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David Janssen

David Janssen

Actor · 1931 – 1980 · 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

Movies24

  • Movie7.3

    All That Heaven Allows

    1955 · 349 votes

  • Movie5.7

    The Green Berets

    1968 · 195 votes

  • Movie6.3

    Two-Minute Warning

    1976 · 102 votes

  • Movie6.0

    Cult of the Cobra

    1955 · 38 votes

  • Movie6.4

    Never Say Goodbye

    1956 · 20 votes

  • Movie6.6

    To Hell and Back

    1955 · 69 votes

  • Movie6.0

    S.O.S. Titanic

    1980 · 43 votes

  • Movie5.6

    Chief Crazy Horse

    1955 · 26 votes

  • Movie4.7

    Moon of the Wolf

    1972 · 48 votes

  • Movie6.0

    Marooned

    1969 · 116 votes

  • Movie5.2

    Once Is Not Enough

    1975 · 18 votes

  • Movie6.8
  • Movie5.3

    Away All Boats

    1956 · 24 votes

  • Movie6.4
  • Movie6.8
  • Movie4.5
  • Movie6.4

    Mayday at 40,000 Feet!

    Mayday at 40,000 Feet

    1977 · 10 votes

  • Movie6.4

    Warning Shot

    1967 · 27 votes

  • Movie3.9

    Inchon

    1981 · 15 votes

  • Movie5.8

    Birds of Prey

    1973 · 13 votes

  • Movie5.8

    No Room for the Groom

    1952 · 9 votes

  • Movie5.6

    Francis in the Navy

    1955 · 25 votes

  • Movie6.0

    Joys

    1976 · 2 votes

  • Movie6.0

    Yankee Buccaneer

    1952 · 8 votes

Series23

  • TV7.5
  • TV5.8

    The Mike Douglas Show

    1961 · 11 votes

  • TV7.0

    Golden Globe Awards

    1944 · 20 votes

  • TV6.8

    The Merv Griffin Show

    1962 · 12 votes

  • TV7.3

    The Fugitive

    1963 · 63 votes

  • TV5.3

    Matinee Theater

    1955 · 7 votes

  • TV6.7

    Cannon

    1971 · 41 votes

  • TV5.7

    Naked City

    1958 · 13 votes

  • TV6.2
  • TV6.7

    Route 66

    1960 · 20 votes

  • TV7.0

    Dinah!

    1974 · 4 votes

  • TV6.1

    Adventures in Paradise

    1959 · 7 votes

  • TV5.8

    The Millionaire

    1955 · 4 votes

  • TV6.8
  • TV7.0

    Police Story

    1973 · 20 votes

  • TV5.2

    Harry O

    1974 · 12 votes

  • TV4.8

    Checkmate

    1960 · 8 votes

  • TV6.3
  • TV6.8
  • TV7.0

    Alcoa Theatre

    1957 · 7 votes

  • TV5.2

    Cain's Hundred

    1961 · 4 votes

  • TV6.7

    Lux Video Theatre

    1950 · 7 votes

  • TV5.7

    The Dick Powell Show

    1961 · 7 votes