Biography for
David Janssen (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

27 March 1931, Naponee, Nebraska, USA

Date of Death

13 February 1980, Malibu, California, USA (heart attack)

Birth Name

David Harold Meyer

Nickname

Davey

Height

6' (1.83 m)

Mini Biography

David Janssen was born (in Nebraska in 1931) to be a TV star. 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" (1957). 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.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Matt Patay

Spouse

Dani Crayne	(4 October 1975 - 13 February 1980) (his death)
Ellie Graham	(23 August 1958 - 25 August 1970) (divorced)

Trivia

Born at 10:00am-CST.

His mother and both of his sisters appeared as extras in "The Fugitive" (1963).

He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, only about a block away from the Chinese Theater. When it was placed there, it was in front of David's favorite ice cream shops as a child. The star dedication was on his mother's birthday.

Twisted his right knee in 1948 while pole vaulting for reporters from the Hollywood Citizen News.

Brother of Teri Janssen and Jill Janssen.

His last role was in the film Inchon (1981). When the film was edited for general release, his entire part was deleted.

Mother, Berniece Janssen.

As a contract player at Universal-International in the 1950s, he attended Universal's acting classes with a fellow Universal contractee, Clint Eastwood. The two became friends, and Eastwood is still friends with Janssen's widow, Dani.

Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive.

Was close friends with Stuart Whitman.

A close friend of Richard Harris, who was so upset by Janssen's death that he sat outside a cathedral in New York for hours in the snow upon hearing the news.

Personal Quotes

"TV is my sleeping pill."

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