Christopher Mitchum
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Christopher Mitchum (born October 16, 1943) is an American film actor, screenwriter, and businessman. He was born in Los Angeles, California, the second son of film star
Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He is known for his antihero roles and film noir appearances. He received nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. He received a star on the Holl ...
and Dorothy Mitchum. He is the younger brother of actor James Mitchum.


Film career

Mitchum appeared in more than 60 films in 14 countries. He appeared with
John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...
in the motion pictures ''
Chisum ''Chisum'' is a 1970 American Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, starring John Wayne in the title role, and adapted for the screen by Andrew J. Fenady from his short story "Chisum and the Lincoln County War". The supporting cast fea ...
'' (1970), ''
Rio Lobo ''Rio Lobo'' is a 1970 American Western film directed and produced by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne, from a screenplay by Burton Wohl and Leigh Brackett. The film was shot in Cuernavaca in the Mexican state of Morelos and in Tucson, Ari ...
'' (1970), and ''
Big Jake ''Big Jake'' is a 1971 American Technicolor Western (genre), Western film starring John Wayne, Richard Boone and Maureen O'Hara. The picture was the final film for George Sherman in a directing career of more than 30 years, and Maureen O'Hara' ...
'' (1971). He was cited by Box Office magazine as one of the top five stars of the future and the recipient of
Photoplay ''Photoplay'' was one of the first American film fan magazines, its title another word for screenplay. It was founded in Chicago in 1911. Under early editors Julian Johnson and James R. Quirk, in style and reach it became a pacesetter for fan m ...
's Gold Medal Award for 1972. He won both The
Golden Horse Award The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Taipei Golden Horse Awards () are a film festival and associated awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. The festival and ceremony were founded in 1962 by the Government Information Office of the Republ ...
(1981) and The Golden Reel, Best Actor award (1988, Indonesia). He has been a member of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., with the stated goal of adva ...
since 1978. He was the
Screen Actors Guild The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30, 2012, the union leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to m ...
national first vice president, in 1987–89 and a member of the SAG board of directors, in 1983–89.


Personal life

Mitchum married Cynthia "Cindy" Davis in 1964. Together, they had children
Bentley Bentley Motors Limited is a British designer, manufacturer and marketer of Luxury vehicle, luxury cars and Sport utility vehicle, SUVs. Headquartered in Crewe, England, the company was founded by W. O. Bentley (1888–1971) in 1919 in Crickle ...
, Carrie, Jennifer, and Kian before divorcing in 1996. For four years in the 1990s, Mitchum was father-in-law to Carrie's husband,
Casper Van Dien Casper Robert Van Dien Jr. (born December 18, 1968) is an American actor, best known for his lead role as Johnny Rico in the science-fiction action film ''Starship Troopers'' (1997). Other credits include '' Sleepy Hollow'' (1999), '' Sanctimony ...
. Mitchum is the grandfather of Cappy Van Dien,
Grace Van Dien Grace Van Dien (born October 15, 1996) is an American actress and social media personality. She is known for playing Brooke Osmond in the Netflix teen drama series '' Greenhouse Academy'' (2017) and Katie Campbell in NBC drama series '' The Vill ...
, Allexanne Mitchum, Carrington Mitchum, and Wyatt Mitchum Cardone. Mitchum has resided in the
Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara (, meaning ) is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting A ...
area ( Central Coast) since 1984. A Republican, he ran for the
California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature (the upper house being the California State Senate). The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Califor ...
in 1998, losing the
general election A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from By-election, by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. Gener ...
to
Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...
Hannah-Beth Jackson Hannah-Beth Jackson (born May 19, 1950) is an American politician who served in the California State Senate from 2012 to 2020. A Democratic Party (United States), Democrat, she represented the California's 19th State Senate district, 19th Senate D ...
. In 2012 and 2014, he ran unsuccessfully for the
U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...
in the 24th Congressional District; he lost the
primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Work ...
in 2012 to former
lieutenant governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...
Abel Maldonado Abel O. Maldonado Jr. (born August 21, 1967) is an American politician who served as the 48th lieutenant governor of California from April 27, 2010 to January 3, 2011. As of 2025, he is the last Republican to serve as California's Lieutenant Gove ...
, and the general in 2014 to 16-year Democratic incumbent
Lois Capps Lois Ragnhild Capps (née Grimsrud; January 10, 1938) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 1998 to 2017. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, numbered as the 22nd District from 1998 to 200 ...
.


