David Janssen

Biography

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

Lt. Colin Cartwright

Chief Crazy Horse

George Beckworth

The Green Berets

Steve

Two-Minute Warning

Ted Dougherty

Marooned

Rico Nardi

Cult of the Cobra

Arnold Rothstein

King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein

Sgt, Bill Hazen

Hell to Eternity

David Christopher

The Swiss Conspiracy

Lieutenant Anders

Francis in the Navy

Lt Lee

To Hell and Back

Charles Conway

Golden Rendezvous

Sheriff Aaron Whitaker

Moon of the Wolf

Steve in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)

Los Angeles Plays Itself

Vince Biskay

Man-Trap

Harry Walker

Birds of Prey

Beckett

Yankee Buccaneer

Vince Perrino

City in Fear

Harry Orwell

Smile Jenny, You're Dead

John Jacob Astor

S.O.S. Titanic

Jim Bolton

Generation

Tom Alder

Twenty Plus Two

Sgt. Tom Valens

Warning Shot

Tom Colt

Once Is Not Enough

A.C. Smith

Where It's At

Russ Bogan

Fer-de-Lance

Young Lieutenant

The Private War of Major Benson

Sergeant Steve Walsh

Ring of Fire

Lester Horton

Sono stato un agente C.I.A.

David Feld

Inchon

Verne Ward

Showdown at Abilene

Duke Sinclair

Lafayette Escadrille

Soldier (scenes deleted)

No Room for the Groom

Dealey

Dondi

Dave Heller

Never Say Goodbye

Glencoe MacDonald

High Ice

Tony Stevens

Warhead

Marty Bliss

My Six Loves

Robert Douglas

Pioneer Woman

Jake Wilkenson

Hijack!

Police Lieutenant Hopkins

Francis in the Haunted House

Larry Tripps

Toy Tiger

Harry Adams

Nowhere to Run

Capt. Pete Douglass

Mayday at 40,000 Feet!

Mike Shelley

Superdome

George Faber

The Shoes of the Fisherman

Jack Lindsay

The Square Jungle

Self

The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers

Diego Callahan

Macho Callahan

Michael Delaney

A Sensitive, Passionate Man

Freddie Norton (uncredited)

All That Heaven Allows

Adrian Vico

Night Chase

Capt. Genaro

The Girl He Left Behind

Harry Orwell

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On

uncredited

Away All Boats

Corporal Thomas

Francis Goes to West Point

Det. Sgt. Paul Silver

The Golden Gate Murders

Self

Joys

Alan Chambers

The Longest Night

Danny Castle

Belle Sommers

James O'Hara

O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra

Dr. James Hazard

Stalk the Wild Child