Acting · Denver, Colorado, USA · Born July 29, 1923
Gordon Mitchell was born "Charles Pendleton" in Colorado and served his country in both World War II and the Korean War (during which he was briefly a POW). Afterward he worked as a teacher in inner city schools in California and got heavily involved in personal fitness and bodybuilding. He became friends with Joe Gold (of Gold's Gym), joining Mae West's comedy act as one of her "strongmen" who would carry her on and off the stage. During this time he also found himself in demand as an extra in several Hollywood films including "Lil Abner", "The Enemy Below", and "The Ten Commandments" (in which he and Joe Gold bring Moses to Ramsey's court in chains). When the Peplum craze began in Italy and his fellow Muscle Beach star Steve Reeves became a huge star. Gordon (along with Reg Park, Mark Forrest, Brad Harris, Mickey Hargitay, and Richard Harrison) similarly jumped on the bandwagon and headed to Italy to find stardom and financially greener pastures. Thanks to his unconventional appearance (small, sharp eyes and craggy face) and enthusiasm for his work, Mitchell found himself one of the most in-demand performers in Italy's Sword & Sandal craze of the early 60's, working with several top directors including Marino Girolami, Alberto De Martino, and Michele Lupo. Unlike most of his peers who left Italy once the genre ran its course, Mitchell stayed on to play villains in numerous Spaghetti Westerns, Giallos, War Films, and Science Fiction movies. He also had a small but key role in the Elizabeth Taylor / Marlon Brandon vehicle "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967) during this time though perhaps his most prestigious role would be the rogue who helps the two protagonists kidnap the noble in Fellini's "Satyricon" (1969). Mitchell used his extra cash to buy and build his own movie studio (Cave Studios) which he single-handedly constructed outside of Rome. It went largely unused except by ultra-low budget director Demofilo Fidani who would often cast Mitchell as well. In the late 1980's when the Italian genre film industry had basically self-destructed, unable to compete with American films even for video rentals, Mitchell packed his bags and moved back to California. Once home, he re-teamed with old friend Joe Gold to manage World Gym, at which Mitchell acted as COO and lived at the top floor of its headquarters in Marina Del Rey. Continuing for years to act in low budget films purely for the fun of it, Mitchell passed away in his sleep at age 80 in 2003. Having just won the California recall election the day prior, Arnold Schwarzenegger took time out of his busy schedule to pay his respects at Mitchell's Memorial Service at the World Gym Headquarters along with many other bodybuilders who credit Mitchell with getting them into their careers.
MovieMalevolence
2004
as Don Fabrizio De Martino
MovieAn Enraged New World
2002
as General Murchison
MovieKino kolossal - Herkules, Maciste & Co
2000
as Self
MovieBikini Drive-In
1995
as Goliath
The Alien Within
1990
as Dan Thorn
MovieOverdose
1989
as Costa
TVI promessi sposi
1989
as Don Gonzalo
MovieBlood Delirium
1988
as Hermann
MovieFaida
1988
MovieSFX Retaliator
1988
as Morgan
MovieCross of the Seven Jewels
1987
as Black Mass Leader
MovieCommando Invasion
1987
MovieThree Men on Fire
1986
as Dr. Andrew Milhench
MovieThe Mines of Kilimanjaro
1986
as Rolf
MovieCobra Mission
1986
as Col. Mortimer
MovieWhite Fire
1984
as Olaf
MovieShe
1984
as Hector
MovieIf All Goes Well We Are Ruined
1983
as Jack Volpetti
MovieEndgame
1983
as Col. Morgan
MovieRush
1983
as Yor
MovieThe Commissioner
1983
as (uncredited)
MovieSecret Force
1983
TVMarco Polo
1982
as Capitano Arnolfo
MovieThe Yellow Panther
1982
as killer
MovieDiamond Connection
1982
as Abdul Pascha
MovieCurse of the Red Butterfly
1982
as Brado
MovieThe Doctor Prefers Sailors
1981
as killer russo
MovieKopfschuß
1981
as Maserati
MovieTrois filles dans le vent
1981
as Gordon Mitchell
MovieUmbrella Coup
1980
as Moskovitz, le tueur à gages
MovieHolocaust II
1980
as Felix Oppenheimer
MovieEmmanuelle: Queen of Sados
1980
as Robert
MovieFever of 40!
