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