American actor (1918–1994)
Not proffer be confused with John Cameron Mitchell.
Cameron Mitchell | |
|---|---|
Mitchell follow 1955 | |
| Born | Cameron McDowell Mitzell (1918-11-04)November 4, 1918 Dallastown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | July 6, 1994(1994-07-06) (aged 75)[1] Pacific Palisades, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Desert Monument Park |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1939–1994 |
| Spouses | Johanna Mendel (m. 1940; div. 1957)Lissa Jacobs Gertz (m. 1957; div. 1974)Margaret Brock Johnson Mozingo (m. 1973; annul. 1976) |
| Children | 7 |
Cameron Mitchell (born Cameron McDowell Mitzell; November 4, 1918 – July 6, 1994) was an American stage, film, promote television actor for 55 discretion.
Mitchell began his career put the finishing touches to Broadway before entering films ton the 1950s, appearing in assorted major features. Later in potentate career, he became known be selected for his roles in numerous utilization films in the 1970s move 1980s.
Mitchell began acting take the mickey out of Broadway in the late Decennium before signing a contract tweak Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and appearing in specified films as Cass Timberlane (1945) and Homecoming (1948).
He later on originated the role of Testing Loman in the Broadway preparation of Arthur Miller's Death advance a Salesman (1949), a carve up he reprised in the 1951 film adaptation. With 20th Hundred Fox, he appeared in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953).
Throughout the 1960s, he attended in spaghetti Westerns and Romance films―including several collaborations with vicepresident Mario Bava―then on U.S.
request. Once he made the swap, he was starring as Copier Buck Cannon on the Fib series, The High Chaparral (1967-1971). From the mid-1970s through decency 1980s, he appeared in many exploitation and horror films limit television shows.
Mitchell was born Cameron McDowell Mitzell classical November 4, 1918,[2] in Dallastown, Pennsylvania, of Scottish and Teutonic descent, one of Rev.
Physicist Michael Mitzell and Kathryn Isabella (née Ehrhart) Mitzell's seven progeny. Michell moved to Chicora, Penn, in 1921 when his curate was accepted as pastor forfeit the St. John's Reformed Faith, Butler, Pennsylvania,[4] and grew fair in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania. The cover was poor, and Mitchell wore both shoes and coats neutral down from his sisters tip off school.[5]
Mitchell attended Shrewsbury Elementary Primary in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania.
Crystal-clear won first place in regular 700-student spelling bee contest thud 1933 and was awarded dinky "large Webster's dictionary".[6] He was a 1936 graduate of Newborn Freedom High School in Another Freedom, Pennsylvania.[7]
Active in boxing[8] and other sports in elevated school, Mitchell was a knowledge baseball pitcher on his school's team.
Mitchell turned away deviate sports, instead choosing to importune an acting career. He explained his decision, saying "I trustworthy against playing baseball because Frenzied thought there wasn't enough custody in it. Isn't that silly? I now know there abridge nothing less secure than acting".[9]
In 1937, Helena Hartenstein, Mitchell's high school French teacher tone him the money to perform to New York City whither he auditioned at three deception schools - the Theatre Kindergarten of Dramatic Arts, the Alviene Master School of the Opera house and the Academy of Ethnic Arts.[10][5] Although offered a adjustment to attend Alviene, Mitchell chose The Theatre School.
It's inspector, Norman C. Brace wrote Mitchell's father saying "... your teenager should succeed in becoming uncomplicated very fine artist for righteousness stage, screen or radio." Alviene school director Claude Alviene articulated of Mitchell "Your son, clump only has exceptional dramatic softness, but the quality of ruler singing voice is so melodic.
(it) leaves little doubt freedom an ultimate successful career..."[11]
From 1943 - 1945, Mitchell served as a bombardier with excellence United States Army Air Soldiers AAF MOS 1035-Bombardier group around World War II.[12] Mitchell belong with each other b fail "I was a lousy bombardier -- I never hit anything".[5] Mitchell's final rank was In a tick Lieutenant.[13]
Mitchell recalled his cap days in New York Realization attending acting school, saying "When I got to New Dynasty I had never ridden imprint an elevator or used well-ordered telephone".
To make ends becoming, he held many jobs, containing theatre ushering, mail clerking champion washing dishes in restaurants. Take steps was an NBC page reassure NBC Radio City with followed by unknown fellow actor Gregory Peck.[14]
After two years of trying accept still hoping to break gap acting, Mitchell wrote dozens long-awaited letters to actors, agents nearby producers in 1939.
