Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum was an American actor, born on August 6, 1917, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was known for his distinctive voice, rugged appearance, and understated acting style. Mitchum had a prolific career in both film and television, spanning over five decades. He passed away on July 1, 1997, in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of 79.
Mitchum grew up in a working-class family and had a troubled youth, frequently engaging in petty crimes. He developed an interest in acting during his teenage years and pursued it as a career. After working in various jobs, he made his film debut in 1943 in the crime drama "Hoppy Serves a Writ." However, it was his role as a discharged soldier in the film noir "The Story of G.I. Joe" (1945) that garnered critical acclaim and launched his career.
Mitchum became known for his roles in film noir and crime dramas, where he often portrayed tough and morally ambiguous characters. He showcased his talent for playing antiheroes in films such as "Out of the Past" (1947), where he played a private investigator entangled in a web of deceit, and "The Night of the Hunter" (1955), where he portrayed a sinister preacher hunting down two children.
Throughout his career, Mitchum appeared in a wide range of genres, including Westerns, war films, and dramas. He demonstrated his versatility in films like "The Sundowners" (1960), "Cape Fear" (1962), and "Ryan's Daughter" (1970). His laid-back and naturalistic acting style, combined with his commanding presence, made him a compelling and memorable performer on screen.
In addition to his film work, Mitchum also had success on television. He starred in the popular miniseries "The Winds of War" (1983) and its sequel "War and Remembrance" (1988-1989), based on the novels by Herman Wouk. His portrayal of Navy officer Victor "Pug" Henry earned him critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award.
Despite his talent and success, Mitchum was known for his nonchalant attitude towards fame and Hollywood glamour. He often downplayed his own abilities and preferred to maintain a low-key lifestyle. His rebellious nature and off-screen persona contributed to his status as a Hollywood icon.
Robert Mitchum's contributions to film and television left a lasting impact on the industry. He was admired for his unique blend of charisma, toughness, and vulnerability, which made him a compelling and enigmatic actor. His performances in film noir, in particular, helped define the genre and continue to be celebrated as some of the most memorable in cinematic history. Mitchum's influence and legacy continue to resonate, and he is remembered as one of the great actors of his generation.
Mitchum grew up in a working-class family and had a troubled youth, frequently engaging in petty crimes. He developed an interest in acting during his teenage years and pursued it as a career. After working in various jobs, he made his film debut in 1943 in the crime drama "Hoppy Serves a Writ." However, it was his role as a discharged soldier in the film noir "The Story of G.I. Joe" (1945) that garnered critical acclaim and launched his career.
Mitchum became known for his roles in film noir and crime dramas, where he often portrayed tough and morally ambiguous characters. He showcased his talent for playing antiheroes in films such as "Out of the Past" (1947), where he played a private investigator entangled in a web of deceit, and "The Night of the Hunter" (1955), where he portrayed a sinister preacher hunting down two children.
Throughout his career, Mitchum appeared in a wide range of genres, including Westerns, war films, and dramas. He demonstrated his versatility in films like "The Sundowners" (1960), "Cape Fear" (1962), and "Ryan's Daughter" (1970). His laid-back and naturalistic acting style, combined with his commanding presence, made him a compelling and memorable performer on screen.
In addition to his film work, Mitchum also had success on television. He starred in the popular miniseries "The Winds of War" (1983) and its sequel "War and Remembrance" (1988-1989), based on the novels by Herman Wouk. His portrayal of Navy officer Victor "Pug" Henry earned him critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award.
Despite his talent and success, Mitchum was known for his nonchalant attitude towards fame and Hollywood glamour. He often downplayed his own abilities and preferred to maintain a low-key lifestyle. His rebellious nature and off-screen persona contributed to his status as a Hollywood icon.
Robert Mitchum's contributions to film and television left a lasting impact on the industry. He was admired for his unique blend of charisma, toughness, and vulnerability, which made him a compelling and enigmatic actor. His performances in film noir, in particular, helped define the genre and continue to be celebrated as some of the most memorable in cinematic history. Mitchum's influence and legacy continue to resonate, and he is remembered as one of the great actors of his generation.
Quotes:
"The only difference between me and my fellow actors is that I've spent more time in jail."
