David Janssen, Acting - KorPlix:Korean Person Archives

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David Janssen
Acting

David Janssen
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1931-03-27,Naponee, Nebraska, USA
Gender
Male
Biography
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

Filmography

Chief Crazy Horse

5.6

Chief Crazy Horse
1955-04-01

The Green Berets

5.728

The Green Berets
1968-07-04

Two-Minute Warning

6.1

Two-Minute Warning
1976-11-12

5.9

Marooned
1969-12-11

Cult of the Cobra

6

Cult of the Cobra
1955-03-30

King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein

6

King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961-06-11

Hell to Eternity

6.6

Hell to Eternity
1960-08-01

The Swiss Conspiracy

4.8

The Swiss Conspiracy
1976-03-01

Francis in the Navy

5.5

Francis in the Navy
1955-08-24

To Hell and Back

6.551

To Hell and Back
1955-09-22

Golden Rendezvous

4.9

Golden Rendezvous
1977-12-25

Moon of the Wolf

4.7

Moon of the Wolf
1972-09-26

Los Angeles Plays Itself

7.6

Los Angeles Plays Itself
2004-07-28

6

Man-Trap
1961-09-20

5

Birds of Prey
1973-01-30

Yankee Buccaneer

5.8

Yankee Buccaneer
1952-09-16

6.2

City in Fear
1980-03-30

Smile Jenny, You're Dead

6.1

Smile Jenny, You're Dead
1974-02-03

5.9

S.O.S. Titanic
1980-02-29

4.5

Generation
1969-12-15

Twenty Plus Two

6

Twenty Plus Two
1961-08-13

6.6

Warning Shot
1967-01-18

Once Is Not Enough

5.2

Once Is Not Enough
1975-06-20

2

Where It's At
1969-05-07

5.9

Fer-de-Lance
1974-10-18

The Private War of Major Benson

6.7

The Private War of Major Benson
1955-08-02

5.8

Ring of Fire
1961-06-14

0

Covert Action
1978-03-03

3.8

Inchon
1981-05-04

Showdown at Abilene

5.2

Showdown at Abilene
1956-10-01

Lafayette Escadrille

4.6

Lafayette Escadrille
1958-02-28

No Room for the Groom

5.6

No Room for the Groom
1952-06-13

3.7

Dondi
1961-03-26

Never Say Goodbye

6.6

Never Say Goodbye
1956-03-10

5.8

High Ice
1980-01-07

3.3

Warhead
1977-02-15

5.6

My Six Loves
1963-04-03

4.8

Pioneer Woman
1973-12-19

6.6

Hijack!
1973-09-26

Francis in the Haunted House

5.1

Francis in the Haunted House
1956-07-09

6.2

Toy Tiger
1956-06-29

7

Nowhere to Run
1978-01-16

Mayday at 40,000 Feet

6.5

Mayday at 40,000 Feet
1977-04-29

4.2

Superdome
1978-01-09

The Shoes of the Fisherman

6.7

The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968-11-14

The Square Jungle

6

The Square Jungle
1955-12-30

The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers

7

The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1962-01-06

4.3

Macho Callahan
1971-02-28

A Sensitive, Passionate Man

5.5

A Sensitive, Passionate Man
1977-06-06

All That Heaven Allows

7.3

All That Heaven Allows
1955-12-25

5.5

Night Chase
1970-11-20

The Girl He Left Behind

4

The Girl He Left Behind
1956-10-26

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On

0

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
1973-11-03

5.1

Away All Boats
1956-08-16

Francis Goes to West Point

5.8

Francis Goes to West Point
1952-07-01

The Golden Gate Murders

8

The Golden Gate Murders
1979-10-03

4

Joys
1976-03-05

The Longest Night

6.2

The Longest Night
1972-09-12

0

Belle Sommers
1962-05-30

O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra

10

O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
1971-04-02

Stalk the Wild Child

0

Stalk the Wild Child
1976-11-03

4.667

Cain's Hundred
1961-09-19

5.3

Naked City
1958-09-30

The Merv Griffin Show

5.3

The Merv Griffin Show
1962-10-01

6.455

Cannon
1971-09-14

7.7

Centennial
1978-10-01

Target: The Corruptors!

3.5

Target: The Corruptors!
1961-09-29

4.6

Harry O
1974-09-12

7.1

Police Story
1973-03-20

7.2

The Fugitive
1963-09-17

The Millionaire

5

The Millionaire
1955-01-19

The Hollywood Palace

4.5

The Hollywood Palace
1964-01-04

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

6.4

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1967-09-09

Lux Video Theatre

5.5

Lux Video Theatre
1950-10-02

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

6.2

Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957-07-01

The Eleventh Hour

6

The Eleventh Hour
1962-10-03

Lux Video Theatre

5.5

Lux Video Theatre
1950-10-02

Adventures in Paradise

5.7

Adventures in Paradise
1959-10-05

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

4.3

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958-10-06

O'Hara, U.S. Treasury

5.5

O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
1971-09-17

6.4

Route 66
1960-10-07

General Electric Theater

5.5

General Electric Theater
1953-02-01

Matinee Theater

3.3

Matinee Theater
1955-10-31

5.75

Alcoa Theatre
1957-09-30

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

5.5

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956-10-05

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

5.5

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956-10-05

5.3

Naked City
1958-09-30

The Millionaire

5

The Millionaire
1955-01-19

6

Dinah!
1974-10-21

The Mike Douglas Show

4.8

The Mike Douglas Show
1961-12-11

5

The Word
1978-11-12

4.1

Checkmate
1960-09-17

7.5

U.S. Marshall
1956-09-21

The Dick Powell Show

4.2

The Dick Powell Show
1961-09-26

Goldene Kamera Verleihung

3.5

Goldene Kamera Verleihung
1966-01-25

The Mike Douglas Show

4.8

The Mike Douglas Show
1961-12-11