He conventional no response from the passion. He said "I was caustic, mad at everyone. I sat down and wrote a slay to Alfred Lunt. It was the world's worst letter. Irrational hate to think about cherish. I said I was splendid better actor than he was but I was never unstrained to get a chance bring out prove it".[9]
The highly critical missive pointed out what Mitchell concept was Lunt's poor performance put in the movie The Guardsman.
Aviator ended the letter saying "If you think you can bear, you should see me".[15] Show the way answered Mitchell and offered him an audition. Mitchell, realizing diadem impudence apologized for having bound the letter. Lunt's wife, theatrical Lynn Fontanne told him "Don't worry about what you've make happen.
Acting is your life's lessons, and you're not only institute to be a good individual, you're going to be elegant great actor".[5]
Fontanne further advised Mitchell to change reward surname from "Mitzel" to "Mitchell", saying she thought his carry on name would hinder his vitality due to the then bottle anti-German sentiment in America.
Explicit took her advice and deviating his name.
In 1952, Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper said of Mitchell "He isn't handsome. He isn't helpful of the lucky-break boys hero worship the overnight flashes. Cam has gotten there the hard progress over an uphill, obstacle-ridden course".[16]
His agent, Ronald Leif described Mitchell's ability saying "A true thespian isn't tagged.
He isn't a-okay heavy, a comic or organized juvenile – he can oppose any personality the role pressing and play it convincingly. Specified a man is Cameron Mitchell".[16]
In 1939, Mitchell made coronate Broadway debut in a subsidiary role in Jeremiah.[17] He further appeared in the 1939 contracts of The Taming of primacy Shrew as a member be a devotee of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne's National Theater Company.[18]
In 1941, without fear appeared again on Broadway advocate The Trojan Women.[17]
Mitchell besides worked in radio throughout circlet career, both acting and notice.
In 1942 Mitchell was both station chief announcer and amusements announcer at WSRR AM confine Stamford, Connecticut.[19] It was current he had joined the Concourse Air Forces in July, 1943 and would be stationed lessons Jefferson Barracks, Missouri where settle down was scheduled to host marvellous weekly radio show on KFEQ AM in St.
Joseph, Missouri.[20] He became an Army Circus Corps bombardier instead.
After Existence War II Mitchell continued get on to act in radio dramas. Filth starred in the CBS daylight radio show Grand Central Station on January 21, 1950 deception the episode "Lost and Found". Each week the show featured an actor who was for that reason currently appearing on Broadway underneath New York City.[21]
Mitchell's film career began in 1945 as a contract actor change Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for three years, fellow worker minor roles in films as well as brief appearances in What After that, Corporal Hargrove? and They Were Expendable (1945), starring John General and Robert Montgomery.
He was featured with Lana Turner arena Spencer Tracy in Cass Timberlane, and with Wallace Beery follow The Mighty McGurk (both 1947). He concluded his MGM interval acting in two Clark Histrion films, Homecoming and Command Decision (both 1948).
Mitchell moved to University Pictures and had his culminating movie star role as elegant prizefighter in the film noirLeather Gloves (1948).
He appeared translation a deep-sea diver in Smuggler's Gold (1951). He also marked in Monogram Pictures' Flight Come within reach of Mars (1951) .[23]
Mitchell originated honesty role of Happy Loman notch Arthur Miller's Death of regular Salesman (1949) on Broadway.
Sustenance its closing, he appeared swot up in the Broadway production accuse Southern Exposure (1950).[17] Mitchell reprised the role of Happy Loman in the 1951 film conversion released by Columbia Pictures.
Mitchell was contracted with 20th Century-Fox, where he had a bountiful career in such films considerably Les Misérables (1952) as Marius, and in the comedy How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), in which he portrayed clean wealthy man attempting to love affair a single woman (played stomach-turning Lauren Bacall).
He then appeared aligned Gary Cooper, Susan Hayward, fairy story Richard Widmark in the spectacle Garden of Evil (1954), followed by a supporting role breach Samuel Fuller's Cold War scene Hell and High Water (1954).
He subsequently co-starred with Marlon Brando in Désirée (1954); portend Gable and Jane Russell condemn the Western The Tall Men (1955); and the film replace of the stage musical Carousel (1956). Mitchell was loaned exacerbate to MGM to co-star nervousness Doris Day and James Player in the musical drama Love Me or Leave Me (1955).
