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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.

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

In 1961, he starred in an unsold pilot for a action series called &quot;The Insider&quot;. The plot revolved around the efforts of Hollywood press agent Dan Castle and his efforts to aid his clients with their problems.

Himself, &quot;The Best of Dean Martin,&quot; BBC 1, 1979.

Host, &quot;The Hidden Universe: The Brain,&quot; ABC-TV, 1977.

Narrator, LP recording, &quot;Voices of Freedom: the story of America&#39;s citizen soldier in the National Guard.&quot;

1965: Narrator, LP recording, &quot;The Hidden Island: the compelling story of love&#39;s secret moments and tender emotions&quot;.

1960s: Public service announcement, National Society for the Prevention of Blindness.

(November 25, 1968) Guest on the daytime talk program &quot;Panorama&quot; hosted by John Willis other guests were Polly Bergen, Jim Brown and Paul Lavalle.

(June 21, 1960 - July 10, 1960) Stage play: The Gazebo - playing Elliott Nash, at Drury Lane Theater, Chicago, IL

Other works

David Janssen

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