The Centurion
1961Movie
General Metellus
Atlas Against the Cyclops
1961Movie
Maciste
Spartacus
1960Movie
Gladiator (uncredited)
The Twilight Zone
1959TV
Soldier
Rio Bravo
1959Movie
Bar Cowboy Watching Fistfight (uncredited)
The Young Lions
1958Movie
Minor Role (uncredited)
The Enemy Below
1957Movie
German Sailor
The Spirit of St. Louis
1957Movie
(uncredited)
Around the World in 80 Days
1956Movie
Extra (uncredited)
The Man with the Golden Arm
1955Movie