David Janssen

David Janssen

Birthday: 1931-03-27

Deathday: 1980-02-13

Place of birth: Naponee, Nebraska, USA

Also known as: Dave Janssen, David Harold Meyer

imdb_id: nm0418148

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

Played in movies:

O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra

Score: 10.0

The Golden Gate Murders

Score: 8.0

Los Angeles Plays Itself

Score: 7.6

All That Heaven Allows

Score: 7.3

The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers

Score: 7.0

Nowhere to Run

Score: 7.0

The Shoes of the Fisherman

Score: 6.8

The Private War of Major Benson

Score: 6.7

Hijack!

Score: 6.6

Never Say Goodbye

Score: 6.6

Hell to Eternity

Score: 6.6

Warning Shot

Score: 6.5

To Hell and Back

Score: 6.5

Mayday at 40,000 Feet

Score: 6.4

The Longest Night

Score: 6.2

Toy Tiger

Score: 6.2

City in Fear

Score: 6.2

Two-Minute Warning

Score: 6.2

Smile Jenny, You're Dead

Score: 6.1

The Square Jungle

Score: 6.0

Twenty Plus Two

Score: 6.0

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

Score: 6.0

Cult of the Cobra

Score: 6.0

S.O.S. Titanic

Score: 5.9

Marooned

Score: 5.9

Man-Trap

Score: 5.8

Francis Goes to West Point

Score: 5.8

High Ice

Score: 5.8

Ring of Fire

Score: 5.8

Yankee Buccaneer

Score: 5.8

Fer-de-Lance

Score: 5.8

The Green Berets

Score: 5.7

Chief Crazy Horse

Score: 5.6

My Six Loves

Score: 5.6

No Room for the Groom

Score: 5.6

Night Chase

Score: 5.5

A Sensitive, Passionate Man

Score: 5.5

Francis in the Navy

Score: 5.5

Showdown at Abilene

Score: 5.2

Once Is Not Enough

Score: 5.2

Away All Boats

Score: 5.1

Francis in the Haunted House

Score: 5.1

Birds of Prey

Score: 5.0

Golden Rendezvous

Score: 4.9

The Swiss Conspiracy

Score: 4.9

Pioneer Woman

Score: 4.8

Moon of the Wolf

Score: 4.7

Lafayette Escadrille

Score: 4.6

Generation

Score: 4.5

Macho Callahan

Score: 4.3

Superdome

Score: 4.2

Joys

Score: 4.0

The Girl He Left Behind

Score: 4.0

Dondi

Score: 3.7

Inchon

Score: 3.4

Warhead

Score: 3.3

Where It's At

Score: 2.0

Stalk the Wild Child

Score: 0.0

Belle Sommers

Score: 0.0

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On

Score: 0.0

Covert Action

Score: 0.0

Played in tv shows:

Centennial

Score: 7.6

U.S. Marshall

Score: 7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Score: 7.5

The Fugitive

Score: 7.2

Police Story

Score: 6.9

Golden Globe Awards

Score: 6.8

Dinah!

Score: 6.7

Alcoa Theatre

Score: 6.5

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Score: 6.5

Cannon

Score: 6.5

Lux Video Theatre

Score: 6.3

Lux Video Theatre

Score: 6.3

Route 66

Score: 6.3

General Electric Theater

Score: 6.3

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Score: 6.2

The Eleventh Hour

Score: 6.0

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

Score: 5.8

The Merv Griffin Show

Score: 5.8

Adventures in Paradise

Score: 5.7

The Dick Powell Show

Score: 5.5

Naked City

Score: 5.5

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

Score: 5.5

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

Score: 5.5

O'Hara, U.S. Treasury

Score: 5.5

Naked City

Score: 5.5

The Mike Douglas Show

Score: 5.4

The Mike Douglas Show

Score: 5.4

The Word

Score: 5.0

The Millionaire

Score: 5.0

Matinee Theater

Score: 5.0

The Millionaire

Score: 5.0

Cain's Hundred

Score: 4.7

Harry O

Score: 4.6

The Hollywood Palace

Score: 4.5

Checkmate

Score: 4.1

The Adventures of Boston Blackie

Score: 4.0

Target: The Corruptors!

Score: 3.5

Best of The Dean Martin Variety Show

Score: 0.0

Whack-O!

Score: 0.0