David Janssen (born David Harold Meyer; March 27, 1931 – February 13, 1980) was an American actor. He was born 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

Filmography

• 1981Inchon — David Feld
• 1980City in Fear — Vince Perrino
• 1980High Ice — Glencoe MacDonald
• 1980S.O.S. Titanic — John Jacob Astor
• 1979The Golden Gate Murders — Det. Sgt. Paul Silver
• Centennial — Narrator
• 1978Covert Action — Lester Horton
• 1978Nowhere to Run — Harry Adams
• 1978Superdome — Mike Shelley
• The Word — Steve Randall
• 1977A Sensitive, Passionate Man — Michael Delaney
• 1977Golden Rendezvous — Charles Conway
• 1977Mayday at 40,000 Feet — Capt. Pete Douglass
• 1977Warhead — Tony Stevens
• 1976Stalk the Wild Child — Dr. James Hazard
• 1976The Swiss Conspiracy — David Christopher
• 1976Two-Minute Warning — Steve
• 1975Once Is Not Enough — Tom Colt
• 1974Fer-de-Lance — Russ Bogan
• Harry O — Harry Orwell
• 1974Smile Jenny, You're Dead — Harry Orwell
• 1973Birds of Prey — Harry Walker
• 1973Hijack! — Jake Wilkenson
• 1973Pioneer Woman — Robert Douglas
• Police Story
• 1973Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On — Harry Orwell
• 1972Moon of the Wolf — Sheriff Aaron Whitaker
• 1972The Longest Night — Alan Chambers
• Cannon
• 1971Macho Callahan — Diego Callahan
• O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
• 1971O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra — James O'Hara
• 1970Night Chase — Adrian Vico
• 1969Generation — Jim Bolton
• 1969Marooned — Ted Dougherty
• 1969Where It's At — A.C. Smith
• 1968The Green Berets — George Beckworth
• 1968The Shoes of the Fisherman — George Faber
• 1967Warning Shot — Sgt. Tom Valens
• 1963My Six Loves — Marty Bliss
• The Fugitive — Richard Kimble
• 1962Belle Sommers — Danny Castle
• The Eleventh Hour — Hal Kincaid
• Cain's Hundred — Dan Mullin
• 1961Dondi — Dealey
• 1961King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein — Arnold Rothstein
• 1961Man-Trap — Vince Biskay
• 1961Ring of Fire — Sergeant Steve Walsh
• Target: The Corruptors!
• The Dick Powell Show — Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan
• 1961Twenty Plus Two — Tom Alder
• Checkmate — Len Kobalsky
• 1960Hell to Eternity — Sgt, Bill Hazen
• Route 66 — Karno Starling
• Adventures in Paradise — Scotty Bell
• 1958Lafayette Escadrille — Duke Sinclair
• Naked City — Blair Cameron, Carl Ashland
• U.S. Marshall — Arnie Hix
• Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse — Ross Ingraham
• Alcoa Theatre — Mike Harper
• Richard Diamond, Private Detective — Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett
• 1956Away All Boats — uncredited
• Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre — Seth Larker, Dix Porter
• 1956Francis in the Haunted House — Police Lieutenant Hopkins
• 1956Never Say Goodbye — Dave Heller
• 1956Showdown at Abilene — Verne Ward
• 1956The Girl He Left Behind — Capt. Genaro
• 1956Toy Tiger — Larry Tripps
• Whack-O! — Boy in hobby class
• 1955All That Heaven Allows — Freddie Norton (uncredited)
• 1955Chief Crazy Horse — Lt. Colin Cartwright
• 1955Cult of the Cobra — Rico Nardi
• 1955Francis in the Navy — Lieutenant Anders
• Matinee Theater
• The Millionaire — Peter Miller, David Barrett
• 1955The Private War of Major Benson — Young Lieutenant
• 1955The Square Jungle — Jack Lindsay
• 1955To Hell and Back — Lt Lee
• General Electric Theater — Pat Howard
• 1952Francis Goes to West Point — Corporal Thomas
• 1952No Room for the Groom — Soldier (scenes deleted)
• 1952Yankee Buccaneer — Beckett
• Boston Blackie — Armored Car Driver (uncredited)
• Lux Video Theatre — Ralph / Joe Davies, Johnny Reynolds, Jr.

Appearances as themselves (10)

• 2007Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy — Self (archive footage)
• 1976Joys — Self
• Dinah! — Self
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In — Self (uncredited)
• The Hollywood Palace — Self
• The Merv Griffin Show — Self
• 1962The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers — Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson — Self
• The Mike Douglas Show — Self - Co-Host
• Golden Globe Awards — Self - Nominee