David Janssen

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    david_janssen.jpgDAVID JANSSEN


    Information from IMDb


    Date of birth
    27 March 1931
    Naponee, Nebraska, USA


    Date of death
    13 February 1980
    Malibu, California, USA. (heart attack)


    Birth name
    David Harold Meyer


    Height
    6' (1.83 m)


    Spouse
    Dani Crayne (1975 - 13 February 1980) (his death)
    Ellie Graham (1958 - 1973) (divorced)


    Trivia
    Born at 10:00am-CST


    His mother and both of his sisters appeared as extras in "The Fugitive" (1963).


    He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, only about a block away from the Chinese Theater. When it was placed there, it was in front of David's favorite ice cream shops as a child. The star dedication was on his mother's birthday.


    Twisted his right knee in 1948 while pole vaulting for reporters from the Hollywood Citizen News.


    Brother of Teri Janssen and Jill Janssen


    His last role was in the film Inchon (1981). When the film was edited for general release, his entire part was deleted.


    Mother, Bernice Dalton Janssen


    Personal Quotes
    "TV is my sleeping pill."


    Mini biography
    David Janssen was born (in Nebraska in 1931) to be a TV star. 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" (1957). 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" (1974). 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 49. 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.
    IMDb mini-biography by Matt Patay


    Filmography
    Actor
    1. Inchon (1981) (scenes deleted) .... David Feld
    2. City in Fear (1980) (TV) .... Vince Perrino
    3. High Ice (1980) (TV) .... Glencoe MacDonald
    4. The Golden Gate Murders (1979) (TV) .... Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
    ... aka Specter on the Bridge (USA: theatrical title)
    5. S.O.S. Titanic (1979) (TV) .... John Jacob Astor
    6. "Biography" (1979) TV Series .... Host
    7. "The Word" (1978) (mini) TV Series .... Steve Randall
    8. "Centennial" (1978) (mini) TV Series .... Paul Garrett/Narrator
    9. Nowhere to Run (1978) (TV) .... Harry Adams
    ... aka Winner Take All
    10. Superdome (1978) (TV) .... Mike Shelley
    11. Sono stato un agente C.I.A. (1978) .... Lester Horton
    ... aka Covert Action (USA)
    ... aka Mystiki apostoli stin Ellada (Greece)
    ... aka Spy Kill (Canada: English title)
    12. Golden Rendezvous (1977) .... Charles Conway
    ... aka Nuclear Terror (USA: TV title)
    13. "Police Story"
    - Pressure Point (1977) TV Episode .... Sgt. Joe Wilson
    14. A Sensitive, Passionate Man (1977) (TV) .... Michael Delaney
    15. Warhead (1977) .... Tony Stevens
    ... aka Prisoner in the Middle
    16. Two-Minute Warning (1976) .... Steve
    17. Mayday at 40,000 Feet! (1976) (TV) .... Captain Pete Douglas
    18. Stalk the Wild Child (1976) (TV) .... Dr. James Hazard
    19. The Swiss Conspiracy (1976) .... David Christopher
    ... aka Per Saldo Mord (West Germany)
    20. Jacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough (1975) .... Tom Colt
    ... aka Once Is Not Enough
    21. "Harry O" .... Harry Orwell (1974-1976)
    - Double Jeopardy (1975) TV Episode .... Harry Orwell
    - Sound of Trumpets (1975) TV Episode .... Harry Orwell
    - The Confetti People (1975) TV Episode .... Harry Orwell
    - Forty Reasons to Kill: Part 2 (1974) TV Episode .... Harry Orwell
    - Ballinger's Choice (1974) TV Episode .... Harry Orwell
    22. Fer-de-Lance (1974) (TV) .... Russ Bogan
    ... aka Death Dive (UK: theatrical title)
    ... aka Operation Serpent (video title)
