David Janssen (born David Harold Meyer; March 27, 1931 – February 13, 1980) was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as

Richard Kimble ''The Fugitive'' is an American Crime fiction, crime Drama (film and television), drama television series created by Roy Huggins and produced by Quinn Martin, QM Productions and United Artists Television. It aired on American Broadcasting Compan ...

in the television series '' The Fugitive'' (1963–1967). Janssen also had the title roles in three other series: '' Richard Diamond, Private Detective''; '' O'Hara, U.S. Treasury''; and '' Harry O''. In 1996, ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media In mass communication, digital media is any media (communication), communication media that operates in conjunction with various encoded machine-readable data formats. Digital content can be created, vi ...

'' ranked him number 36 on its ''50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time'' list.

Early life

David Janssen was born on March 27, 1931, in Naponee, a village in Franklin County in southern

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

. His father was Harold Edward Meyer, a banker, and his mother, Berniece Graf, was formerly Miss Nebraska and a Ziegfeld girl. Following his parents' divorce in 1935, his mother moved with David to Los Angeles and married Eugene Janssen in 1940. David used his stepfather's name after he entered the show business as a child. He attended Fairfax High School, where he excelled on the basketball court, setting a school scoring record that lasted over 20 years. His first film part was at the age of thirteen, and by the age of twenty-five, he had appeared in twenty films and served two years as an enlisted man in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

. During his Army days, Janssen became a friend of fellow enlistees Martin Milner and

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western (genre), Western TV series ''Rawhide (TV series), Rawhide'', Eastwood rose to international fame with his role as the "Ma ...

while posted at Fort Ord, California.

Acting career

Janssen starred in four television series of his own: * '' Richard Diamond, Private Detective'' (1957–1960) * '' The Fugitive'' (1963–1967) * '' O'Hara, U.S. Treasury'' (1971–1972) * '' Harry O'' (1974–1976) At the time of its airing in August 1967, the final episode of ''The Fugitive'' held the record for the greatest number of American homes to watch a series finale – 72 percent. In 1996 ''

'' ranked ''The Fugitive'' number 36 on its ''50 Greatest Shows of All Time'' list. His films include: '' To Hell and Back'', the biography of

Audie Murphy Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was an American soldier, actor, and songwriter. He was widely celebrated as the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II, and has been described as the most highly decorated enli ...

, who was the most decorated American soldier of World War II; ''

Hell to Eternity ''Hell to Eternity'' is a 1960 American World War II film starring Jeffrey Hunter, David Janssen, Vic Damone and Patricia Owens, directed by Phil Karlson. This film biopic is about the true experiences of U.S. Marine Corps, Marine hero Pfc. Guy ...

'', a 1960 American World War II biopic starring Jeffrey Hunter as a Hispanic boy who fought in the Battle of Saipan and who was raised by Japanese-American foster parents;

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' ...

's Vietnam war film '' The Green Berets''; opposite

Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 12th-greatest male ...

, in the space story '' Marooned'', in which Janssen played an astronaut sent to rescue three stranded men in space; and '' The Shoes of the Fisherman'', as a television journalist in Rome reporting on the election of a new Pope (

Anthony Quinn Manuel Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca (April 21, 1915 – June 3, 2001), known as Anthony Quinn, was an American actor. He was known for his portrayal of earthy, passionate characters "marked by a brutal and elemental virility" in over 100 ...

). He also played pilot Harry Walker in the 1973 action movie ''

Birds of Prey Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as (although not the same as) raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively predation, hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and smaller birds). In addition to speed ...

''. He starred as a Los Angeles police detective trying to clear himself in the killing of an apparently innocent doctor in the 1967 film '' Warning Shot'', which was shot during a break in the spring and summer of 1966 between the third and fourth seasons of ''The Fugitive.'' Janssen played an alcoholic in the 1977 TV movie ''A Sensitive, Passionate Man'', which co-starred Angie Dickinson, and played an engineer who devises an unbeatable system for blackjack in the 1978 made-for-TV movie ''Nowhere to Run'', co-starring Stefanie Powers and Linda Evans. Janssen's impressively husky voice was used to good effect as the narrator for the TV mini-series ''Centennial'' (1978–79); he also appeared in the final episode. And in 1979 he starred in the made-for-TV mini series ''S.O.S. Titanic'' as John Jacob Astor, playing opposite Beverly Ross as his wife, Madeleine. Though Janssen's scenes were cut from the final release, he also appeared as a journalist in the film '' Inchon'', which he accepted to work with

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...

, who played General

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. He served with dis ...