Filmography

* 1969 '' Young Billy Young'' (uncredited) * 1969 ''
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys ''The Good Guys and the Bad Guys'' is a 1969 American comedy Western film directed by Burt Kennedy. It stars Robert Mitchum and George Kennedy. Plot Jim Flagg is the marshal in the town of Progress. He hears arch-rival Big John McKay is headed ...
'' as Minor Role (uncredited) * 1970 ''
Chisum ''Chisum'' is a 1970 American Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, starring John Wayne in the title role, and adapted for the screen by Andrew J. Fenady from his short story "Chisum and the Lincoln County War". The supporting cast fea ...
'' as
Tom O'Folliard Tom O. Folliard (1858 – December 19, 1880) was the best friend of outlaw William Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid. Both were members of the Lincoln County Regulators, Regulators during the Lincoln County War. After the war ended, they became catt ...
* 1970 ''
Bigfoot Bigfoot (), also commonly referred to as Sasquatch (), is a large, hairy Mythic humanoids, mythical creature said to inhabit forests in North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.Example definitions include: *"A large, hairy, manlike ...
'' as Rick * 1970 ''
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came ''Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came'' (also known as ''War Games, Old Soldiers Never'') is a 1970 American drama-comedy film directed by Hy Averback, produced by Fred Engel, and starring Brian Keith, Don Ameche, Tony Curtis, Ernest Borgnine ...
'' as Alturi * 1970 ''
Rio Lobo ''Rio Lobo'' is a 1970 American Western film directed and produced by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne, from a screenplay by Burton Wohl and Leigh Brackett. The film was shot in Cuernavaca in the Mexican state of Morelos and in Tucson, Ari ...
'' as Sergeant Tuscarora Phillips * 1971 ''Cactus in the Snow'' as George * 1971 ''
Big Jake ''Big Jake'' is a 1971 American Technicolor Western (genre), Western film starring John Wayne, Richard Boone and Maureen O'Hara. The picture was the final film for George Sherman in a directing career of more than 30 years, and Maureen O'Hara' ...
'' as Michael McCandles * 1972 '' Summertime Killer'' as Raymond Sullivan Castor * 1973 ''A Time for Love'' (TV Movie) as Mark * 1973 ''
Murder in a Blue World ''Murder in a Blue World'' (, ''A Drop of Blood to Die Loving''; , ''The Voodoo Ball'') is a 1973 Spanish-French dystopian science fiction/crime/horror film directed by Eloy de la Iglesia and starring Sue Lyon, Christopher Mitchum and Jean Sorel ...
'' as David * 1973 '' Ricco the Mean Machine'' as Ricco Aversi * 1974 ''Once'' as Creation * 1974 ''Cosa Nostra Asia'' * 1974 ''Master Samurai'' ( "The Agency") as James Peterson * 1974 ''Bloody Sun'' ( "Blue Jeans & Dynamite") * 1975 ''H-Bomb'' ( "Great Friday"; Thai name ตัดเลี่ยมเพชร tàt lìam pét as Eddie Fulmer / Reddy * 1975 ''Chinese Commandos'' (''Was Never Finished / Made'') * 1976 '' The Last Hard Men'' as Hal Brickman * 1977 ''Flight to Holocaust'' (TV Movie) as Mark Gates * 1978 ''
Stingray Stingrays are a group of sea Batoidea, rays, a type of cartilaginous fish. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae (sixgill stingray), Plesiobatidae (deepwate ...
'' as Al * 1978 ''One Man Jury'' as Sergeant Blake * 1979 ''
The Day Time Ended ''The Day Time Ended'' is a 1980 American science fiction film directed by John 'Bud' Cardos and starring Jim Davis, Christopher Mitchum and Dorothy Malone. The film was originally titled ''Earth's Final Fury''; this was changed to ''Vortex'', ...
'' as Richard Williams * 1980 ''
Tusk Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth that protrude well beyond the mouth of certain mammal species. They are most commonly canine tooth, canine teeth, as with Narwhal, narwhals, chevrotains, musk deer, water deer, muntjac, pigs, ...
'' as Richard Cairn * 1980 '' A Rumor of War'' (TV Mini-Series) as Captain Peterson * 1980 ''Desperate Target'' ( "Escape from Russia") * 1981 ''The One Armed Executioner'' * 1981 ''Ritoru Champion'' ( "My Champion") as Mike Gorman * 1983 ''Commander Firefox'' * 1984 ''