    23. Smile, Jenny, You're Dead (1974) (TV) .... Harry Orwell
    ... aka Don't Call the Police (USA: new title)
    ... aka Harry-O
    24. Pioneer Woman (1973) (TV) .... Robert Douglas
    ... aka Pioneers
    25. Hijack (1973) (TV) .... Jake Wilkinson
    26. "Cannon"
    - He Who Digs a Grave (1973) TV Episode .... Ian Kirk
    27. Harry O: Such Dust As Dreams Are Made On (1973) .... Harry Orwell
    28. Birds of Prey (1973) (TV) .... Harry Walker
    29. Moon of the Wolf (1972) (TV) .... Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
    30. The Longest Night (1972) (TV) .... Alan Chambers
    31. "O'Hara, U.S. Treasury" (1971) TV Series .... Jim O'Hara
    32. O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (1971) (TV) .... James O'Hara
    ... aka O'Hara, U.S. Treasury: Operation Cobra (USA)
    33. Night Chase (1970) (TV) .... Adrian Vico
    ... aka L.A. Cab (USA: video title)
    ... aka The Man in the Back Seat
    34. Macho Callahan (1970) .... Diego Callahan
    35. Generation (1969) .... Jim Bolton
    ... aka A Time for Caring
    ... aka A Time for Giving (UK)
    36. Marooned (1969) .... Ted Dougherty
    ... aka Space Travelers (USA: reissue title)
    37. Where It's at (1969) .... A.C. Smith
    38. The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968/I) .... George Faber
    39. The Green Berets (1968) .... George Beckworth
    40. "The Fugitive" .... Dr. Richard Kimble
    - The Judgment: Part 2 (1967) TV Episode .... Dr. Richard Kimble
    - The Judgment: Part 1 (1967) TV Episode .... Dr. Richard Kimble
    - The Shattered Silence (1967) TV Episode .... Dr. Richard Kimble
    - The Walls of Night (1967) TV Episode .... Dr. Richard Kimble
    - Dossier on a Diplomat (1967) TV Episode .... Dr. Richard Kimble
    (115 more)
    41. Warning Shot (1967) .... Sgt. Tom Valens
    42. My Six Loves (1963) .... Marty Bliss
    43. "Naked City"
    - On the Battlefront, Every Minute Is Important (1963) TV Episode .... Carl Ashland
    - A Wednesday Night Story (1961) TV Episode .... Blair Cameron
    44. "The Dick Powell Show"
    ... aka The Dick Powell Theatre (USA: new title)
    - Thunder in a Forgotten Town (1963) TV Episode .... Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan
    45. "The Eleventh Hour"
    - Make Me a Place (1962) TV Episode .... Hal Kincaid
    46. "Route 66"
    - One Tiger to a Hill (1962) TV Episode .... Karno
    47. "Kraft Mystery Theater"
    - Two Counts of Murder (1962) TV Episode
    48. Belle Sommers (1962) (TV)
    49. "Cain's Hundred"
    - Inside Track (1962) TV Episode .... Dan Mullin
    50. "Checkmate"
    - Ride a Wild Horse (1962) TV Episode .... Len Kobalsky
    51. "Follow the Sun"
    - A Ghost in Her Gazebo (1962) TV Episode .... Johnny Sadowsky
    - A Choice of Weapons (1962) TV Episode .... Johnny Sadowsky
    52. "General Electric Theater"
    ... aka G.E. Theater (USA: informal short title)
    - Shadow of a Hero (1962) TV Episode .... Pat Howard
    53. "Target: The Corruptors"
    - The Middle Man (1962) TV Episode .... Robbie Wilson
    54. "Thriller"
    ... aka Boris Karloff's Thriller
    - The Storm (1962) TV Episode .... Man
    55. "Adventures in Paradise"
    - Show Me a Hero (1961) TV Episode .... Scotty Bell
    56. Man-Trap (1961) .... Vince Biskay
    57. "Frontier Justice"
    - They Were Four (1961) TV Episode .... Danny Ensign
    - There Were Four (1958) TV Episode .... Danny Ensign
    58. Twenty Plus Two (1961) .... Tom Alder
    ... aka It Started in Tokyo (UK)
    59. Ring of Fire (1961) .... Sergeant Steve Walsh
    60. King of the Roaring 20's - The Story of Arnold Rothstein (1961) .... Arnold Rothstein
    ... aka The Big Bankroll (UK)