. At the time of his death, Janssen had just begun filming a television movie playing the part of

Father Damien Damien De Veuster , popularly known as Father Damien or Saint Damien of Molokai ( or '; born Jozef De Veuster; 3 January 1840 – 15 April 1889), was a Catholic Church in Belgium, Belgian Catholic priest in the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts ...

, the priest who dedicated himself to the

leper Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria '' Mycobacterium leprae'' or '' Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve da ...

colony on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. The part was eventually reassigned to actor Ken Howard of the CBS series '' The White Shadow''. File:David Janssen Richard Diamond 1957.JPG, File:David Janssen Richard Diamond 1959.JPG, File:David Janssen Fugitive 1967.JPG, David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble in the TV series ''The Fugitive'', 1967 (final episode)

Personal life

Janssen was married twice, first to interior decorator Ellie Graham from 1958 until their divorce in 1968. In 1964, amid marital problems with Ellie, Janssen had a three-month affair with Suzanne Pleshette. In 1975, he married actress-turned-socialite Dani Crayne, and they remained married until Janssen's death in 1980.

Death

Janssen was a heavy drinker, and a chain smoker who smoked up to four packs of cigarettes a day. He died from a sudden heart attack in the early morning of February 13, 1980, at his beachfront home in

Malibu, California Malibu ( ; ; ) is a beach city in the Santa Monica Mountains region of Los Angeles County, California, about west of downtown Los Angeles. It is known for its Mediterranean climate, its strip of beaches stretching along the Pacific Ocean coa ...

, at the age of 48. At the time of his death, Janssen was filming the television movie ''Father Damien''. Janssen was buried at the

Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery The Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery in Culver City, California, United States. Many Jewish people from the entertainment industry are buried there. The cemetery is known for Al Jolson's elaborate tomb (designed by Los Angeles ...

Culver City, California Culver City is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,779. It is mostly surrounded by Los Angeles, but also shares a border with the unincorporated area of Ladera Heights, Californi ...

. A non-denominational funeral was held at the Jewish chapel of the cemetery on February 17. Suzanne Pleshette delivered the eulogy at the request of Janssen's widow. Milton Berle,

Johnny Carson John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television host, comedian, and writer best known as the host of NBC's ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' (1962–1992). Carson is a cultural phenomenon and w ...

, Tommy Gallagher, Richard Harris, Stan Herman,

Rod Stewart Sir Roderick David Stewart (born 10 January 1945) is a British singer and songwriter. Known for his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists of all time, having sold ...

, and

were among Janssen's pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers included Jack Lemmon, George Peppard,

James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military aviator. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morali ...

, and

Danny Thomas Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz, (born January 6, 1912 – February 6, 1991) known professionally as Danny Thomas, was an American comedian, actor, singer, producer, and philanthropist. He created and starred in ''The Danny Thomas Show''. In additio ...

. For his contribution to the television industry, David Janssen has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located on the 7700 block of

Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It runs through the Hollywood, East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Thai Town, and Los Feliz districts. Its western terminus is at Sunset Plaza Drive in the Hollyw ...

Selected filmography

* '' It's a Pleasure'' (1945) as Davey / Boy Referee (uncredited) * '' Swamp Fire'' (1946) as Emile's Eldest Son (uncredited) * '' No Room for the Groom'' (1952) as Soldier (scenes deleted) * '' Francis Goes to West Point'' (1952) as Corporal Thomas * '' Untamed Frontier'' (1952) as Lottie's Dance Partner (uncredited) * '' Bonzo Goes to College'' (1952) as Jack (uncredited) * '' Yankee Buccaneer'' (1952) as Beckett * '' Back at the Front'' (1952) as Soldier (uncredited) * ''Leave It to Harry'' (1954) as Quiz Show Host (short subject) * '' Chief Crazy Horse'' (1955) as Lieutenant Colin Cartwright * '' Cult of the Cobra'' (1955) as Rico Nardi * '' Francis in the Navy'' (1955) as Lieutenant Anders * '' The Private War of Major Benson'' (1955) as Young Lieutenant * '' To Hell and Back'' (1955) as Lieutenant Lee * '' All That Heaven Allows'' (1955) as Freddie Norton (uncredited) * '' The Square Jungle'' (1955) as Jack Lindsay * '' Never Say Goodbye'' (1956) as Dave Heller * '' The Toy Tiger'' (1956) as Larry Tripps * '' Francis in the Haunted House'' (1956) as Police Lieutenant Hopkins * '' Away All Boats'' (1956) as Talker (uncredited) * ''Mr. Black Magic'' (1956) as Master of Ceremonies (short subject) * '' Showdown at Abilene'' (1956) as Verne Ward * '' The Girl He Left Behind'' (1956) as Captain Genaro * '' Lafayette Escadrille'' (1958) as Duke Sinclair * ''

'' (1960) as Sergeant Bill Hazen * ''Dondi'' (1961) as Dealey * '' King of the Roaring 20s – The Story of Arnold Rothstein'' (1961) as Arnold Rothstein * ''

Ring of Fire The Ring of Fire (also known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Rim of Fire, the Girdle of Fire or the Circum-Pacific belt) is a tectonic belt of volcanoes and earthquakes. It is about long and up to about wide, and surrounds most of the Pa ...

