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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

Inchon
as David Feld

City in Fear
as Vince Perrino

S.O.S. Titanic
as John Jacob Astor

High Ice
as Glencoe MacDonald

The Golden Gate Murders
as Det. Sgt. Paul Silver

The Word
as Steve Randall

Centennial
as Narrator

Covert Action
as Lester Horton

Nowhere to Run
as Harry Adams

Superdome
as Mike Shelley

Golden Rendezvous
as Charles Conway

A Sensitive, Passionate Man
as Michael Delaney

Mayday at 40,000 Feet
as Capt. Pete Douglass

Warhead
as Tony Stevens

Two-Minute Warning
as Steve

Stalk the Wild Child
as Dr. James Hazard

Joys
as Self

The Swiss Conspiracy
as David Christopher

Once Is Not Enough
as Tom Colt

Dinah!
as Self

Fer-de-Lance
as Russ Bogan

Harry O
as Harry Orwell

Smile Jenny, You're Dead
as Harry Orwell

Pioneer Woman
as Robert Douglas

Hijack!
as Jake Wilkenson

Police Story

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
as Harry Orwell

Birds of Prey
as Harry Walker

Moon of the Wolf
as Sheriff Aaron Whitaker

The Longest Night
as Alan Chambers

O'Hara, U.S. Treasury

Cannon

O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra
as James O'Hara

Macho Callahan
as Diego Callahan

Night Chase
as Adrian Vico

Generation
as Jim Bolton

Marooned
as Ted Dougherty

Where It's At
as A.C. Smith

The Shoes of the Fisherman
as George Faber

The Green Berets
as George Beckworth

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
as Self (uncredited)

Warning Shot
as Sgt. Tom Valens

The Hollywood Palace
as Self

The Fugitive
as Richard Kimble

My Six Loves
as Marty Bliss

The Eleventh Hour
as Hal Kincaid

The Merv Griffin Show
as Self

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self

Belle Sommers
as Danny Castle

The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
as Self

The Mike Douglas Show
as Self - Co-Host

Target: The Corruptors!

The Dick Powell Show
as Kenneth 'Ken' Morgan

Man-Trap
as Vince Biskay

Cain's Hundred
as Dan Mullin

Twenty Plus Two
as Tom Alder

Ring of Fire
as Sergeant Steve Walsh

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

Dondi
as Dealey

Route 66
as Karno Starling