    61. Dondi (1961) .... Dealey
    62. "Death Valley Days"
    ... aka Call of the West (USA: syndication title)
    ... aka The Pioneers (USA: syndication title)
    ... aka Trails West (USA: syndication title)
    ... aka Western Star Theater (USA: syndication title)
    - Deadline at Austin (1961) TV Episode .... Dr. Bill Breckenridge
    63. Hell to Eternity (1960) .... Bill
    64. "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse"
    ... aka Desilu Playhouse
    - Two Counts of Murder (1959) TV Episode .... Ross Ingraham
    65. "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" .... Richard Diamond (1957-1960)
    ... aka Call Mr. D.e
    - Matador Murder (1959) TV Episode .... Richard Diamond
    - Picture of Fear (1957) TV Episode .... Richard Diamond
    66. "Zane Grey Theater"
    ... aka Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater (USA: complete title)
    ... aka The Westerners (USA: rerun title)
    - Hang the Heart High (1959) TV Episode .... Dix Porter
    - Trail to Nowhere (1958) TV Episode .... Seth Larker
    - Trial by Fear (1958) TV Episode .... Tod Owen
    - There Were Four (1957) TV Episode .... Danny Ensign
    67. "The Millionaire"
    ... aka If You Had a Million
    - The David Barrett Story (1958) TV Episode .... David Barrett
    - The Regina Wainwright Story (1957) TV Episode .... Peter
    68. "Alcoa Theatre"
    - Decoy Duck (1958) TV Episode .... Jim McCandless
    - Cupid Wore a Badge (1957) TV Episode .... Mike Harper
    69. Lafayette Escadrille (1958) .... Duke Sinclaire
    ... aka C'est la guerre (USA)
    ... aka Hell Bent for Glory (UK)
    ... aka With You in My Arms (USA: alternative title)
    70. "U.S. Marshal"
    - The Turkey Farmers (????) TV Episode .... Arnie Hix
    71. "You Are There"
    - The End of the Dalton Gang (October 5, 1892) (1957) TV Episode .... Grat Dalton
    72. "Conflict"
    - The Money (1957) TV Episode
    73. Showdown at Abilene (1956) .... Deputy Verne Ward
    ... aka Gun Shy (USA)
    74. The Girl He Left Behind (1956) .... Capt. Genaro
    75. Mr. Black Magic (1956) .... M.C.
    76. Away All Boats (1956) (uncredited) .... Talker
    77. Francis in the Haunted House (1956) .... Police Lieutenant Hopkins
    78. The Toy Tiger (1956) .... Larry Tripps
    79. "Lux Video Theatre"
    ... aka Summer Video Theatre (USA: summer title)
    - It Started with Eve (1956) TV Episode .... Johnny
    - Perilous Deception (1955) TV Episode .... Joe Davies
    - It Grows on Trees (1955) TV Episode .... Ralph
    80. Never Say Goodbye (1956) .... Dave Heller
    81. All That Heaven Allows (1955) (uncredited) .... Freddie Norton
    82. The Square Jungle (1955) .... Jack Lindsay
    83. To Hell and Back (1955) .... Lt. Lee
    84. Cult of the Cobra (1955) .... Rico Nardi
    85. Francis in the Navy (1955) .... Lt. Anders
    86. The Private War of Major Benson (1955) .... Young Lieutenant
    87. Chief Crazy Horse (1955) .... Lieutenant Colin Cartwright
    ... aka Valley of Fury (UK)
    88. Back at the Front (1952) (uncredited) .... Soldier
    ... aka Willie and Joe Back at the Front (USA: reissue title)
    ... aka Willie and Joe in Tokyo (UK)
    89. Untamed Frontier (1952) (uncredited) .... Young Man in Dance Hall
    90. Francis Goes to West Point (1952) .... Cpl. Thomas
    91. No Room for the Groom (1952) .... Soldier(scene cut out of release print)
    92. Yankee Buccaneer (1952) .... Beckett
    ... aka Yankee Pasha (USA)
    93. Bonzo Goes to College (1952) .... Pawlton football player #10
    94. Swamp Fire (1946) (uncredited) .... Emile's eldest son
    95. It's a Pleasure (1945) (uncredited) .... Davey/boy referee


