Gordon Mitchell
Gordon Mitchell was born "Charles Pendleton" in Colorado and served his country in both World War II and the Korean War (during which he was briefly a POW). Afterward he worked as a teacher in inner city schools in California and got heavily involved in personal fitness and bodybuilding. He became friends with Joe Gold (of Gold's Gym), joining Mae West's comedy act as one of her "strongmen" who would carry her on and off the stage. During this time he also found himself in demand as an extra in several Hollywood films including "Lil Abner", "The Enemy Below", and "The Ten Commandments" (in which he and Joe Gold bring Moses to Ramsey's court in chains). When the Peplum craze began in Italy and his fellow Muscle Beach star Steve Reeves became a huge star. Gordon (along with Reg Park, Mark Forrest, Brad Harris, Mickey Hargitay, and Richard Harrison) similarly jumped on the bandwagon and headed to Italy to find stardom and financially greener pastures. Thanks to his unconventional appearance (small, sharp eyes and craggy face) and enthusiasm for his work, Mitchell found himself one of the most in-demand performers in Italy's Sword & Sandal craze of the early 60's, working with several top directors including Marino Girolami, Alberto De Martino, and Michele Lupo. Unlike most of his peers who left Italy once the genre ran its course, Mitchell stayed on to play villains in numerous Spaghetti Westerns, Giallos, War Films, and Science Fiction movies. He also had a small but key role in the Elizabeth Taylor / Marlon Brandon vehicle "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967) during this time though perhaps his most prestigious role would be the rogue who helps the two protagonists kidnap the noble in Fellini's "Satyricon" (1969). Mitchell used his extra cash to buy and build his own movie studio (Cave Studios) which he single-handedly constructed outside of Rome. It went largely unused except by ultra-low budget director Demofilo Fidani who would often cast Mitchell as well. In the late 1980's when the Italian genre film industry had basically self-destructed, unable to compete with American films even for video rentals, Mitchell packed his bags and moved back to California. Once home, he re-teamed with old friend Joe Gold to manage World Gym, at which Mitchell acted as COO and lived at the top floor of its headquarters in Marina Del Rey. Continuing for years to act in low budget films purely for the fun of it, Mitchell passed away in his sleep at age 80 in 2003. Having just won the California recall election the day prior, Arnold Schwarzenegger took time out of his busy schedule to pay his respects at Mitchell's Memorial Service at the World Gym Headquarters along with many other bodybuilders who credit Mitchell with getting them into their careers.
138 acting credits
Acting · 138
The Twilight Zone
1959
I Spy
1965
Marco Polo
1982
Spartacus
1960
Rio Bravo
1959
Around the World in 80 Days
1956
The Man from Chicago
1975
I promessi sposi
1989
Satyricon
1969
The Spirit of St. Louis
1957
Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados
1980
The Enemy Below
1957
The Man with the Golden Arm
1955
The Young Lions
1958
Umbrella Coup
1980
I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death
1969
Reflections in a Golden Eye
1967
She
1984
Bikini Drive-In
1995
Little Godfather from Hong Kong
1974
Beyond the Law
1968
The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe
1973
Lisa with the Blue Eyes
1969
The Household
1974
Achtung! The Desert Tigers
1977
Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot
1979
SFX Retaliator
1988
The Fury of Achilles
1962
Fenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen
1968
Thompson 1880
1966
The French Sex Murders
1972
Erik the Viking
1965
Cobra Mission
1986
Endgame
1983
Day of Judgment
1971
Seven Times Seven
1968
The Doctor Prefers Sailors
1981
Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks
1974
Atlas Against the Cyclops
1961
White Fire
1984
Holocaust II
1980
Coffin Full of Dollars
1971
The Crucified Girls of San Ramon
1972
Cry of Death
1968
The Killer Likes Candy
1968
Dead for a Dollar
1968
Invasion 1700
1962
The Revenge of the Gladiators
1964
Fever of 40!
1980
Dead Men Don't Make Shadows
1970
Brennus, Enemy of Rome
1963
Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End
1970
The Crazy Westerners
1967
John the Bastard
1967
Commando Invasion
1987
The Yellow Panther
1982
The Centurion
1961
Lady Morgan's Vengeance
1965
His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria
1971
Savage Guns
1971
The Giant of Metropolis
1961
Kino kolossal - Herkules, Maciste & Co
2000
Blood Delirium
1988
An Enraged New World
2002
Hercules and the Princess of Troy
1965
Seven Slaves Against the World
1964
My Darling Slave
1973
Angel's Leap
1971
Frankenstein '80
1972
Malevolence
2004
Operation Orient
1978
The Stone Forest
1965
Star Pilot
1966
The Alien Within
1990
Slaughter Day
1972
Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion
1975
All on the Red
1968
Kill or Be Killed
1966
Adios Compañeros
1971
Caesar Against the Pirates
1962
If All Goes Well We Are Ruined
1983
Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado
1972
Oil
1977
The Arizona Kid
1970
Io non spezzo... rompo
1971
The Sewer Rats
1974
Finders Killers
1971
Born to Kill
1967
Vulcan, Son of Giove
1962
Tre nel mille
1971
I'll Die for Vengeance
1968
Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens
1964
The Mines of Kilimanjaro
1986
Strategy for a Mission of Death
1979
Kerim, Son of the Sheik
1962
White Fang and the Kid
1978
Porno erotico western
1979
Three Bullets for Ringo
1966
È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere
1966
His Colt, Himself, His Revenge
1973
Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West
1973
Seven Savage Men
1975
The Tiger From the River Kwai
1975
Rush
1983
The Iron Hand of the Mafia
1980
L'Estate
1966
Four for All
1975
Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten
1968
Secret Force
1983
A Gunman Called Dakota
1972
Kopfschuß
1981
From the Archives of the Criminal Police
1973
The Skin Under the Claws
1975
Anything for a Friend
1973
The Slayers
1977
Down with Your Hands... You Scum!
1971
Natascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau
1977
Overdose
1989
Ora X Pattuglia Suicida
1969
Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak
1967
Cheers... Cyanide!
1968
Treasure of the Lost Desert
1971
Diamond Connection
1982
Fists, Dollars and Spinach
1978
Special Squad Shoots on Sight
1976
Death on the Run
1967
Trois filles dans le vent
1981
Cross of the Seven Jewels
1987
Let's Go And Kill Sartana
1971
Curse of the Red Butterfly
1982
My Name Is Texas Bill
1972
Faida
1988
Anasının Gözü
1975
The Commissioner
1983
Three Men on Fire
1986
The Wings of War
1969
Santa Lucia
1979
A Very Special Woman
1979