David Janssen

David Janssen was born David Harold Meyer in 1931 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

All That Heaven Allows

7.3

The Green Berets

5.7

Marooned

5.9

Two-Minute Warning

6.2

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

7.4

The Shoes of the Fisherman

6.7

To Hell and Back

6.5

The Fugitive

7.2

Los Angeles Plays Itself

7.7

Moon of the Wolf

4.7

S.O.S. Titanic

5.9

Cult of the Cobra

6.0

Cannon

6.4

Centennial

7.7

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

6.5

Chief Crazy Horse

5.6

Francis in the Navy

5.5

Warning Shot

6.5

Away All Boats

5.1

Police Story

6.9

Hell to Eternity

6.6

Once Is Not Enough

5.2

Ring of Fire

5.8

Never Say Goodbye

6.6

Macho Callahan

4.3

Route 66

6.3

Man-Trap

5.8

Lafayette Escadrille

4.6

The Private War of Major Benson

6.7

Inchon

3.6

Francis Goes to West Point

5.8

The Swiss Conspiracy

4.9

Superdome

4.2

Naked City

5.5

Birds of Prey

5.0

Harry O

4.6

Showdown at Abilene

5.2

My Six Loves

5.6

Pioneer Woman

4.8

Golden Rendezvous

4.9

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

5.5

No Room for the Groom

5.6

Francis in the Haunted House

5.1

The Merv Griffin Show

5.6

The Mike Douglas Show

5.1

Checkmate

4.1

Yankee Buccaneer

5.8

City in Fear

6.2

Smile Jenny, You're Dead

6.1

Fer-de-Lance

5.8

Dondi

3.7

Warhead

3.3

The Square Jungle

6.0

Adventures in Paradise

5.7

Hijack!

6.6

Lux Video Theatre

6.0

Matinee Theater

4.6

Alcoa Theatre

6.2

The Dick Powell Show

5.0

King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein

6.0

High Ice

5.8

Mayday at 40,000 Feet

6.5

Night Chase

5.5

The Longest Night

6.2

The Hollywood Palace

4.5

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

6.2

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

5.3

Twenty Plus Two

6.0

Toy Tiger

6.2

Nowhere to Run

7.0

The Girl He Left Behind

4.0

The Golden Gate Murders

8.0

Cain's Hundred

4.7

The Millionaire

5.0

General Electric Theater

6.0

The Word

5.0

Generation

4.5

A Sensitive, Passionate Man

5.5

Target: The Corruptors!

3.5

The Eleventh Hour

6.0

O'Hara, U.S. Treasury

5.5

Dinah!

6.5

U.S. Marshall

7.5

Golden Camera Awards

3.5

The Adventures of Boston Blackie

4.0

Where It's At

2.0

The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers

7.0

O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra

10.0

Covert Action

0.0

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On

0.0

Joys

4.0

Belle Sommers

0.0

Stalk the Wild Child

0.0

Whack-O!

0.0

Best of The Dean Martin Variety Show

0.0