    Composer
    1. A Sensitive, Passionate Man (1977) (TV) (title song)

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 3 times, last by ethanedwards ().

    David Janssen, a fine actor, who died tragically young at 49,
    was best known for his TV Series,
    The Fugitive, O' Hara and Harry 'O'


    He was in 1 memorable film with Duke:-


    The Green Berets (1968)- George Beckworth


    fbc443ed6f27be4158eb9f1b9c46d308.jpg


    He was cast well as the sceptical journalist- George Beckworth.

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 2 times, last by ethanedwards ().

    Yes, another who died too young. I loved his Harry O series adn to me besides being in The Green Berets, my favorite film with him in it is: Hell To Eternity w/ Jeffrey Hunter, George Takai and Vic Damone.

    Es Ist Verboten Mit Gefangenen In Einzelhaft Zu Sprechen..

    Had no idea Don Medford was so prolific. I loved a lot of his work. But, my favorite was The Fugitive as David Janssen was one of my heart throbs. When I was asked to take him and his friend around the Atlanta CC course before the Atlanta Classic Celebrity Pro-Am the next day,I was in seventh Heaven. The three of us road the course in one golf cart......I didn't mind a bit sitting in the middle, LOL. David had a beard as he had been in a movie.....Kyber Rifles or something that never came out of the can. I was already giving lessons then and David was having trouble with his swing...he had recently had to change over to a right hand swing because of his knee which he had hurt pole vaulting and playing basketball in high school....believe he was an All American. He still putted left handed though. Anyway, I straightened him out that day. The next day, I had work to do for the tournament and didn't get out to David and Jack's team until after they had completed a few holes. Jack said, "Thank the Lord, Keith is here", or something close to that. David had reverted to his old swing. I slithered through the crowd, under the ropes and got into the cart with them......in a couple of holes, David was hitting the ball well, and they ended up, I think, third place and each won a really cool Sony Trinitron TV.
    Didn't see them again until I moved to Palm Springs where Jack was GM of Canyon CC. Every time David came to town, Jack would call me for a lesson for them both...........fun times.........Jack would pay off with a fantastic lunch at his club and a night on the town, LOL!
    You know Medford or one of his associates filmed another ending for The Fugitive........guess how it ended? KEITH

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    Quote from alamo221

    http://www.tvobscurities.com/2…e-ending-to-the-fugitive/ Found this link, I had heard the rumor of an alternate ending at the time. I think everyone who was a fan of the show, at one point thought Gerard might be the killer or at least involved, so that might have been interesting. But I enjoyed the ending as shown.


    I most certainly did also Alamo, but there was another ending filmed...never said it was shown, LOL.KEITH

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    Quote from Hawkswill

    I most certainly did also Alamo, but there was another ending filmed...never said it was shown, LOL.KEITH



    I'm not sure if the link above refers to that ending, but as it said, it was only a rumor and never was filmed. Somehow hard to believe they'd go to all the trouble and expense to film two different endings at that time. This is from IMDB-not the most reliable source, but it discusses another ending:

    Some sources incorrectly state that an alternate ending for the series was planned in which Kimble would be seen removing a false arm, revealing him as the true killer. In the book "The Fugitive Recaptured" (and its later audio adaptation) Barry Morse reveals that this rumor may have started with a never-realized plan that he and David Janssen had for pulling a "false arm" gag at public appearances. Janssen also often joked that Kimble killed his wife because "she talked too much". Morse also said that he and Janssen conceived for fun an alternate epilogue to the series finale, in which Kimble awakens in bed with his wife Helen, and reveals to her that he "just had the most horrible nightmare". Janssen also gave an interview to TV Guide at the time of the finale in which he said that his idea for resolving the show was to have a final scene in which Kimble is seen on a beach reading a newspaper account of how the one-armed man has just been executed for the murder. Then, with his trademark half-grin, Kimble would stand up, detach his prosthetic arm and walk off into the surf. It's not known whether he was serious or just kidding.

    Edited once, last by alamo221 ().

    LOL, well Alamo, I never heard of some of those! Did hear of a couple of jokey ones. However I heard from a man that was in 120?...that what it was? episodes that there was another ending filmed.....not the whole two episodes, but part of the last, if I remember correctly. There were many times he joked and teased, but this didn't seem like one of them. Maybe he was teasing. He will never be the one to tell us as he died......way too young. But, when you drink as much as David did......you don't stand a good chance for a long life. Damn, what a handsome, charismatic devil he was though! KEITH sorry, off topic here!


    Quote from alamo221

    I'm not sure if the link above refers to that ending, but as it said, it was only a rumor and never was filmed. Somehow hard to believe they'd go to all the trouble and expense to film two different endings at that time. This is from IMDB-not the most reliable source, but it discusses another ending:

    Some sources incorrectly state that an alternate ending for the series was planned in which Kimble would be seen removing a false arm, revealing him as the true killer. In the book "The Fugitive Recaptured" (and its later audio adaptation) Barry Morse reveals that this rumor may have started with a never-realized plan that he and David Janssen had for pulling a "false arm" gag at public appearances. Janssen also often joked that Kimble killed his wife because "she talked too much". Morse also said that he and Janssen conceived for fun an alternate epilogue to the series finale, in which Kimble awakens in bed with his wife Helen, and reveals to her that he "just had the most horrible nightmare". Janssen also gave an interview to TV Guide at the time of the finale in which he said that his idea for resolving the show was to have a final scene in which Kimble is seen on a beach reading a newspaper account of how the one-armed man has just been executed for the murder. Then, with his trademark half-grin, Kimble would stand up, detach his prosthetic arm and walk off into the surf. It's not known whether he was serious or just kidding.

