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David Janssen

David Janssen

Actor · Died February 13, 1980, aged 48 · Naponee, Nebraska, USA

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

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 27, 1931
Died
February 13, 1980 (aged 48)
From
Naponee, Nebraska, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 84 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 35% in 30 days

What are David Janssen's films like?

Across their 31 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
26%
Morality
26%
Self
20%
Bonds
16%
Society
5%
Power
4%
Ideas
2%
Survival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 31 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 8 · Dark 15

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 23 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 8 · Charged 11 · Intense 12

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 13 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 16 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 12 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 10

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 29 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

19 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 8 of 19 analyzed roles.

Hero
8 of 19
Shadow
3 of 19
Ally
3 of 19
Trickster
2 of 19
Mentor
2 of 19
Herald
1 of 19
Show the 19 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Melancholic
18
Dread
7
Romantic
6
Contemplative
4
Other
27

How their films linger

Bittersweet17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch David Janssen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Janssen's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

84 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Inchon(1981)

    as David Feld

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • City in Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Vince Perrino

  • S.O.S. Titanic(1979)

    as John Jacob Astor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • High Ice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Glencoe MacDonald

  • The Golden Gate Murders(1979)

    as Det. Sgt. Paul Silver

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Steve Randall

  • Centennial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 12 episodes · as Narrator

  • Covert Action (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Lester Horton

  • Nowhere to Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Harry Adams

  • Superdome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mike Shelley

  • Golden Rendezvous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Charles Conway

  • A Sensitive, Passionate Man(1977)

    as Michael Delaney

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Mayday at 40, 000 Feet!(1976)

    as Capt. Pete Douglass

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Warhead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Tony Stevens

  • Two-Minute Warning(1976)

    as Steve

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Stalk the Wild Child(1976)

    as Dr. James Hazard

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Swiss Conspiracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as David Christopher

  • Once Is Not Enough(1975)

    as Tom Colt

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Fer-de-Lance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Russ Bogan

  • Harry O (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 44 episodes · as Harry Orwell

  • Smile Jenny, You're Dead(1974)

    as Harry Orwell

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Pioneer Woman(1973)

    as Robert Douglas

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Hijack! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Jake Wilkenson

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Harry Orwell

  • Birds of Prey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Harry Walker

  • Moon of the Wolf(1972)

    as Sheriff Aaron Whitaker

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Longest Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Alan Chambers

  • O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 22 episodes · Actor

  • Cannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as James O'Hara

  • Macho Callahan(1970)

    as Diego Callahan

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Night Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Adrian Vico

  • Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Jim Bolton

  • Marooned(1969)

    as Ted Dougherty

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Where It's At (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as A.C. Smith

  • The Shoes of the Fisherman(1968)

    as George Faber

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Green Berets(1968)

    as George Beckworth

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Warning Shot(1966)

    as Sgt. Tom Valens

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 120 episodes · as Richard Kimble

  • My Six Loves(1963)

    as Marty Bliss

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Eleventh Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Hal Kincaid

  • Belle Sommers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Danny Castle

  • Target: The Corruptors! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Dick Powell Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan

  • Man-Trap(1961)

    as Vince Biskay

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Cain's Hundred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Dan Mullin

  • Twenty Plus Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Tom Alder

  • Ring of Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Sergeant Steve Walsh

  • King of the Roaring 20's: The Story of Arnold Rothstein(1961)

    as Arnold Rothstein

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Dondi(1961)

    as Dealey

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Route 66(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Karno Starling

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Checkmate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Len Kobalsky

  • Hell to Eternity(1960)

    as Sgt, Bill Hazen

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Adventures in Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Scotty Bell

  • U.S. Marshall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show as Arnie Hix

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Ross Ingraham

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Blair Cameron · as Carl Ashland

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Lafayette Escadrille(1958)

    as Duke Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Alcoa Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Harper

  • Richard Diamond, Private Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 77 episodes · as Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett

  • The Girl He Left Behind(1956)

    as Capt. Genaro

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Dix Porter · as Seth Larker

  • Whack-O! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 6 episodes · as Boy in hobby class

  • Showdown at Abilene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Verne Ward

  • Away All Boats(1956)

    as uncredited

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Francis in the Haunted House(1956)

    as Police Lieutenant Hopkins

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Toy Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Larry Tripps

  • Never Say Goodbye(1956)

    as Dave Heller

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Square Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Jack Lindsay

  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • To Hell and Back(1955)

    as Lt Lee

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • All That Heaven Allows(1955)

    as Freddie Norton (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Francis in the Navy(1955)

    as Lieutenant Anders

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Private War of Major Benson(1955)

    as Young Lieutenant

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Chief Crazy Horse(1955)

    as Lt. Colin Cartwright

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Cult of the Cobra(1955)

    as Rico Nardi

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as David Barrett · as Peter Miller

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Pat Howard

  • Yankee Buccaneer(1952)

    as Beckett

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Francis Goes to West Point(1952)

    as Corporal Thomas

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • No Room for the Groom(1952)

    as Soldier (scenes deleted)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Boston Blackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Armored Car Driver (uncredited)

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 2 episodes · as Johnny Reynolds, Jr. · as Ralph / Joe Davies

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 84 titles from 1950 to 1981; peak year 1967.

Biggest box office

Once Is Not Enough (1975)

$16M worldwide

Highest rated

To Hell and Back (1955)

Midcredits 86th

Most popular right now

The Green Berets (1968)

Film career

19501981

Peak 1967 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting84 of 84: 84 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score45th

By decade

1950s30 · acting1960s21 · acting1970s29 · acting1980s4 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 25% of 12 roles
5565

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do David Janssen's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 42nd percentile, the median of all 35; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 42nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 37 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Dondi (1961)

86th percentile spread · 55% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

All That Heaven Allows (1955)

Midcredits 94th · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 59/100 in their films, across 31 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does David Janssen work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Janssen's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Carl E. Guthrie shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles