David Janssen - Cast

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David Janssen

David Janssen

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.

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Casted
  • All That Heaven Allows

    All That Heaven Allows

    Played Freddie Norton (uncredited)

    Average Rating
    7.3
    320 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 25, 1955
    71 years ago
  • The Green Berets

    The Green Berets

    Played George Beckworth

    Average Rating
    5.7
    181 votes
    Release Date
    Jul 04, 1968
    58 years ago
  • Marooned

    Marooned

    Played Ted Dougherty

    Average Rating
    5.9
    100 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 11, 1969
    57 years ago
  • Two-Minute Warning

    Two-Minute Warning

    Played Steve

    Average Rating
    6.2
    92 votes
    Release Date
    Nov 12, 1976
    50 years ago
  • The Shoes of the Fisherman

    The Shoes of the Fisherman

    Played George Faber

    Average Rating
    6.7
    82 votes
    Release Date
    Nov 14, 1968
    58 years ago
  • To Hell and Back

    To Hell and Back

    Played Lt Lee

    Average Rating
    6.6
    64 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 22, 1955
    71 years ago
  • Los Angeles Plays Itself

    Los Angeles Plays Itself

    Played Steve in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)

    Average Rating
    7.6
    59 votes
    Release Date
    Jul 28, 2004
    22 years ago
  • Moon of the Wolf

    Moon of the Wolf

    Played Sheriff Aaron Whitaker

    Average Rating
    4.7
    41 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 26, 1972
    54 years ago
  • S.O.S. Titanic

    S.O.S. Titanic

    Played John Jacob Astor

    Average Rating
    5.9
    41 votes
    Release Date
    Feb 29, 1980
    46 years ago
  • Cult of the Cobra

    Cult of the Cobra

    Played Rico Nardi

    Average Rating
    6.0
    36 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 30, 1955
    72 years ago
  • Chief Crazy Horse

    Chief Crazy Horse

    Played Lt. Colin Cartwright

    Average Rating
    5.6
    25 votes
    Release Date
    Apr 01, 1955
    72 years ago
  • Francis in the Navy

    Francis in the Navy

    Played Lieutenant Anders

    Average Rating
    5.4
    23 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 24, 1955
    71 years ago
  • Warning Shot

    Warning Shot

    Played Sgt. Tom Valens

    Average Rating
    6.3
    23 votes
    Release Date
    Jan 18, 1967
    60 years ago
  • Away All Boats

    Away All Boats

    Played uncredited

    Average Rating
    5.1
    19 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 16, 1956
    70 years ago
  • Hell to Eternity

    Hell to Eternity

    Played Sgt, Bill Hazen

    Average Rating
    6.3
    18 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 01, 1960
    66 years ago
  • Lafayette Escadrille

    Lafayette Escadrille

    Played Duke Sinclair

    Average Rating
    4.4
    18 votes
    Release Date
    Feb 28, 1958
    69 years ago
  • Never Say Goodbye

    Never Say Goodbye

    Played Dave Heller

    Average Rating
    6.5
    18 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 10, 1956
    71 years ago
  • Macho Callahan

    Macho Callahan

    Played Diego Callahan

    Average Rating
    4.2
    18 votes
    Release Date
    Feb 28, 1971
    55 years ago
  • Once Is Not Enough

    Once Is Not Enough

    Played Tom Colt

    Average Rating
    5.0
    17 votes
    Release Date
    Jun 20, 1975
    51 years ago
  • Man-Trap

    Man-Trap

    Played Vince Biskay

    Average Rating
    5.5
    16 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 20, 1961
    65 years ago
  • Ring of Fire

    Ring of Fire

    Played Sergeant Steve Walsh

    Average Rating
    5.8
    16 votes
    Release Date
    Jun 14, 1961
    65 years ago
  • The Private War of Major Benson

    The Private War of Major Benson

    Played Young Lieutenant

    Average Rating
    6.6
    14 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 02, 1955
    71 years ago
  • Inchon

    Inchon

    Played David Feld

    Average Rating
    3.4
    14 votes
    Release Date
    May 04, 1981
    45 years ago
  • The Swiss Conspiracy

    The Swiss Conspiracy

    Played David Christopher

    Average Rating
    4.6
    13 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 01, 1976
    50 years ago
  • Francis Goes to West Point

    Francis Goes to West Point

    Played Corporal Thomas

    Average Rating
    5.8
    12 votes
    Release Date
    Jul 01, 1952
    74 years ago
  • Birds of Prey

    Birds of Prey

    Played Harry Walker

    Average Rating
    5.5
    11 votes
    Release Date
    Jan 30, 1973
    53 years ago
  • Superdome

    Superdome

    Played Mike Shelley

    Average Rating
    4.4
    11 votes
    Release Date
    Jan 09, 1978
    48 years ago
  • Showdown at Abilene

    Showdown at Abilene

    Played Verne Ward

    Average Rating
    5.2
    9 votes
    Release Date
    Oct 01, 1956
    70 years ago
  • My Six Loves

    My Six Loves

    Played Marty Bliss

    Average Rating
    5.6
    9 votes
    Release Date
    Apr 03, 1963
    63 years ago
  • Pioneer Woman

    Pioneer Woman

    Played Robert Douglas

    Average Rating
    4.8
    9 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 19, 1973
    53 years ago
  • Golden Rendezvous

    Golden Rendezvous

    Played Charles Conway

    Average Rating
    4.9
    8 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 25, 1977
    48 years ago
  • City in Fear