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    Always liked David Janssen in everything. Guess all that hard drinking is what aged him badly-in his forties he looked a good 10 years older. Hated to see him go-

    Quote from alamo221

    Always liked David Janssen in everything. Guess all that hard drinking is what aged him badly-in his forties he looked a good 10 years older. Hated to see him go-


    Me, also Alamo....remember Dial M for Murder.....think that was it? O'hara US Treasury. Liked him in Green Berets, etc. Had NO IDEA he was in so many other movies.


    By the time I met him in about 1970 or so, he was already a pretty heavy drinker. Later, around the time I was in The Springs, he actually started looking better when I went to Canyon for our little golf lessons, dinners, etc. He got back with Dani Greco, and I met her at one of the celebrity golf cocktail parties.
    There is a site, don't know if they are still working on it, but it has a day to day, almost history of David........very interesting what I saw of it.
    http://davidjanssen.net/chronology.htm Just in case you want to see it.......need to go back and find what they called that movie he had the beard for in the early 70s think it was. Also, when he was in Atlanta for the Classic. KEITH

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    Hi Alamo, I asked them that very question, LOL. I wrote them as they said they were still looking for people who could "fill in some blanks", and I can. Also, the movie that David said was still in the can and was Kyber Rifles, was filmed in Israel and he had the beard for it, was finally released as Warhead in 1977. The full movie is here:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAxZV7O0KXw


    I am watching it now, LOL........David has no beard yet, but it was filmed in 1972 right before he came to Atlanta, so..who knows what they did to the final cut. 48 years old he was when he died!


    You are right, Birds of Prey was a good movie.....he got killed in the chopper at the end, didn't he............? Haven't seen it since it came out!
    Well, he was my real "love" in The Fugitive, so taking him around the course, (the pro always had me do that, LOL), was like HEAVEN to me. Instead of taking two carts, we all rode in one....same the next day, and I was in the middle....happily squished between a handsome, very tall and thin Jack Quigley, and David, who was a little bit chubby, but not fat by any means.........oh, I thought WHO they heck I was, LOL.


    The pro, Davis Love, Jr, (his son, the III, was recently captain of the Ryder Cup Team for the US, always called on me for the celebrity show the course bit as I had won the City Jr. and City Women's Tournaments there and knew the course very well. Also, I was young, wore short skirts, and the guys liked it better than some man, LOL!


    So, back to the movie. KEITH

    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    I met David and one of his best friend's, Jack Quigley, GM of Canyon CC, first golf course in Palm Springs, in Atlanta and showed them around the course they would be playing the next day in a charity pro-am tournament. When I moved to the Springs, I hooked up with Jack Quigley, still GM. We played golf fairly regularly either at his club or mine , Mission Hills, where I was pro. Also, he called me to give a lesson to him and David lots of times when David came to town. In my research for my Gibbons book, I found someone who was archiving David's life. I sent him a note that I might be able to fill in some times for him. I got back an email yesterday with questions about Jack, David with his beard in the picture I have of us, etc. He knew I had golf history with David, so he sent me these pictures. Note, the "David Janssen", the "Fugitive", and "O'hara" on the golf bag. Also, the Canyon CC name tag. I had one exactly like that on my bag, (with my name, of course, LOL), because I played so much over there. And when we finished playing, Jack would usually take us out for dinner and a few drinks often meeting up with friends. My golf bag and gear would be transported back to my club for me...hence the name tag!
    I will be sending the fellah some more info....hope he sends me more good pics. KEITH








    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    For those of you who haven't seen the picture of me and David the day we first met, here it is......he had the beard from a movie he had just completed in Israel. Keith


    God, she reminds me of me! DUKE

    Hello and welcome to the forum, breath7577. :D


    The pictures that member Hawkswill had loaded were from her photobucket account. Recently, photobucket changed the way people could link photos. It used to be free, now they want to charge. So, the links were broken. Hawkswill doesn't stop in much, but If I catch up with her again, I will mention the broken links and see if she will upload the pictures directly to the forum.


    Meanwhile, feel free to look around. There is much to see and read here. It's always great to see more fans of JW joining in.


    Mark

    "I couldn't go to sleep at night if the director didn't call 'cut'. "