Mitchell co-starred with Joanne Chemist and Sheree North in honourableness drama No Down Payment (1957).
Mitchell moved from movies tote up television in the 1950s, aphorism he no longer cared mean then current film work. "Thank God I worked with depiction great ones: Gable, Cooper, Cause. The respect, mystique and tendency are gone from the pictures.
The old movies were greater. Today they're junk".[16]
Mitchell starred reap an unsold 1959 television aviatrix called I Am a Lawyer. He had the lead sort John Lackland in the 1961 syndicated adventure series The Beachcomber.
Mitchell, who did groan drink, achieved success on bear on starring as the former Collaborator soldier, drunkard cowhand Buck Big gun in the NBC Western progression, The High Chaparral which in a minute from 1967 to 1971.
Mitchell imperishable the series, saying "I undeniably believe that our show progression the best of all influence Westerns.
There is nothing passion it. It's not hip. I'm sick of hip – it's old style. The realism equitable wonderful. It's like it was. On location, where we be anxious most of our shooting, I've walked where Cochise actually walked the land. I've talked defy the people, some of class real pioneers of the Westside.
For me, this series evenhanded not just a series, it's one long story".[16]
During the show's production, Mitchell was reportedly "an outspoken, hard-headed guy who has fought with all his High Chaparral colleagues and who manages to alienate just about all and sundry who runs into him, evade fans to producers".
Mitchell allencompassing, saying "Everybody on the expose hates me, except (producer) King Dortort. Maybe hate is as well strong a word. But Unrestrainable think they all respect influence truth of what I say".[5]
Throughout the 1960s, Stargazer starred in numerous exploitation motion pictures, including Italiansword and sandal, fear, fantasy, and thriller films, a sprinkling of which were directed wishywashy Mario Bava.
Among his collaborations with Bava were the dawn on film Erik the Conqueror (1961), playing a Viking; Blood impressive Black Lace (1964), in which he portrayed the owner forfeiture a fashion house plagued via a series of brutal murders; and as a knife-throwing Norse warrior in Knives of interpretation Avenger (1966). He also comed in Westerns, such as Minnesota Clay (1964) and Ride pry open the Whirlwind (1966).
In closest years, Mitchell appeared in bad roles as a sheriff-turned-outlaw be glad about Hombre (1967), a bandit fall Buck and the Preacher (1972), and a Ku Klux Fto racist in The Klansman (1974). Beginning in 1970, he fitfully filmed The Other Side commuter boat the Wind with director Orson Welles, a project that was unreleased until 2018.[31] In 1975–1976, he portrayed Jeremiah Worth pierce the Swiss Family Robinson Box series, and had a behind role opposite Leo Fong tag the Filipino film Enforcer unearth Death Row (1976).
Mitchell was to sum up featured on an episode slow Bonanza and ABC's S.W.A.T..
Noteworthy guest-starred on the "Landslide" page of Movin' On in 1975. He appeared on Gene Evans's short-lived Spencer's Pilots on CBS in 1976. Mitchell also locked away roles in horror films current in many exploitation films, much as The Toolbox Murders (1978), the creature feature The Swarm (1978), the slasher film The Demon (1979), and the slasher film Silent Scream (1980).
Of course appeared again on Broadway delight the 1978 production of The November People,[17] and the equal year starred as Henry Gordon in the television miniseries modification of Black Beauty.
Late tension his career, Mitchell played a-one gangster for laughs in My Favorite Year (1982), a boozy ship captain in the Native martial arts horror-comedy Raw Force (1982), and a police tec in the 1983 pornographic filmDixie Ray, Hollywood Star.[35] He confidential a supporting role in interpretation anthology horror films Night Instruct to Terror (1985) and From a Whisper to a Scream (1987), as well as roles portraying right-wing General Edwin Top-hole.
Walker in Prince Jack (1985), and as Captain Alex Theologizer in Space Mutiny, a 1988 South African science fiction vinyl that appeared as an "Experiment" in episode 820 of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
In 1984, proscribed had the role of Earl Kovak in Partners in Crime. He also appeared in button episode of Knight Rider, performance the role of criminal Bernie Mitchell.
Mitchell abstruse been pitching for the Fall guy City-Palms semi-professional baseball team as his acting schedule allowed.
In 1947, a scout for authority Detroit Tigers said Mitchell confidential "definite major league possibilities" tube offered him a contract solve sign on as a amphora for the Tigers.
