Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy
2007 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
David Janssen
1931-03-27
•
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
Inchon
1981 · Movie
as David Feld
City in Fear
1980 · Movie
as Vince Perrino
S.O.S. Titanic
1980 · Movie
as John Jacob Astor
High Ice
1980 · Movie
as Glencoe MacDonald
The Golden Gate Murders
1979 · Movie
as Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
Covert Action
1978 · Movie
as Lester Horton
Nowhere to Run
1978 · Movie
as Harry Adams
Superdome
1978 · Movie
as Mike Shelley
Centennial
1978 · TV Show
as Narrator
The Word
1978 · TV Show
as Steve Randall
Golden Rendezvous
1977 · Movie
as Charles Conway
Warhead
1977 · Movie
as Tony Stevens
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
1977 · Movie
as Capt. Pete Douglass
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
1977 · Movie
as Michael Delaney
Two-Minute Warning
1976 · Movie
as Steve
The Swiss Conspiracy
1976 · Movie
as David Christopher
Joys
1976 · Movie
as Self
Stalk the Wild Child
1976 · Movie
as Dr. James Hazard
Once Is Not Enough
1975 · Movie
as Tom Colt
Smile Jenny, You're Dead
1974 · Movie
as Harry Orwell
Fer-de-Lance
1974 · Movie
as Russ Bogan
Harry O
1974 · TV Show
as Harry Orwell
Dinah!
1974 · TV Show
as Self
Birds of Prey
1973 · Movie
as Harry Walker
Pioneer Woman
1973 · Movie
as Robert Douglas
Hijack!
1973 · Movie
as Jake Wilkenson
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
1973 · Movie
as Harry Orwell
Police Story
1973 · TV Show
Moon of the Wolf
1972 · Movie
as Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
The Longest Night
1972 · Movie
as Alan Chambers
Macho Callahan
1971 · Movie
as Diego Callahan
O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
1971 · Movie
as James O'Hara
Cannon
1971 · TV Show
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
1971 · TV Show
Night Chase
1970 · Movie
as Adrian Vico
Marooned
1969 · Movie
as Ted Dougherty
Generation
1969 · Movie
as Jim Bolton
Where It's At
1969 · Movie
as A.C. Smith
The Green Berets
1968 · Movie
as George Beckworth
The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968 · Movie
as George Faber
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968 · TV Show
as Self (uncredited)
Warning Shot
1967 · Movie
as Sgt. Tom Valens
The Hollywood Palace
1964 · TV Show
as Self
My Six Loves
1963 · Movie
as Marty Bliss
The Fugitive
1963 · TV Show
as Richard Kimble
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1962 · Movie
as Self
Belle Sommers
1962 · Movie
as Danny Castle
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · TV Show
as Self
The Eleventh Hour
1962 · TV Show
as Hal Kincaid
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · TV Show
as Self
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961 · Movie
as Arnold Rothstein
Man-Trap
1961 · Movie
as Vince Biskay
Twenty Plus Two
1961 · Movie
as Tom Alder
Ring of Fire
1961 · Movie
as Sergeant Steve Walsh
Dondi
1961 · Movie
as Dealey
Cain's Hundred
1961 · TV Show
as Dan Mullin
Target: The Corruptors!
1961 · TV Show
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · TV Show
as Self - Co-Host, Self
The Dick Powell Show
1961 · TV Show
as Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan
Hell to Eternity
1960 · Movie
as Sgt, Bill Hazen
Route 66
1960 · TV Show
as Karno Starling
Checkmate
1960 · TV Show
as Len Kobalsky
Adventures in Paradise
1959 · TV Show
as Scotty Bell
Lafayette Escadrille
1958 · Movie
as Duke Sinclair
Naked City
1958 · TV Show
as Blair Cameron, Carl Ashland
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958 · TV Show
as Ross Ingraham
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957 · TV Show
as Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett
Alcoa Theatre
1957 · TV Show
as Mike Harper
Showdown at Abilene
1956 · Movie
as Verne Ward
Never Say Goodbye
1956 · Movie
as Dave Heller
Francis in the Haunted House
1956 · Movie
as Police Lieutenant Hopkins
Toy Tiger
1956 · Movie
as Larry Tripps
The Girl He Left Behind
1956 · Movie
as Capt. Genaro
Away All Boats
1956 · Movie
as uncredited
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956 · TV Show
as Seth Larker, Dix Porter
U.S. Marshall
1956 · TV Show
as Arnie Hix
Whack-O!
1956 · TV Show
as Boy in hobby class
Chief Crazy Horse
1955 · Movie
as Lt. Colin Cartwright
Cult of the Cobra
1955 · Movie
as Rico Nardi
Francis in the Navy
1955 · Movie
as Lieutenant Anders
To Hell and Back
1955 · Movie
as Lt Lee
The Private War of Major Benson
1955 · Movie
as Young Lieutenant
The Square Jungle
1955 · Movie
as Jack Lindsay
All That Heaven Allows
1955 · Movie
as Freddie Norton (uncredited)
The Millionaire
1955 · TV Show
as Peter Miller, David Barrett
Matinee Theater
1955 · TV Show
General Electric Theater
1953 · TV Show
as Pat Howard
Yankee Buccaneer
1952 · Movie
as Beckett
No Room for the Groom
1952 · Movie
as Soldier (scenes deleted)
Francis Goes to West Point
1952 · Movie
as Corporal Thomas
Boston Blackie
1951 · TV Show
as Armored Car Driver (uncredited)
No image
Lux Video Theatre
1950 · TV Show
as Ralph / Joe Davies, Johnny Reynolds, Jr.
Golden Globe Awards
1944 · TV Show
as Self - Nominee
