David Janssen
Known for Acting · 93 credits
- Born
- 1931-03-27
- Died
- 1980-02-13
- Place of birth
- Naponee, Nebraska, USA
- Also known as
- Dave Janssen · David Harold Meyer
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
TV Shows (33)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self - Co-Host
Golden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Nominee
The Fugitive
1963
as Richard Kimble
Matinee Theater
1955
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
Cannon
1971
Naked City
1958
as Blair Cameron / Carl Ashland
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Seth Larker / Dix Porter
Route 66
1960
as Karno Starling
Adventures in Paradise
1959
as Scotty Bell
Dinah!
1974
as Self
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
as Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett
Alcoa Theatre
1957
as Mike Harper
The Millionaire
1955
as Peter Miller / David Barrett
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as Self (uncredited)
Harry O
1974
as Harry Orwell
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
as Ross Ingraham
Checkmate
1960
as Len Kobalsky
Police Story
1973
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Ralph / Joe Davies / Johnny Reynolds, Jr.
Cain's Hundred
1961
as Dan Mullin
Target: The Corruptors!
1961
Boston Blackie
1951
as Armored Car Driver (uncredited)
The Dick Powell Show
1961
as Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan
The Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self
The Eleventh Hour
1962
as Hal Kincaid
Centennial
1978
as Narrator
The Word
1978
as Steve Randall
General Electric Theater
1953
as Pat Howard
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
1971
Whack-O!
1956
as Boy in hobby class
U.S. Marshall
1956
as Arnie Hix
Movies (60)
The Green Berets
1968
as George Beckworth
All That Heaven Allows
1955
as Freddie Norton (uncredited)
To Hell and Back
1955
as Lt Lee
Man-Trap
1961
as Vince Biskay
Marooned
1969
as Ted Dougherty
Joys
1976
as Self
Two-Minute Warning
1976
as Steve
Inchon
1981
as David Feld
Once Is Not Enough
1975
as Tom Colt
S.O.S. Titanic
1980
as John Jacob Astor
Night Chase
1970
as Adrian Vico
Dondi
1961
as Dealey
Macho Callahan
1971
as Diego Callahan
The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968
as George Faber
Chief Crazy Horse
1955
as Lt. Colin Cartwright
Golden Rendezvous
1977
as Charles Conway
Cult of the Cobra
1955
as Rico Nardi
Never Say Goodbye
1956
as Dave Heller
Warning Shot
1967
as Sgt. Tom Valens
No Room for the Groom
1952
as Soldier (scenes deleted)
The Golden Gate Murders
1979
as Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
1971
as James O'Hara
The Private War of Major Benson
1955
as Young Lieutenant
High Ice
1980
as Glencoe MacDonald
Yankee Buccaneer
1952
as Beckett
Lafayette Escadrille
1958
as Duke Sinclair
Hijack!
1973
as Jake Wilkenson
Covert Action
1978
as Lester Horton
Showdown at Abilene
1956
as Verne Ward
Superdome
1978
as Mike Shelley
Francis Goes to West Point
1952
as Corporal Thomas
Away All Boats
1956
as uncredited
Hell to Eternity
1960
as Sgt, Bill Hazen
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
1973
as Harry Orwell
Where It's At
1969
as A.C. Smith
Twenty Plus Two
1961
as Tom Alder
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1962
as Self
The Square Jungle
1955
as Jack Lindsay
The Girl He Left Behind
1956
as Capt. Genaro
My Six Loves
1963
as Marty Bliss
Moon of the Wolf
1972
as Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
Birds of Prey
1973
as Harry Walker
Francis in the Haunted House
1956
as Police Lieutenant Hopkins
City in Fear
1980
as Vince Perrino
Francis in the Navy
1955
as Lieutenant Anders
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961
as Arnold Rothstein
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
1977
as Capt. Pete Douglass
Smile Jenny, You're Dead
1974
as Harry Orwell
Pioneer Woman
1973
as Robert Douglas
Toy Tiger
1956
as Larry Tripps
The Swiss Conspiracy
1976
as David Christopher
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
1977
as Michael Delaney
Nowhere to Run
1978
as Harry Adams
The Longest Night
1972
as Alan Chambers
Generation
1969
as Jim Bolton
Fer-de-Lance
1974
as Russ Bogan
Belle Sommers
1962
as Danny Castle
Ring of Fire
1961
as Sergeant Steve Walsh
Warhead
1977
as Tony Stevens
Stalk the Wild Child
1976
as Dr. James Hazard
About 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 cont… With 93 credits spanning from 1944 to 1981, David Janssen has appeared in 60 films and 33 TV shows.
Fans searching for David Janssen movies, David Janssen filmography, or the latest projects starring David Janssen can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular David Janssen Movies
- The Green Berets (1968) — as George Beckworth
- All That Heaven Allows (1955) — as Freddie Norton (uncredited)
- To Hell and Back (1955) — as Lt Lee
- Man-Trap (1961) — as Vince Biskay
- Marooned (1969) — as Ted Dougherty
Where to Watch David Janssen Films
Most David Janssen movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring David Janssen, check our movies catalogue and browse page.