Magnum P.I. ''Magnum, P.I.'' is an American crime drama television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator (P.I.) living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from December 11, 1980, to May 1, 1988, during its first-run broadcast on ...
'' (TV Series) as Eric DeForrest * 1984 ''The Executioner, Part II'' as Lieutenant Roger O'Malley * 1984 ' ( "Hijacked to Hell") as Mr. Gull * 1985 ''
Rocky IV ''Rocky IV'' is a 1985 American sports drama film starring, written and directed by Sylvester Stallone. The film is the sequel to '' Rocky III'' (1982) and the fourth installment in the ''Rocky'' franchise. It also stars Talia Shire, Burt You ...
'' as Russian Guard (uncredited) * 1985 ''Promises to Keep'' (TV Movie) as Tom Palmer * 1985 ''
The Serpent Warriors ''The Serpent Warriors'' (also known as The Golden Viper) is a 1987 crime-horror film directed by John Howard and Niels Rasmussen starring Clint Walker, Eartha Kitt, Christopher Mitchum, Anne Lockhart, Kathleen Lu, Yuen Kao and Anita Merritt. T ...
'' as Dr. Tim Muffett * 1986 ''American Commandos'' as Dean Mitchell * 1986 ''Final Score'' as Richard Brown * 1987 ''Angel of Death'' ( "Commando Mengele") as Wolfgang Von Backey * 1987 ''SFX Retaliator'' as Steve Baker * 1987 ''Death Feud'' ( "Savage Harbor") as Bill * 1988 ''Columbian Connection'' ( "Dark Mission: Flowers of Evil) as Derek Carpenter * 1988 '' Faceless'' ( "Les Predatuers de la Nuit") as Sam Morgan * 1988 ''American Hunter'' ( Lethal Hunter) as Jake Carver * 1989-1991 '' We Are Seven'' (TV Series) as Tommy Morgan * 1989 '' Gummibärchen küßt man nicht'' as Johannes Thalberg / Josef Thalberg * 1990 ''
Aftershock In seismology, an aftershock is a smaller earthquake that follows a larger earthquake, in Epicenter, the same area of the Mainshock, main shock, caused as the displaced Crust (geology), crust adjusts to the effects of the main shock. Large earthq ...
'' as Colonel Slater * 1993 ''
Magic Kid ''Magic Kid'' (also known as ''Little Ninja Dragon''; released in the Philippines as ''Ninja Sidekick'') is a 1993 American film. Plot Kevin Ryan is an 11-year-old karate-champion from Kalamazoo, Michigan, who spends his summer with his uncle, B ...
'' as Dad * 1993 ''
Tombstone A gravestone or tombstone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. A marker set at the head of the grave may be called a headstone. An especially old or elaborate stone slab may be called a funeral stele, stela, or slab. The us ...
'' as Ranch Hand * 1993 ''Jungle of Fear'' * 1995 '' Biohazard: The Alien Force'' as Donald Brady * 1995 ''Body Count'' as Captain Langston * 1995 ''Lethal Cowboy'' as Maffia Hoodlum * 1995 ''
Striking Point ''Striking Point'' is an action film directed by Thomas H. Fenton and starring Christopher Mitchum, Ivan Rogers, Stan Morse, Mark Hanson, Tracy Spaulding and Rocky Patterson. It is about detectives in their quest to stop the KGB from bringing in ...
'' as Colonel Ivan Romanov * 1995 '' Bad Boys'' as Sergeant Copperfield * 1996 ''Fugitive X: Innocent Target'' (TV Movie) as Nick * 1996 ''Countdown to Disaster'' ( "Lethal Orbit", TV Movie) as Gunter * 1996 ''Jimi'' as Chris Chandler * 1997 ''Lethal Seduction'' as Trent Jacobson * 1997 ''Motorcycle Cheerleading Mommas'' as Himself * 1998 ''Diamondbacks'' as Bill Jones * 1998 ''Love and War II: The Final Showdown'' * 1999 ''Lycanthrope'' as Jake Sutter * 1999 ''Night of Terror'' * 2006 ''Soul Searchers'' as Sheriff Traft * 2009 '' The Ritual'' as Sheriff Traft * 2011 ''Goy'' (never finished) as Harald Rosenberg * 2012 ''Santa's Summer House'' as Pop


State and federal office candidacies

Mitchum has run once for the
California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature (the upper house being the California State Senate). The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Califor ...
(35th District), and twice for the U.S. House of Representatives (California's 24th District). Since January 1, 2011, under California law, candidates are voter-nominated for state and federal offices; political parties cannot nominate candidates for office.


