The IncredibleUnforgettable Robert Mitchum

Introduction

In a career that spanned six decadesRobert Mitchum was known for his charisma and antihero status. From war dramas to film noirWesterns to romances and moreRobert Mitchum captivated audiences with his world-wearyseen-it-all acting .

Early Life

Robert Charles Duran Mitchum was born on August 61917in BridgeportConnecticut. His parents were Ann Harriet (Gunderson) and James Thomas Mitchuma shipyard and railroad worker. He was their second childand his older sister was named Julie. When Robert was 2their father was tragically killed in a railroad accident.

Ann was awarded a government pension following his death and soon realized that she was pregnant. Robert’s younger brotherJohnwas born in September 1919. She would later marry a British Army major named Hugh Cunningham Morris. In 1927Ann and Hugh had another child named Carol. The family moved from Connecticut to New Yorkand finally to Delaware.

By the time Robert was a teenagerhe was known as a prankster and a troublemaker. He often got into fistfights and had a general disregard for authority. His mother sent him to live with his grandparents when he was 12 in FeltonDelaware. Howeverthat didn’t last long since Robert was kicked out of school for getting into a fight with the school principal. After thatRobert went to live with his sister in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhoodwhere he attended high school. After his expulsion from that schoolhe took off to see the country by riding the rails.

Robert traveled around the United Stateshopping on freight carsand taking odd jobs that included ditch digging and professional boxing. At age 14he was arrested for vagrancy and put in a local chain gang in SavannahGeorgia. As soon as he couldMitchum escaped and went home to his family in Delaware.

When he was 16he met 14-year-old Dorothy Spence—the woman he would one day marry. For nowthoughhe went back to riding the rails and took them all the way to California.

Early CareerMarriageand WWII

Robert arrived in California when he was 19 years old. His sisterJuliehad gone to the West Coast to act in moviesand the rest of her family soon followed.

At firstRobert worked as a ghostwriterbut with encouragement from his sisterhe soon joined The Players Guild of Long Beach. He worked there as a stagehand and bit player in company productions. He also wrote several short pieces that were performed by the guildas well as song lyrics and monologues for his sister’s nightclub performances.

In 1940Robert returned to Delaware to marry Dorothy. The couple moved back to California and Robert gave up his acting career when his first sonJamesarrived. Two more children followed: his second sonChrisand a daughterPetrine (also known as Trina).

To support his growing familyMitchum found a job as a machine operator during WWII with the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Howeverthe noise from the machinery damaged his hearing and the job-related stress caused him to suffer a nervous breakdown and temporary blindness.

Once recoveredhe went back to actingpicking up roles as an extra and a few small speaking parts. His first break came when he was hired to play minor villains in several films in Paramount’s “Hopalong Cassidy” western series from 1942-1943. His first on-screen credited role was as a Marine private in Randolph Scott’s 1943 movieGung Ho!

Mitchum continued to land roles in numerous productions for different studios. Director Mervyn LeRoy was so impressed with his work on the filmThirty Seconds Over Tokyothat Mitchum was signed to a seven-year contract with RKO Radio Pictures. For the next few yearshe would appear in Westernsincluding the successful filmNevada.

His big break came in 1945 with a supporting actor role in The Story of G.I. Joe. He portrayed the beleaguered officer Bill Walkera soldier whose determination never wavers despite the difficulties of life at war. This film became an instant critical success and earned Robert Mitchum an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Shortly after filming endedMitchum was drafted into the United States Army. He served as a medic at Fort MacArthur in California. Although he downplayed his time thereRobert served honorablywas discharged as a Private First Classand received the World War II Victory Medal.

Film NoirWesternsand Stardom

Robert Mitchum’s signature acting was one of calmcool disinterestand this made him the perfect leading man for the film noir genre. From 1944 to 1962he starred in many film noir moviesincluding UndercurrentPursuedCrossfire (which earned five Academy Award nominations)and Out of the Past(considered one of the greatest film noir movies of all time). In The Night of the HunterMitchum starred as an evil criminal posing as pious preacher Reverend Harry Powell. Many critics consider Mitchum’s performance in this film one of the best of his career (it was also Robert Mitchum’s favorite role).