    City in Fear

    Played Vince Perrino

    Average Rating
    5.1
    8 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 30, 1980
    46 years ago
  • Fer-de-Lance

    Fer-de-Lance

    Played Russ Bogan

    Average Rating
    5.2
    8 votes
    Release Date
    Oct 18, 1974
    52 years ago
  • No Room for the Groom

    No Room for the Groom

    Played Soldier (scenes deleted)

    Average Rating
    5.5
    8 votes
    Release Date
    Jun 13, 1952
    74 years ago
  • Smile Jenny, You're Dead

    Smile Jenny, You're Dead

    Played Harry Orwell

    Average Rating
    6.4
    7 votes
    Release Date
    Feb 03, 1974
    52 years ago
  • Dondi

    Dondi

    Played Dealey

    Average Rating
    3.4
    7 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 26, 1961
    65 years ago
  • Warhead

    Warhead

    Played Tony Stevens

    Average Rating
    3.0
    7 votes
    Release Date
    Feb 15, 1977
    49 years ago
  • Francis in the Haunted House

    Francis in the Haunted House

    Played Police Lieutenant Hopkins

    Average Rating
    5.1
    7 votes
    Release Date
    Jul 09, 1956
    70 years ago
  • The Square Jungle

    The Square Jungle

    Played Jack Lindsay

    Average Rating
    5.9
    7 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 30, 1955
    71 years ago
  • Yankee Buccaneer

    Yankee Buccaneer

    Played Beckett

    Average Rating
    5.8
    6 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 16, 1952
    74 years ago
  • Mayday at 40,000 Feet

    Mayday at 40,000 Feet

    Played Capt. Pete Douglass

    Average Rating
    6.7
    6 votes
    Release Date
    Apr 29, 1977
    49 years ago
  • Night Chase

    Night Chase

    Played Adrian Vico

    Average Rating
    5.5
    6 votes
    Release Date
    Nov 20, 1970
    56 years ago
  • Hijack!

    Hijack!

    Played Jake Wilkenson

    Average Rating
    6.6
    5 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 26, 1973
    53 years ago
  • King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein

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

    Played Arnold Rothstein

    Average Rating
    6.0
    4 votes
    Release Date
    Jun 11, 1961
    65 years ago
  • Twenty Plus Two

    Twenty Plus Two

    Played Tom Alder

    Average Rating
    6.2
    4 votes
    Release Date
    Aug 13, 1961
    65 years ago
  • High Ice

    High Ice

    Played Glencoe MacDonald

    Average Rating
    5.8
    4 votes
    Release Date
    Jan 07, 1980
    46 years ago
  • The Girl He Left Behind

    The Girl He Left Behind

    Played Capt. Genaro

    Average Rating
    3.5
    4 votes
    Release Date
    Oct 26, 1956
    70 years ago
  • The Golden Gate Murders

    The Golden Gate Murders

    Played Det. Sgt. Paul Silver

    Average Rating
    8.0
    4 votes
    Release Date
    Oct 03, 1979
    47 years ago
  • The Longest Night

    The Longest Night

    Played Alan Chambers

    Average Rating
    6.3
    4 votes
    Release Date
    Sep 12, 1972
    54 years ago
  • Toy Tiger

    Toy Tiger

    Played Larry Tripps

    Average Rating
    6.2
    3 votes
    Release Date
    Jun 29, 1956
    70 years ago
  • Nowhere to Run

    Nowhere to Run

    Played Harry Adams

    Average Rating
    7.0
    3 votes
    Release Date
    Jan 16, 1978
    48 years ago
  • Generation

    Generation

    Played Jim Bolton

    Average Rating
    4.5
    2 votes
    Release Date
    Dec 15, 1969
    57 years ago
  • Where It's At

    Where It's At

    Played A.C. Smith

    Average Rating
    2.0
    2 votes
    Release Date
    May 07, 1969
    57 years ago
  • A Sensitive, Passionate Man

    A Sensitive, Passionate Man

    Played Michael Delaney

    Average Rating
    5.5
    2 votes
    Release Date
    Jun 06, 1977
    49 years ago
  • The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers

    The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers

    Played Self

    Average Rating
    7.0
    1 votes
    Release Date
    Jan 06, 1962
    65 years ago
  • Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On

    Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On

    Played Harry Orwell

    Average Rating
    8.0
    1 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 11, 1973
    53 years ago
  • O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra

    O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra

    Played James O'Hara

    Average Rating
    10.0
    1 votes
    Release Date
    Apr 02, 1971
    55 years ago
  • Covert Action

    Covert Action

    Played Lester Horton

    Average Rating
    0.0
    0 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 03, 1978
    48 years ago
  • Joys

    Joys

    Played Self

    Average Rating
    4.0
    0 votes
    Release Date
    Mar 05, 1976
    50 years ago
  • Belle Sommers

    Belle Sommers

    Played Danny Castle

    Average Rating
    0.0
    0 votes
    Release Date
    May 30, 1962
    64 years ago
  • Stalk the Wild Child

    Stalk the Wild Child

    Played Dr. James Hazard

    Average Rating
    0.0
    0 votes
    Release Date
    Nov 03, 1976
    50 years ago
  • Hang the Heart High

    Hang the Heart High

    Played Dix Porter

    Average Rating
    0.0
    0 votes
    Release Date
    Jan 15, 1959
    68 years ago
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