David Janssen

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
Known For: Acting
Birthday: 1931-03-27
Place of Birth: Naponee, Nebraska, USA
Also Known As: Dave Janssen, David Harold Meyer

Movies List of David Janssen

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Chief Crazy Horse

1955 Movie
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The Green Berets

1968 Movie
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Two-Minute Warning

1976 Movie
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Marooned

1969 Movie
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Cult of the Cobra

1955 Movie
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Hell to Eternity

1960 Movie
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The Swiss Conspiracy

1976 Movie
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Francis in the Navy

1955 Movie
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To Hell and Back

1955 Movie
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Golden Rendezvous

1977 Movie
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Moon of the Wolf

1972 Movie
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Man-Trap

1961 Movie
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Birds of Prey

1973 Movie
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Yankee Buccaneer

1952 Movie
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City in Fear

1980 Movie
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S.O.S. Titanic

1980 Movie
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Generation

1969 Movie
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Twenty Plus Two

1961 Movie
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Warning Shot

1967 Movie
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Once Is Not Enough

1975 Movie
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Where It's At

1969 Movie
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Fer-de-Lance

1974 Movie
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Ring of Fire

1961 Movie
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Covert Action

1978 Movie
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Inchon

1981 Movie
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Showdown at Abilene

1956 Movie
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Lafayette Escadrille

1958 Movie
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No Room for the Groom

1952 Movie
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Dondi

1961 Movie
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Never Say Goodbye

1956 Movie
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High Ice

1980 Movie
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Warhead

1977 Movie
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My Six Loves

1963 Movie
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Pioneer Woman

1973 Movie
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Hijack!

1973 Movie
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Toy Tiger

1956 Movie
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Nowhere to Run

1978 Movie
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Mayday at 40,000 Feet

1977 Movie
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Superdome

1978 Movie
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The Square Jungle

1955 Movie
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Macho Callahan

1971 Movie
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Night Chase

1970 Movie
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Away All Boats

1956 Movie
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Joys

1976 Movie
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The Longest Night

1972 Movie
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Belle Sommers

1962 Movie
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Stalk the Wild Child

1976 Movie