'' (1961) as Sergeant Steve Walsh * '' Twenty Plus Two'' (1961) as Tom Alder * '' Man-Trap'' (1961) as Vince Biskay * '' My Six Loves'' (1963) as Marty Bliss * '' Warning Shot'' (1967) as Sergeant Tom Valens * '' The Green Berets'' (1968) as George Beckworth * '' The Shoes of the Fisherman'' (1968) as George Faber * '' Where It's At'' (1969) as A.C. * '' Marooned'' (1969) as Ted Dougherty * ''

Generation A generation is all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively. It also is "the average period, generally considered to be about 20–⁠30 years, during which children are born and grow up, become adults, and b ...

'' (1969) as Jim Bolton * '' Macho Callahan'' (1970) as Diego Callahan * '' Once Is Not Enough'' (1975) as Tom Colt * '' The Swiss Conspiracy'' (1976) as David Christopher * ''

Two-Minute Warning The two-minute warning is a suspension of play in an American football game that occurs when two minutes remain on the game clock in each half of a game, i.e., near the end of the second and fourth quarters, and overtime. Its effect on play is s ...

'' (1976) as Steve * ''

Warhead A warhead is the section of a device that contains the explosive agent or toxic (biological, chemical, or nuclear) material that is delivered by a missile, rocket (weapon), rocket, torpedo, or bomb. Classification Types of warheads include: *E ...

'' (1977) as Tony Stevens * '' Golden Rendezvous'' (1977) as Charles Conway * '' Covert Action'' (1978) as Lester Horton * '' Inchon'' (1981) as David Feld (scenes deleted after premiere; final film role; filmed in 1979; released posthumously)

Television films

* ''Belle Sommers'' (1962) as Danny Castle * ''Night Chase'' (1970) as Adrian Vico * '' The Longest Night'' (1972) as Alan Chambers * '' Moon of the Wolf'' (1972) as Sheriff Aaron Whitaker * '' Hijack'' (1973) as Jake Wilkenson * ''

'' (1973) as Harry Walker * '' Harry O – Such Dust As Dreams Are Made On'' (1973) as Harry Orwell * ''Pioneer Woman'' (1973) as Robert Douglas * '' Harry O – Smile Jenny, You're Dead'' (1974) as Harry Orwell * ''Don't Call the Police'' (1974) as Harry Orwell * ''Fer-de-Lance'' (1974) as Russ Bogan * '' Stalk the Wild Child'' (1976) as Dr. James Hazard * '' Mayday at 40,000 Feet!'' (1976) as Captain Pete Douglass * ''A Sensitive, Passionate Man'' (1977) as Michael Delaney * '' Superdome'' (1978) as Mike Shelley * '' Nowhere to Run'' (1978) as Harry Adams * '' S.O.S. Titanic'' (1979) as John Jacob Astor * ''The Golden Gate Murders'' (1979) as Detective Sergeant Paul Silver * '' High Ice'' (1980) as Glencoe MacDonald * ''

City in Fear ''City in Fear'' is a 1980 American television film, made-for-television drama film directed by Jud Taylor, under the pseudonym Alan Smithee, and written by Peter Masterson based on a story by Albert Ruben. The film, starring David Janssen (in o ...

'' (1980) as Vince Perrino (released posthumously) * ''

: The Leper Priest'' (1980) (Incomplete – Replaced by Ken Howard)

Television series

* ''

Boston Blackie Boston Blackie is a fictional character created by author Jack Boyle (1881–1928). Blackie was originally depicted as a jewel thief and safecracker in Boyle's stories, and became a private detective in adaptations for films, radio and televisi ...

'' (1951) (Season 1 Episode 2: "Cop Killer") as Armored Car Driver (uncredited) * ''

Lux Video Theatre ''Lux Video Theatre'' is an American television anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1957. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays. Overview The ''Lux Vi ...

