Gordon Mitchell
Acting
- Born:
- 1923-07-29
- Died:
- 2003-09-20
- Place of birth:
- Denver, Colorado, USA
Biography
Gordon Mitchell was born "Charles Pendleton" in Colorado and served his country in both World War II and the Korean War (during which he was briefly a POW). Afterward he worked as a teacher in inner city schools in California and got heavily involved in personal fitness and bodybuilding. He became friends with Joe Gold (of Gold's Gym), joining Mae West's comedy act as one of her "strongmen" who would carry her on and off the stage. During this time he also found himself in demand as an extra in several Hollywood films including "Lil Abner", "The Enemy Below", and "The Ten Commandments" (in which he and Joe Gold bring Moses to Ramsey's court in chains). When the Peplum craze began in Italy and his fellow Muscle Beach star Steve Reeves became a huge star. Gordon (along with Reg Park, Mark Forrest, Brad Harris, Mickey Hargitay, and Richard Harrison) similarly jumped on the bandwagon and headed to Italy to find stardom and financially greener pastures. Thanks to his unconventional appearance (small, sharp eyes and craggy face) and enthusiasm for his work, Mitchell found himself one of the most in-demand performers in Italy's Sword & Sandal craze of the early 60's, working with several top directors including Marino Girolami, Alberto De Martino, and Michele Lupo. Unlike most of his peers who left Italy once the genre ran its course, Mitchell stayed on to play villains in numerous Spaghetti Westerns, Giallos, War Films, and Science Fiction movies. He also had a small but key role in the Elizabeth Taylor / Marlon Brandon vehicle "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967) during this time though perhaps his most prestigious role would be the rogue who helps the two protagonists kidnap the noble in Fellini's "Satyricon" (1969). Mitchell used his extra cash to buy and build his own movie studio (Cave Studios) which he single-handedly constructed outside of Rome. It went largely unused except by ultra-low budget director Demofilo Fidani who would often cast Mitchell as well. In the late 1980's when the Italian genre film industry had basically self-destructed, unable to compete with American films even for video rentals, Mitchell packed his bags and moved back to California. Once home, he re-teamed with old friend Joe Gold to manage World Gym, at which Mitchell acted as COO and lived at the top floor of its headquarters in Marina Del Rey. Continuing for years to act in low budget films purely for the fun of it, Mitchell passed away in his sleep at age 80 in 2003. Having just won the California recall election the day prior, Arnold Schwarzenegger took time out of his busy schedule to pay his respects at Mitchell's Memorial Service at the World Gym Headquarters along with many other bodybuilders who credit Mitchell with getting them into their careers.
Known For
Filmography
Malevolence
An Enraged New World
Kino kolossal - Herkules, Maciste & Co
Bikini Drive-In
The Alien Within
Overdose
I promessi sposi
Blood Delirium
Faida
SFX Retaliator
Cross of the Seven Jewels
Commando Invasion
Three Men on Fire
The Mines of Kilimanjaro
Cobra Mission
White Fire
She
If All Goes Well We Are Ruined
Endgame
Rush
The Commissioner
Secret Force
Marco Polo
The Yellow Panther
Diamond Connection
Curse of the Red Butterfly
The Doctor Prefers Sailors
Kopfschuß
Trois filles dans le vent
Umbrella Coup
Holocaust II
Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados
Fever of 40!
The Iron Hand of the Mafia
Porno erotico western
Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot
Strategy for a Mission of Death
A Very Special Woman
Santa Lucia
White Fang and the Kid
Operation Orient
Fists, Dollars and Spinach
The Slayers
Natascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau
Oil
Achtung! The Desert Tigers
Special Squad Shoots on Sight
Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion
The Tiger From the River Kwai
The Man from Chicago
The Skin Under the Claws
Seven Savage Men
Four for All
Anasının Gözü
The Household
Little Godfather from Hong Kong
The Sewer Rats
Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks
The Fighting Fist of Shanghai Joe
His Colt, Himself, His Revenge
From the Archives of the Criminal Police
Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West
My Darling Slave
Anything for a Friend
Frankenstein '80
Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado
The French Sex Murders
My Name Is Texas Bill
The Crucified Girls of San Ramon
A Gunman Called Dakota
Slaughter Day
His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria
Savage Guns
Angel's Leap
Day of Judgment
Let's Go And Kill Sartana
Down with Your Hands... You Scum!
Adios Compañeros
Coffin Full of Dollars
Finders Killers
Tre nel mille
Io non spezzo... rompo
Treasure of the Lost Desert
Dead Men Don't Make Shadows
Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End
The Arizona Kid
Lisa with the Blue Eyes
I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death
Satyricon
Ora X Pattuglia Suicida
The Wings of War
Cry of Death
Dead for a Dollar
Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten
All on the Red
Seven Times Seven
The Killer Likes Candy
Beyond the Law
Cheers... Cyanide!
I'll Die for Vengeance
Fenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen
John the Bastard
Reflections in a Golden Eye
Death on the Run
The Crazy Westerners
Born to Kill
Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak
È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere
L'Estate
Kill or Be Killed
Thompson 1880
Star Pilot
Three Bullets for Ringo
Lady Morgan's Vengeance
Erik the Viking
I Spy
The Stone Forest
Hercules and the Princess of Troy
Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens
The Revenge of the Gladiators
Seven Slaves Against the World
Brennus, Enemy of Rome
The Fury of Achilles
Invasion 1700
Kerim, Son of the Sheik
Caesar Against the Pirates
Vulcan, Son of Giove
The Giant of Metropolis
The Centurion
Atlas Against the Cyclops
Spartacus
The Twilight Zone
Rio Bravo
The Young Lions
The Enemy Below
The Spirit of St. Louis
Around the World in 80 Days
The Man with the Golden Arm