David Janssen
Biography
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 Nickname Davey Height 6' (1.83 m) 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" (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.
The Green Berets
George Beckworth
Moon Of The Wolf
Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
Marooned
Ted Dougherty
The Fugitive - Season Two, Vol. 1
Dr. Richard Kimble / ... (120 episodes, 1963-1967)
The Swiss Conspiracy
David Christopher
Warhead
Tony Stevens
The Shoes of the Fisherman
George Faber
Warning Shot
Sgt. Tom Valens
Pioneers
Robert Douglas
Superdome
Mike Shelley
Being Mary Tyler Moore
Self (archive footage)
Essex Vendetta
Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
Los Angeles Plays Itself
Steve in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage) (uncredited)
Inchon!
David Feld
City in Fear
Vince Perrino
Glencoe MacDonald
The Golden Gate Murders
Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
S.O.S. Titanic
John Jacob Astor
Winner Takes All
Harry Adams
Superdome
Mike Shelley
Golden Rendezvous
Charles Conway
Warhead
Tony Stevens
Mayday at 40,000 Feet!
Captain Pete Douglass
Two Minute Warning
Steve
Once Is Not Enough
Tom Colt
Die Todesfalle unter dem Meer
Russ Bogan
Ein Lächeln vor dem Tode
Harry Orwell
Pioneers
Robert Douglas
Birds of Prey
Harry Walker
Moon Of The Wolf
Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
A Howling in the Woods
Lt. Colin Cartwright
Night Chase
Adrian Vico
Macho Callahan
Diego Callahan
A Time for Giving
Jim Bolton
Marooned
Ted Dougherty
The Shoes of the Fisherman
George Faber
The Green Berets
George Beckworth
Warning Shot
Sgt. Tom Valens
My Six Loves
Marty Bliss
The Fugitive - Season Two, Vol. 1
Dr. Richard Kimble / ... (120 episodes, 1963-1967)
Man-Trap
Vince Biskay
Twenty Plus Two
Tom Alder
Ring of Fire
Sergeant Steve Walsh
King of the Roaring 20's
Arnold Rothstein
Hell to Eternity
Bill
Lafayette Escadrille
Duke Sinclair
The Girl He Left Behind
Capt. Genaro
Schüsse peitschen durch die Nacht
Verne Ward
Francis in the Haunted House
Police Lieutenant Hopkins
Never Say Goodbye
Dave Heller
The Square Jungle
Jack Lindsay
To Hell and Back
Lt. Lee
All That Heaven Allows
Freddie Norton (uncredited)
Francis in the Navy
Lt. Anders
Cult of the Cobra
Rico Nardi
The Private War of Major Benson
Young Lieutenant
Chief Crazy Horse
Lt. Colin Cartwright
Der Tag der Vergeltung
Lottie's Dance Partner (uncredited)
Francis Goes to West Point
Cpl. Thomas (as Dave Janssen)
No Room for the Groom
Soldier (scenes deleted)
It's a Pleasure
Davey / boy referee (uncredited)
The Swiss Conspiracy
David Christopher