But just as his career was really taking offMitchum and actress Lila Leeds were arrested for marijuana possession. Mitchum served a week in the county jail and an additional 43 days at a prison farm in California. His conviction was later overturned by the courts since it was exposed as a setup.

Although some feared that his career would be damagedhis jail time only increased his bad boy reputation and his popularity soared. Films released right after his arrest were box-office hitsincluding Rachel and the StrangerThe Red Pony (1949 version with Myrna Loy)and The Big Steal.

Stardom came calling in the 1950swith River of No Return (with Marilyn Monroe)His Kind of Woman (with Jane Russell)Heaven KnowsMr. Allisonand The Sundowners (both co-starring Deborah Kerr). The Sundowners received five Oscar nominations and Mitchum received the National Board of Review Award for Best Actor.

His performance as the grudge-bearinghomicidal ex-con in Cape Fear cemented Robert Mitchum’s reputation as a man who could portray coldcalculating characters with witand ease.

From 1955 to 1962Mitchum and his wife created and ran DRM Productions (Dorothy and Robert Mitchum Productions). They contracted with United Artists to produce five filmsbut only four were made. These included Bandido (an action/adventure film)Thunder Road (which Mitchum and his son James co-starred in—and which Mitchum producedco-wroteand helped direct). The last two films produced by DRM were The Wonderful Country in 1959 and A Terrible Beauty (also known as The Night Fighters) in 1960.

Mitchum also appeared in mainstream box-office hits that included Not as a Stranger (a film noir drama that cast Mitchum against type as an idealistic young doctor); The Enemy Below and The Last Day—a couple of WWII classics; and El Dorado—a Western co-starring John Wayne.

Musical Talent

Unlike many celebritieswhen Mitchum’s film character sang a songit was really his voice. Robert Mitchum was a talented singer and songwriterand he sang his own songs in Rachel and the StrangerRiver of No Returnand The Night of the Hunter. He also sang the title song for Young Billy Young in 1969.

After working on location in the CaribbeanMitchum became such a big fan of Calypso music that he decided to record his own album. Soin 1957he released “Calypso…Is Like So.” Mitchum’s natural singing talent—and ability to imitate accents and slang—made this album a fun and creative outlet for him.

In 1958Mitchum recorded “The Balled of Thunder Road,” which broke into the Billboard Pop Singles chart at #69. Although he waited until 1967 for his next albumThat ManRobert MitchumSingshe had two hits that made it onto the charts. “Little Old Wine Drinker Me” landed at #9 on the Country Music chartsand “You Deserve Each Other” made it to #55.

Later Career

As the 1980s began and film opportunities dwindledRobert Mitchum found new success on television. He starred in the 1983 miniseriesThe Winds of Warand then starred in the sequelWar and Remembrancein 1988. He also starred in the miniseries North and South in 1985; was the guest host on Saturday Night Live in 1987; and appeared in Scrooged in 1988.

He continued appearing in films and television shows until the mid-1990s. His final projects included narrating the WesternTombstoneand appearing as a detective in Martin Scorsese’s remake of Cape Fear. His final film was James Dean: Race with Destiny.

Life and Legacy

After a lifetime of heavy smokingRobert Mitchum died on July 11997of lung cancer and emphysema. He was survived by Dorothyhis childhood sweetheart and wife of 57 yearshis three childrenand grandchildren.

Many people underestimated Mitchum’s formidable talent—especially since he scoffed at those who called acting a hard job. But critics and fans alike now recognize his towering screen presence and acting ability. In facthe’s rated #23 on the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest male actors of classic American cinema.

Although Robert Mitchum is no longer with ushis body of work lives on. See for yourself how this calmcooland seemingly indifferent actor could make it all look so easy…and yetmake every part he played so unforgettable.