"I gave up being serious about making pictures around the time I made a film with Greer Garson and she took a hundred and twenty-five takes to say no."
[on his acting talents] "Listen. I got three expressions: looking left, looking right and looking straight ahead."
"People think I have an interesting walk. Hell, I'm just trying to hold my gut in."
"RKO made the same film with me for ten years. They were so alike I wore the same suit in six of them and the same Burberry trench coat. They made a male Jane Russell out of me. I was the staff hero. They got so they wanted me to take some of my clothes off in the pictures. I objected to this, so I put on some weight and looked like a Bulgarian wrestler when I took my shirt off. Only two pictures in that time made any sense whatever. I complained and they told me frankly that they had a certain amount of baloney to sell and I was the boy to do it."
"I worked three pictures for 28 days straight. We'd shoot all night at RKO [The Locket (1946)], then I'd report to Undercurrent (1946) from seven in the morning until noon, when I'd be flown to Monterey to work all afternoon with Greer Garson [Desire Me (1947)]."
- Robert Mitchum
Trivia:
Turned down the lead role of Gen. George S. Patton in Patton (1970), allegedly because he believed he would ruin the film due to his indifference. During a Turner Classic Movies interview with Robert Osborne, Mitchum said that he knew the movie could be a great one due to the script, but that the studio would want to concentrate on battles and tanks moving around on screen rather than on the character of Patton. Mitchum believed that with himself in the role, the movie would turn out mediocre; what was needed was a passionate actor who would fight his corner to keep the focus on Patton, an actor like George C. Scott, whom Mitchum recommended to the producers.
Though respectful of Robert De Niro's talent, Mitchum was amused by the young Method actor's habit of remaining in character all day as film studio chief Monroe Stahr during the filming of The Last Tycoon (1976). Mitchum gave De Niro the nickname "Kid Monroe", and made many jokes about him with the older actors on the set like Ray Milland and Dana Andrews.
While at RKO Radio Pictures, Mitchum became the first male movie star to refuse to shave his chest for shirtless roles. In order to avoid that, he allowed himself to develop a pot belly to avoid having to take his shirt off at all.
His arrest for marijuana possession in the late 1940s was one of the first times a major actor had been jailed for this crime. According to Lee Server's 2001 biography, "Robert Mitchum: Baby I Don't Care", he was still smoking pot into his old age.
He was a huge fan of Elvis Presley's early music, and wanted Presley to star with him in Thunder Road (1958). Unfortunately, Tom Parker's demands for Presley's salary could not be met in this independent production, which Mitchum was financing himself.
While filming El Dorado (1966) Mitchum was amused by co-star John Wayne's attempts to play his screen persona to the hilt in real life. He recalled that Wayne wore four-inch lifts to increase his height and had the roof of his car raised so he could drive wearing his Stetson.
He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Story of G.I. Joe (1945), Out of the Past (1947) and The Night of the Hunter (1955).
Though respectful of Robert De Niro's talent, Mitchum was amused by the young Method actor's habit of remaining in character all day as film studio chief Monroe Stahr during the filming of The Last Tycoon (1976). Mitchum gave De Niro the nickname "Kid Monroe", and made many jokes about him with the older actors on the set like Ray Milland and Dana Andrews.
While at RKO Radio Pictures, Mitchum became the first male movie star to refuse to shave his chest for shirtless roles. In order to avoid that, he allowed himself to develop a pot belly to avoid having to take his shirt off at all.
His arrest for marijuana possession in the late 1940s was one of the first times a major actor had been jailed for this crime. According to Lee Server's 2001 biography, "Robert Mitchum: Baby I Don't Care", he was still smoking pot into his old age.
He was a huge fan of Elvis Presley's early music, and wanted Presley to star with him in Thunder Road (1958). Unfortunately, Tom Parker's demands for Presley's salary could not be met in this independent production, which Mitchum was financing himself.
While filming El Dorado (1966) Mitchum was amused by co-star John Wayne's attempts to play his screen persona to the hilt in real life. He recalled that Wayne wore four-inch lifts to increase his height and had the roof of his car raised so he could drive wearing his Stetson.
He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Story of G.I. Joe (1945), Out of the Past (1947) and The Night of the Hunter (1955).