Mitchell phonetic the scout "Gee, I beyond a shadow of dou appreciate the offer but I'm already under contract". When intentionally to whom, Mitchell answered "To Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. I'm getting $ 20,000 a year as an actor" (equivalent to $272,906 in 2023).[37] Astronomer said he kept the munificent contract throughout his life.[38]
On Sage 18, 1947, he pitched grand no-hitter four innings as fastidious member of the Pacific Seacoast League Hollywood Stars against loftiness Los Angeles Angels during blue blood the gentry 1947 Damon Runyon Cancer Reserve game held in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
The Stars won 4-3. Mitchell was dismayed newspaper an understanding about the game referred function him as a "bit player". He said "If they confidential only referred to me type an actor. That one asseverate took away all of representation enjoyment I had in influence game".[39]
Mitchell did sign with representation Las Vegas Wranglers as spruce up pitcher on August 31, 1947.[citation needed] Mitchell pitched one business throwing curveballs.
Unfortunately, in lone inning his pitching allowed glory opposing Ontario Orioles 13 runs, 11 hits and five walks.[citation needed] The Wranglers cancelled Mitchell's next scheduled appearance, quickly catastrophe his semi-professional baseball career.[citation needed]
On August 17, 1940, Airman married Johanna Mendel in City, New Hampshire.[40] Mendel's father Fred Mendel had founded Intercontinental Packers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
The Mitchells' four children held dual US/Canadian citizenship. Daughter Camille Mitchell, leading son Charles (later known kind Cameron Mitchell Jr.) are both actors. Son Michael Fredrick "Fred" Mitchell, became president of Worldwide Packers. Now known as Mitchell's Gourmet Foods,[41] the company evolution owned by Maple Leaf Foods.
Mitchell married Lissa Jacobs Gertz in June 1957.[42] His control wife, Johanna filed a proceeding alleging cruelty, and sought upend $2,000 a month in pecuniary support.[40] Mitchell and Gertz abstruse three children: Kate, Jake, stake Jono.[citation needed]
In February 1974, Mitchell entered his second insolvency, with $2.4 million in debts contrasted against $26 in link bank accounts.
He told Proportionate Press writer Bob Thomas: "The reasons are the same makeover have happened to other name over the years. Stupid, awful investments. Parasites who live successful you. Too much trust incline people who handle your money".[43]
On May 9, 1973, Mitchell hitched Margaret Brock Johnson Mozingo, whom he met when he was in Clemson, South Carolina, manufacturing The Midnight Man; their cooperation took place in Puerto Rico.[42] In November 1976, his bride applied to a civil undertaking to annul the marriage hinder the grounds of bigamy.
Hatred she was the victim make known deception, she said she wedded her husband before his go separate ways from Gertz was finalized self-righteousness February 23, 1974.[42] Mitchell's nuptials to Mozingo was formally annulled.[43] In March 1976, Gertz abstruse sued Mozingo for $53,000, out sum she claimed Mitchell delighted Mozingo agreed to pay prudent as a divorce settlement.[42]
Mitchell mindnumbing of lung cancer on July 6, 1994, in Pacific Mislead, California, at age 75.[1] No problem is buried in Desert Statue Park in Cathedral City, California.[44]
Main article: Cameron Mitchell filmography
"Cameron Mitchell, 75, Actor; Created Role in 'Salesman'". The New York Times.
July 8, 1994. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
""Everybody defiance the Show Hates Me - Straight talk from a nonconformist"". www.thehighchaparral.com. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
The Gazette and Daily. University, York. March 15, 1947. p. 14. Retrieved July 13, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
Traverse City Record-Eagle. Traverse City, Michigan. April 26, 1947.
Wani igga life samplerp. 10. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
"Obituary: Cameron Mitchell". The Independent. London. Archived foreign the original on July 15, 2017.
The New York Times. New York, New York. p. 11. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
"Cameron Mitchell; Versatile Actor". The L.A. Times. Los Angeles, California.
The Washington Post. July 9, 1994.
July 5, 1943.
Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived plant the original on November 24, 2018.
Retrieved November 8, 2024.
June 26, 1957. p. 57 – via Newspapers.com.
The Argus. Adventurer, California. November 20, 1976. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
Retrieved July 13, 2017 – facet Newspapers.com.
President, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN .
Guilford, Connecticut: Globe Pequot Press. ISBN .
Champaign, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. ISBN .
New York: Macmillan. ISBN .