Robert Mitchum (1917–1997) was an American actor who appeared in over 110 films and television series over the course of his career. He is ranked 23rd on the American Film Institute's list of the 50 greatest American screen legends of all time. His first credited named role was as Quinn in the 1943 western Border Patrol. That same year he appeared in the films Follow the Band, Beyond the Last Frontier, Cry 'Havoc' and Gung Ho! as well as several Hopalong Cassidy films including Colt Comrades, Bar 20, False Colors, and Riders of the Deadline. In 1944, he starred in the western Nevada as Jim "Nevada" Lacy, and a year later in the film West of the Pecos as Pecos Smith. During the 1940s, he was also cast in the film noirs Undercurrent (1946), Crossfire (1947), Out of the Past (1947) and The Big Steal (1949). Mitchum was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a world-weary soldier in the 1945 film The Story of G.I. Joe, which received critical acclaim and was a commercial success.
He co-starred in films with several Golden Age actresses such as Jane Russell in His Kind of Woman (1951), Marilyn Monroe in River of No Return (1954), and Rita Hayworth in Fire Down Below (1957). He also played numerous military roles such as playing Corporal Allison, USMC in Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957), Brigadier General Norman Cota in The Longest Day (1962), Lieutenant Colonel Barney Adams in Man in the Middle (1963), and Admiral William F. Halsey in Midway (1976). Mitchum portrayed serial killer Reverend Harry Powell in The Night of the Hunter (1955), and convicted rapist Max Cady in the neo-noir psychological thriller Cape Fear (1962). Both roles are listed in the AFI's 50 Greatest Screen Villains.
Mitchum departed from his typical screen persona with his critically acclaimed performance as a mild-mannered schoolmaster in David Lean's epic drama, Ryan's Daughter (1970). While the film won two Academy Awards, Mitchum, who was thought to be a contender for a Best Actor nomination, was not nominated. After the success of Ryan's Daughter, Mitchum appeared in crime dramas including The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), and Farewell, My Lovely (1975). His later film roles between 1980 and 1997 included Nightkill (1980), That Championship Season (1982), Mr. North (1988), Scrooged (1988), and Waiting for Sunset (1995). He was also the narrator for the 1993 western Tombstone.
His television work included playing Victor "Pug" Henry in the mini-series The Winds of War (1983) and again in War and Remembrance (1988). When The Winds of War aired, it was the most watched miniseries at its time. He was also in the 1985 miniseries North and South with Patrick Swayze and the 1989 miniseries Brotherhood of the Rose with Connie Sellecca. He had a recurring role in the TV series A Family for Joe (1990) and African Skies (1992).
Film 1940s
Year Title Role Notes 1942 Model Short film 1943UncreditedHoppy Serves a WritRigney Credited as Bob MitchumAerial GunnerUncreditedBorder PatrolQuinnCredited as Bob MitchumFollow the Band The Leather BurnersHenchman RandallUncredited Colt ComradesCredited as Bob MitchumWe've Never Been Licked Panhandle Mitchell Beyond the Last FrontierCorvette K-225SheppardUncreditedBar 20Credited as Bob MitchumDoughboys in IrelandFalse ColorsMinesweeperUncredited Cry 'Havoc'Dying Soldier – 'I'm All Right'Riders of the DeadlineGung Ho! 1944Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore Mr. Winkle Goes to WarCorporalUncredited When Strangers MarryCredited as Bob MitchumGirl RushThirty Seconds Over Tokyo NevadaCredited as Bob MitchumFirst leading role 1945 West of the Pecos 1946Till the End of Time Undercurrent 1947PursuedCrossfireKeeleyDesire Me Out of the Past Jeff a.k.a. Build My Gallows High 1948Rachel and the StrangerBlood on the Moon 1949 Holiday AffairSteve
1950s
Year Title Role Notes 1950Where Danger Lives 1951My Forbidden Past His Kind of Woman 1952MacaoOne Minute to Zero Angel Face 1953White Witch Doctor Second Chance 1954She Couldn't Say No River of No ReturnTrack of the Cat 1955Not as a Stranger Man with the Gun 1956Foreign Intrigue BandidoWilson 1957Heaven Knows, Mr. AllisonFire Down Below 1958Thunder Road 1959
1960–1970s
Year Title Role Notes 1960Home from the Hill a.k.a. The Night Fighters 1961 1962Cape FearMax Cady Two for the Seesaw 1963 Slattery CameoRampage Man in the Middlea.k.a. The Winston Affair 1964What a Way to Go! 1965Mister Moses 1967 1967El Dorado 1968Villa Rides5 Card StudAnzio a.k.a. The Battle for Anzio Secret CeremonyAlbert 1969Young Billy Young 1970Ryan's Daughter Charles Narrator Short film, first in The Distant Drummer documentary series Short film; second in The Distant Drummer documentary series 1971Going Home 1972 1973 1974 1975Farewell, My Lovely 1976Midway 1977 Larry Quinlan 1978 Matilda 1979 Breakthrough
1980s–1990s
Year Title Role(s) Notes 1980 Agencya.k.a. Mind Games NightkillDonner / Rodriguez 1982 That Championship Season 1984 Maria's LoversMr. Bibic 1988Mr. North Scrooged 1990Présumé dangereux a.k.a. Believed Violent Midnight Ride 1991Cape Fear 1992Les sept péchés capitauxDieu 1993TombstoneNarratorVoice 1994Woman of Desire 1995Backfire! Dead Man Pakten a.k.a. Waiting for Sunset 1997James Dean: Live Fast, Die Young
Television Year Title Role Notes 1982One Shoe Makes It MurderTV film 1983 Mini-series 1985North and SouthPromises to KeepTV filmReunion at Fairborough 1986Thompson's Last RunTV film; a.k.a. The Last Run 1987 Episode: "Mission: McCall: Part 1 & 2" 1988War and RemembranceMini-series 1989Brotherhood of the RoseJake Spanner, Private EyeTV film 1990 9 episodesWaiting for the Wind Short film 1992African Skies17 episodes 1995 Episode: "The New Marshal"
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