Acting · Naponee, Nebraska, USA · Born March 27, 1931
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
MovieTim Conway: Timeless Comedy
2007
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1981
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1980
as Vince Perrino
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1980
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1980
as Glencoe MacDonald
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1979
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1978
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1978
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1978
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1978
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1978
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1976
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1976
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1976
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1976
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1975
as Tom Colt
TVDinah!
1974
as Self
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1974
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1974
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1974
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1973
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1973
as Jake Wilkenson
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1973
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1973
as Harry Orwell
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1973
as Harry Walker
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1972
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1972
as Alan Chambers
TVO'Hara, U.S. Treasury
1971
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1971
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1971
as James O'Hara
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1971
as Diego Callahan
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1970
as Adrian Vico
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1969
as Jim Bolton
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1969
as Ted Dougherty
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1969
as A.C. Smith
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1968
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1968
as George Beckworth
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1968
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1967
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1964
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1963
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1963
as Marty Bliss
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1962
as Hal Kincaid
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1962
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1962
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1962
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1962
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1961
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1961
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1961
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1961
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1961
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1961
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1961
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1961
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1961
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1960
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1960
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1960
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1959
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1958
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1958
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1958
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1957
as Mike Harper
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1957
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1956
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1956
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1956
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1956
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1956
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1956
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1956
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1956
as Larry Tripps
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1956
as Dave Heller
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1955
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1955
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1955
as Lt Lee
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1955
as Freddie Norton (uncredited)
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1955
as Lieutenant Anders
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1955
as Young Lieutenant
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1955
as Lt. Colin Cartwright
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1955
as Rico Nardi
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1955
as Peter Miller
TVGeneral Electric Theater
1953
as Pat Howard
MovieYankee Buccaneer
1952
as Beckett
MovieFrancis Goes to West Point
1952
as Corporal Thomas
MovieNo Room for the Groom
1952
as Soldier (scenes deleted)
TVBoston Blackie
1951
as Armored Car Driver (uncredited)
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Ralph / Joe Davies
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Nominee