1980
as Mr. Temple
MovieThe Iron Hand of the Mafia
1980
as Don Nicola
MoviePorno erotico western
1979
as (as Charles Pendleton)
MovieDr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot
1979
as Pretorius
MovieStrategy for a Mission of Death
1979
as Paul
MovieA Very Special Woman
1979
as Gordon
Santa Lucia
1979
as Amerikaner
MovieWhite Fang and the Kid
1978
as Morgan
MovieOperation Orient
1978
as Haine
MovieFists, Dollars and Spinach
1978
as Frank Stilo
MovieThe Slayers
1977
as Pablo
MovieNatascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau
1977
as Gooming
MovieOil
1977
as Joe
MovieAchtung! The Desert Tigers
1977
as Kommandant von Stolzen
MovieSpecial Squad Shoots on Sight
1976
as David
MovieTwo .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion
1975
as Renato Proietti
MovieThe Tiger From the River Kwai
1975
as Jack Mason
MovieThe Man from Chicago
1975
as Mike
MovieThe Skin Under the Claws
1975
as Professor Helmut
MovieSeven Savage Men
1975
as Cooper
MovieFour for All
1975
as Margherito
MovieAnasının Gözü
1975
MovieThe Household
1974
as General Von Werner
MovieLittle Godfather from Hong Kong
1974
MovieThe Sewer Rats
1974
as Gordon
MovieFrankenstein's Castle of Freaks
1974
as Igor
MovieThe Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe
1973
as Burying Sam
MovieHis Colt, Himself, His Revenge
1973
as Martin
MovieFrom the Archives of the Criminal Police
1973
as Peter Wilcox
MovieOnce Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West
1973
as Mike
MovieMy Darling Slave
1973
as Von Thirac
MovieAnything for a Friend
1973
as Miller
MovieFrankenstein '80
1972
as Dr. Otto Frankenstein
MovieGo Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado
1972
as Jonathan Duke
MovieThe French Sex Murders
1972
as Man in Nightclub
MovieMy Name Is Texas Bill
1972
as Martin
MovieThe Crucified Girls of San Ramon
1972
as El Kadir
MovieA Gunman Called Dakota
1972
as Dakota
MovieSlaughter Day
1972
as Gordon
MovieHis Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria
1971
as Ray Potter
MovieSavage Guns
1971
as Gordon Mitchell
MovieAngel's Leap
1971
as Henry Di Fusco
MovieDay of Judgment
1971
as Deputy
MovieLet's Go And Kill Sartana
1971
as Greg "The Crazy Person"
MovieDown with Your Hands... You Scum!
1971
as Buck/Butch Bradley
MovieAdios Compañeros
1971
as Ironhead
MovieCoffin Full of Dollars
1971
as John Hamilton
MovieFinders Killers
1971
as Chris Forest
MovieTre nel mille
1971
MovieIo non spezzo... rompo
1971
as Joe il Rosso
MovieTreasure of the Lost Desert
1971
MovieDead Men Don't Make Shadows
1970
as Roger Murdock
MovieDjango and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End
1970
as Black Burt Keller / Burt Kelly
The Arizona Kid
1970
as Coyote
MovieLisa with the Blue Eyes
1969
as Football player
MovieI Am Sartana Your Angel of Death
1969
as Degueyo
MovieSatyricon
1969
as Il predone
MovieOra X Pattuglia Suicida
1969
MovieThe Wings of War
1969
MovieCry of Death
1968
as Donkey / Morgan Pitt
MovieDead for a Dollar
1968
as Roy Fulton
MovieRadhapura – Endstation der Verdammten
1968
as Alfredo
MovieAll on the Red
1968
as Erikson
MovieSeven Times Seven
1968
as Big Ben
MovieThe Killer Likes Candy
1968
as Toni
MovieBeyond the Law
1968
as Burton
MovieCheers... Cyanide!
1968
as Al Rubino
MovieI'll Die for Vengeance
1968
as Clayton
MovieFenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen
1968
as Gregory Falco
MovieJohn the Bastard
1967
as Danite
MovieReflections in a Golden Eye
1967
as Stables Sergeant
MovieDeath on the Run
1967
as The Albanian
MovieThe Crazy Westerners
1967
as Bandit Leader
MovieBorn to Kill
1967
as Rod Gordon
MovieTutto Totò - Totò Ciak
1967
as Ringo
MovieÈ mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere
1966
as Van Himst
MovieL'Estate
1966
as Self
MovieKill or Be Killed
1966
as Baltimore Joe/Ringo
MovieThompson 1880
1966
as Glenn Sheppard
MovieStar Pilot
1966
as Murdu
MovieThree Bullets for Ringo
1966
as Frank
MovieLady Morgan's Vengeance
1965
as Roger
MovieErik the Viking
1965
as Sven
TVI Spy
1965
MovieThe Stone Forest
1965
as Hunding
MovieHercules and the Princess of Troy
1965
as Pirate Captain
MovieAli Baba and the Seven Saracens
1964
as Omar
MovieThe Revenge of the Gladiators
1964
as Arminio
MovieSeven Slaves Against the World
1964
as Balisten
MovieBrennus, Enemy of Rome
1963
as Brenno
MovieThe Fury of Achilles
1962
as Achilles
MovieInvasion 1700
1962
as Ulrich
MovieKerim, Son of the Sheik
1962
as Yussuf
MovieCaesar Against the Pirates
1962
as Hamar
MovieVulcan, Son of Giove
1962
as Pluto
MovieThe Giant of Metropolis
1961
as Obro
MovieThe Centurion
1961
as General Metellus
MovieAtlas Against the Cyclops
1961
as Maciste
MovieSpartacus
1960
as Gladiator (uncredited)
TVThe Twilight Zone
1959
as Soldier
MovieRio Bravo
1959
as Bar Cowboy Watching Fistfight (uncredited)
MovieThe Young Lions
1958
as Minor Role (uncredited)
MovieThe Enemy Below
1957
as German Sailor
MovieThe Spirit of St. Louis
1957
as (uncredited)
MovieAround the World in 80 Days
1956
as Extra (uncredited)
MovieThe Man with the Golden Arm
1955