'' (1955–1956) (3 episodes) **(Season 5 Episode 30: "It Grows on Trees") (1955) as Ralph **(Season 5 Episode 51: "Perilous Deception") (1955) as Joe Davies **(Season 6 Episode 27: "It Started With Eve") (1956) as Johnny Reynolds Jr. * '' Matinee Theatre'' (1956) (Episode 193: "Belong to Me") as Paul Merrick * '' Conflict'' (1957) (Season 1 Episode 12: "The Money") as Sid Lukes * '' You Are There'' (1957) (Season 5 Episode 8: "The End of the Dalton Gang (October 5, 1892)" as Grat Dalton * '' U.S. Marshal'' (1 episode ) * '' Alcoa Theatre'' (1957–1958) (2 episodes) **(Season 1 Episode 6: "Cupid Wore a Badge") (1957) as Mike Harper **(Season 1 Episode 20: "Decoy Duck") (1958) as Jim McCandless * '' The Millionaire'' (1957–1958) (2 episodes) **(Season 4 Episode 14: "The Regina Wainwright Story") (1957) as Peter Miller **(Season 5 Episode 5: "The David Barrett Story") (1958) as David Barrett * '' Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'' (1957–1959) (4 episodes) **(Season 1 Episode 23: "There Were Four") (1957) as Danny Ensign **(Season 2 Episode 14: "Trial by Fear") (1958) as Tod Owen **(Season 3 Episode 1: "Trail to Nowhere") (1958) as Seth Larker **(Season 3 Episode 15: "Hang the Heart High") (1959) as Dix Porter * '' Richard Diamond, Private Detective'' (1957–1960) (77 episodes) as Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett * '' Sheriff of Cochise'' (1958) (Season 3 Episode 9: "The Turkey Farmers") as Arnie Hix * '' Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse'' (1959) (Season 1 Episode 25: "Two Counts of Murder") as Ross Ingraham * ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

'' (1961) (Season 9 Episode 18: "Deadline at Austin") as Dr. Bill Breckenridge * '' Adventures in Paradise'' (1961) (Season 3 Episode 6: "Show Me a Hero") as Scotty Bell * '' Naked City'' (1961–1963) (2 episodes) **(Season 3 Episode 5: "A Wednesday Night Story") (1961) as Blair Cameron **(Season 4 Episode 26: "On the Battle Front: Every Minute is Important") (1963) as Carl Ashland * '' Thriller'' (1962) * '' Target: The Corruptors'' (1962) (Season 1 Episode 19: "The Middle Man") as Robbie Wilson * '' General Electric Theater'' (1962) (Season 10 Episode 20: "Shadow of a Hero") as Pat Howard * '' Follow the Sun'' (1962) (Season 1 Episode 24: "A Choice of Weapons") as Johnny Sadowsky * ''

Checkmate Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player's king is in check (threatened with ) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game. In chess, the king is ...

'' (1962) (Season 2 Episode 25: "Ride a Wild Horse") as Len Kobalsky * '' Cain's Hundred'' (1962) (Season 1 Episode 26: "Inside Track") as Dan Mullin * '' Kraft Mystery Theatre'' (1962) * '' Route 66'' (1962) (Season 3 Episode 1: "One Tiger to a Hill") as Karno Starling * '' The Eleventh Hour'' (1962) (Season 1 Episode 3: "Make Me a Place") as Hal Kincaid * '' The Dick Powell Show'' (1963) (Season 2 Episode 23: "Thunder in a Forgotten Town") as Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan * '' The Fugitive'' (1963–1967) (120 episodes) as Dr. Richard Kimble / varied aliases * ''

The Hollywood Palace ''The Hollywood Palace'' was an hourlong American television variety show broadcast Saturday nights (except September 1967 to January 1968, when it aired on Tuesday nights) on ABC from January 4, 1964, to February 7, 1970. Titled ''The Satur ...

'' (1965) * '' O'Hara, U.S. Treasury'' (1971–1972) (23 episodes) as James O'Hara / Jim O'Hara * ''

Cannon A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder during th ...

'' (1973) (Season 3 Episode 1: "He Who Digs a Grave") as Ian Kirk * '' Harry O'' (1973–1976) (45 episodes) as Harry Orwell * '' Police Story'' (1977) (Season 5 Episode 1: "Trigger Point") as Sergeant Joe Wilson * '' The Word'' (1978) (miniseries) (all 4 episodes) as Steve Randall * '' Centennial'' (1978–1979) (Narrator for all 12 episodes) (10 episodes as Paul Garrett) * ''

Biography A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or curri ...

'' (1979) as Host

Bibliography

* * * David Janssen – Our Conversations: The Early Years (1965–1972): Volume 1 Michael Phelps * David Janssen: Our Conversations: The Final Years: (1973–1980): Volume 2 Michael Phelps

References

External links

*
The David Janssen Archive
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Janssen, David 1931 births 1980 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male television actors American people of Irish descent Burials at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery Fairfax High School (Los Angeles) alumni Male actors from Nebraska People from Franklin County, Nebraska United States Army soldiers