California Assembly

In 1998, Mitchum was the Republican nominee in the general election for the California State Assembly in the 35th district, which included portions of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, where he served on the Republican Central Committee (1998–2000). His opponents were Democrat
Hannah-Beth Jackson Hannah-Beth Jackson (born May 19, 1950) is an American politician who served in the California State Senate from 2012 to 2020. A Democratic Party (United States), Democrat, she represented the California's 19th State Senate district, 19th Senate D ...
and
Natural Law Party The Natural Law Party (NLP) is a transnational party founded in 1992 on "the principles of Transcendental Meditation", the laws of nature, and their application to all levels of government. At its peak, it was active in up to 74 countries; it co ...
candidate Eric Dahl. Mitchum came in second behind Jackson with 44.5 percent of the vote to Jackson's 53 percent.


U.S. Congress

In 2012, Mitchum ran for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican candidate in California's 24th district (
San Luis Obispo ; ; ; Chumashan languages, Chumash: ''tiłhini'') is a city and county seat of San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Located on the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California, San Luis Obispo is roughly halfway betwee ...
, Santa Barbara, and part of Ventura counties), challenging incumbent Democratic Congresswoman
Lois Capps Lois Ragnhild Capps (née Grimsrud; January 10, 1938) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 1998 to 2017. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, numbered as the 22nd District from 1998 to 200 ...
. In the June 5, 2012 primary, he came in third, behind Republican
Abel Maldonado Abel O. Maldonado Jr. (born August 21, 1967) is an American politician who served as the 48th lieutenant governor of California from April 27, 2010 to January 3, 2011. As of 2025, he is the last Republican to serve as California's Lieutenant Gove ...
and Capps, and ahead of Independent candidate Matt Boutté. In 2014, Mitchum ran again for the U.S. congressional seat held by Representative Capps. He won the June 3, 2014, primary (running alongside four other Republicans, two additional Democrats, and an Independent candidate), coming in second behind Capps with 15.8 percent of the vote, and narrowly defeating Republican Justin Fareed by slightly over 600 votes. In the November 4 general election, Mitchum received 48.1 percent of the vote to Capps's 51.9 percent, in the closest race of Capps's entire congressional career. Despite the close margin by which Mitchum lost to Capps, as well as the announcement that Capps would retire in 2016, Mitchum ultimately declined a third run for the same seat again, and instead endorsed Assemblyman
Katcho Achadjian Khatchik Hratchia Achadjian (June 2, 1951 – March 5, 2020) was an American businessman and politician who formerly served in the California State Assembly. He was a Republican who represented the 35th district, encompassing San Luis Obispo Co ...
for the race to succeed Capps.


Election statistics


Philanthropic positions

Mitchum has served on several organizations'boards of directors and has been a fundraiser for a number of charities. * Hollywood Benefit Horse Show, advisory board, 1996–present * ZONA SECA, Board of Director, 2011–present * Community Outreach for Prevention and Education chairman and honorary chairman, 1998–present * Liberty Program—gang-member rehabilitation program—board member, Santa Barbara, 1999–2001 * Criminal Advisory Board for Fighting Back, Santa Barbara, 1999–2004 * Public Policy Advisory Board for Fighting Back, Santa Barbara, 1999–2004 * Board of directors, Police Activities League, Santa Barbara, 1999–2001 * Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Commission, chairman, for the governor's Office, State of California, OCJP January 1999 * Autistic Treatment Center "Roundup of Autism": Honorary Advisory Council: 1994–2002 * North American Riding for the Handicapped Association Advisory Board: 1992–96 * Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Honorary Board 1988–92 * Santa Barbara International Film Festival, board of directors: one-year term, 1987 * Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera: founding chairman of the "Star Circle" fund-raiser, 1989


References


External links


Chris Mitchum For Congress
(archived link)
Politicit.com: Chris Mitchum Profile
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchum, Christopher 1943 births Living people California Republicans American actor-politicians American male film actors American people of Norwegian descent Male actors from Los Angeles University of Pennsylvania alumni Mitchum family