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