David Janssen
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
94 acting credits
Acting · 94
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
Golden Globe Awards
1944
The Fugitive
1963
Naked City
1958
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
Route 66
1960
Cannon
1971
Matinee Theater
1955
Adventures in Paradise
1959
Dinah!
1974
Checkmate
1960
Harry O
1974
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
The Millionaire
1955
Police Story
1973
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
Alcoa Theatre
1957
Cain's Hundred
1961
Lux Video Theatre
1950
The Hollywood Palace
1964
Target: The Corruptors!
1961
The Dick Powell Show
1961
Boston Blackie
1951
The Eleventh Hour
1962
Centennial
1978
The Word
1978
General Electric Theater
1953
The Green Berets
1968
U.S. Marshall
1956
Whack-O!
1956
Los Angeles Plays Itself
2004
Two-Minute Warning
1976
S.O.S. Titanic
1980
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
1971
All That Heaven Allows
1955
Marooned
1969
The Shoes of the Fisherman
1968
To Hell and Back
1955
O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
1971
Chief Crazy Horse
1955
Inchon
1981
Joys
1976
Warning Shot
1967
Lafayette Escadrille
1958
Hell to Eternity
1960
Yankee Buccaneer
1952
Man-Trap
1961
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961
Pioneer Woman
1973
Moon of the Wolf
1972
Golden Rendezvous
1977
Never Say Goodbye
1956
The Private War of Major Benson
1955
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1962
The Girl He Left Behind
1956
No Room for the Groom
1952
Macho Callahan
1971
City in Fear
1980
Away All Boats
1956
Superdome
1978
Once Is Not Enough
1975
Francis in the Haunted House
1956
Francis Goes to West Point
1952
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
1973
High Ice
1980
Covert Action
1978
The Square Jungle
1955
Cult of the Cobra
1955
Smile Jenny, You're Dead
1974
A Sensitive, Passionate Man
1977
Francis in the Navy
1955
The Golden Gate Murders
1979
Showdown at Abilene
1956
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
1977
Night Chase
1970
Generation
1969
Hijack!
1973
Twenty Plus Two
1961
Nowhere to Run
1978
Ring of Fire
1961
The Longest Night
1972
Birds of Prey
1973
The Swiss Conspiracy
1976
Warhead
1977
Toy Tiger
1956
My Six Loves
1963
Dondi
1961
Stalk the Wild Child
1976
Where It's At
1969
Belle Sommers
1962
Fer-de-Lance
1974