David Janssen
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Mar 27, 1931
- Died
- Feb 13, 1980 (aged 48)
- Place of birth
- Naponee, Nebraska, USA
- Credits
- 94
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
All That Heaven Allows
1955Movie
Freddie Norton (uncredited)
The Green Berets
1968Movie
George Beckworth
Marooned
1969Movie
Ted Dougherty
Two-Minute Warning
1976Movie
Steve
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962TV
Self
The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968Movie
George Faber
Filmography
Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy
2007Movie
Self (archive footage)
Inchon
1981Movie
David Feld
City in Fear
1980Movie
Vince Perrino
S.O.S. Titanic
1980Movie
John Jacob Astor
High Ice
1980Movie
Glencoe MacDonald
The Golden Gate Murders
1979Movie
Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
The Word
1978TV
Steve Randall
Centennial
1978TV
Narrator
Covert Action
1978Movie
Lester Horton
Nowhere to Run
1978Movie
Harry Adams
Superdome
1978Movie
Mike Shelley
Golden Rendezvous
1977Movie
Charles Conway
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
1977Movie
Michael Delaney
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
1977Movie
Capt. Pete Douglass
Warhead
1977Movie
Tony Stevens
Two-Minute Warning
1976Movie
Steve
Stalk the Wild Child
1976Movie
Dr. James Hazard
Joys
1976Movie
Self
The Swiss Conspiracy
1976Movie
David Christopher
Once Is Not Enough
1975Movie
Tom Colt
Dinah!
1974TV
Self
Fer-de-Lance
1974Movie
Russ Bogan
Harry O
1974TV
Harry Orwell
Smile Jenny, You're Dead
1974Movie
Harry Orwell
Pioneer Woman
1973Movie
Robert Douglas
Hijack!
1973Movie
Jake Wilkenson
Police Story
1973TV
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
1973Movie
Harry Orwell
Birds of Prey
1973Movie
Harry Walker
Moon of the Wolf
1972Movie
Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
The Longest Night
1972Movie
Alan Chambers
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
1971TV
Cannon
1971TV
O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
1971Movie
James O'Hara
Macho Callahan
1971Movie
Diego Callahan
Night Chase
1970Movie
Adrian Vico
Generation
1969Movie
Jim Bolton
Marooned
1969Movie
Ted Dougherty
Where It's At
1969Movie
A.C. Smith
The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968Movie
George Faber
The Green Berets
1968Movie
George Beckworth
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968TV
Self (uncredited)
Warning Shot
1967Movie
Sgt. Tom Valens
The Hollywood Palace
1964TV
Self
The Fugitive
1963TV
Richard Kimble
My Six Loves
1963Movie
Marty Bliss
The Eleventh Hour
1962TV
Hal Kincaid
The Merv Griffin Show
1962TV
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962TV
Self
Belle Sommers
1962Movie
Danny Castle
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1962Movie
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961TV
Self - Co-Host, Self
Target: The Corruptors!
1961TV
The Dick Powell Show
1961TV
Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan
Man-Trap
1961Movie
Vince Biskay
Cain's Hundred
1961TV
Dan Mullin
Twenty Plus Two
1961Movie
Tom Alder
Ring of Fire
1961Movie
Sergeant Steve Walsh
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961Movie
Arnold Rothstein
Dondi
1961Movie
Dealey
Route 66
1960TV
Karno Starling
Checkmate
1960TV
Len Kobalsky
Hell to Eternity
1960Movie
Sgt, Bill Hazen
Adventures in Paradise
1959TV
Scotty Bell
U.S. Marshall
1958TV
Arnie Hix
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958TV
Ross Ingraham
Naked City
1958TV
Blair Cameron, Carl Ashland
Lafayette Escadrille
1958Movie
Duke Sinclair
Alcoa Theatre
1957TV
Mike Harper
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957TV
Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett
The Girl He Left Behind
1956Movie
Capt. Genaro
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956TV
Dix Porter, Seth Larker
Whack-O!
1956TV
Boy in hobby class
Showdown at Abilene
1956Movie
Verne Ward
Away All Boats
1956Movie
uncredited
Francis in the Haunted House
1956Movie
Police Lieutenant Hopkins
Toy Tiger
1956Movie
Larry Tripps
Never Say Goodbye
1956Movie
Dave Heller
The Square Jungle
1955Movie
Jack Lindsay
Matinee Theater
1955TV
To Hell and Back
1955Movie
Lt Lee
All That Heaven Allows
1955Movie
Freddie Norton (uncredited)
Francis in the Navy
1955Movie
Lieutenant Anders
The Private War of Major Benson
1955Movie
Young Lieutenant
Chief Crazy Horse
1955Movie
Lt. Colin Cartwright
Cult of the Cobra
1955Movie
Rico Nardi
The Millionaire
1955TV
Peter Miller, David Barrett
General Electric Theater
1953TV
Pat Howard
Yankee Buccaneer
1952Movie
Beckett
Francis Goes to West Point
1952Movie
Corporal Thomas
No Room for the Groom
1952Movie
Soldier (scenes deleted)
Boston Blackie
1951TV
Armored Car Driver (uncredited)
Lux Video Theatre
1950TV
Ralph / Joe Davies, Johnny Reynolds, Jr.
Golden Globe Awards
1944TV
Self - Nominee