Gordon Mitchell

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

138

Gender

Male

Birthday

1923-07-29

Day of death

2003-09-20 (80 years old)

Place of Birth

Denver, Colorado, USA

Gordon Mitchell

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

  • The Twilight Zone

    The Twilight Zone

  • Spartacus

    Spartacus

  • I Spy

    I Spy

  • Savage Guns

    Savage Guns

  • Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End

    Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End

  • Rio Bravo

    Rio Bravo

  • Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado

    Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado

  • The Spirit of St. Louis

    The Spirit of St. Louis

  • Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados

    Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados

  • Reflections in a Golden Eye

    Reflections in a Golden Eye

  • Satyricon

    Satyricon

  • Blood Delirium

    Blood Delirium

  • Endgame

    Endgame

  • Special Squad Shoots on Sight

    Special Squad Shoots on Sight

  • Marco Polo

    Marco Polo

  • Seven Times Seven

    Seven Times Seven

  • Diamond Connection

    Diamond Connection

  • Death on the Run

    Death on the Run

  • The Mines of Kilimanjaro

    The Mines of Kilimanjaro

  • The Wings of War

    The Wings of War

  • Secret Force

    Secret Force

  • Erik the Viking

    Erik the Viking

  • Around the World in Eighty Days

    Around the World in Eighty Days

  • Down with Your Hands... You Scum!

    Down with Your Hands... You Scum!

  • The Arizona Kid

    The Arizona Kid

  • Little Godfather from Hong Kong

    Little Godfather from Hong Kong

  • The Crazy Westerners

    The Crazy Westerners

  • L'Estate

    L'Estate

  • Treasure of the Lost Desert

    Treasure of the Lost Desert

  • Commando Invasion

    Commando Invasion

  • Finders Killers

    Finders Killers

  • The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe

    The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe

  • Umbrella Coup

    Umbrella Coup

  • The French Sex Murders

    The French Sex Murders

  • Thompson 1880

    Thompson 1880

  • Malevolence

    Malevolence

  • Cobra Mission

    Cobra Mission

  • From the Archives of the Criminal Police

    From the Archives of the Criminal Police

  • I promessi sposi

    I promessi sposi

  • Star Pilot

    Star Pilot

  • White Fire

    White Fire

  • Hercules and the Princess of Troy

    Hercules and the Princess of Troy

  • Fever of 40!

    Fever of 40!

  • Kopfschuß

    Kopfschuß

  • Fists, Dollars and Spinach

    Fists, Dollars and Spinach

  • Oil

    Oil

  • Operation Orient

    Operation Orient

  • Cross of the Seven Jewels

    Cross of the Seven Jewels

  • The Man with the Golden Arm

    The Man with the Golden Arm

  • The Household

    The Household

  • Bikini Drive-In

    Bikini Drive-In

  • The Slayers

    The Slayers

  • Io non spezzo... rompo

    Io non spezzo... rompo

  • Slaughter Day

    Slaughter Day

  • Rush

    Rush

  • Natascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau

    Natascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau

  • The Fury of Achilles

    The Fury of Achilles

  • She

    She

  • Three Men on Fire

    Three Men on Fire

  • The Enemy Below

    The Enemy Below

  • His Colt, Himself, His Revenge

    His Colt, Himself, His Revenge

  • È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere

    È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere

  • I'll Die for Vengeance

    I'll Die for Vengeance

  • Holocaust II

    Holocaust II

  • The Skin Under the Claws

    The Skin Under the Claws

  • Invasion 1700

    Invasion 1700

  • Cry of Death

    Cry of Death

  • Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak

    Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak

  • Kerim, Son of the Sheik

    Kerim, Son of the Sheik

  • SFX Retaliator

    SFX Retaliator

  • Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot

    Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot

  • The Man from Chicago

    The Man from Chicago

  • Achtung! The Desert Tigers

    Achtung! The Desert Tigers

  • The Crucified Girls of San Ramon

    The Crucified Girls of San Ramon

  • Overdose

    Overdose

  • John the Bastard

    John the Bastard

  • Dead Men Don't Make Shadows

    Dead Men Don't Make Shadows

  • Caesar Against the Pirates

    Caesar Against the Pirates

  • The Young Lions

    The Young Lions

  • All on the Red

    All on the Red

  • His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria

    His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria

  • The Sewer Rats

    The Sewer Rats

  • Kill or Be Killed

    Kill or Be Killed

  • Beyond the Law

    Beyond the Law

  • Curse of the Red Butterfly

    Curse of the Red Butterfly

  • Tre nel mille

    Tre nel mille

  • Adios Compañeros

    Adios Compañeros

  • Lisa with the Blue Eyes

    Lisa with the Blue Eyes

  • Coffin Full of Dollars

    Coffin Full of Dollars

  • The Yellow Panther

    The Yellow Panther

  • Angel's Leap

    Angel's Leap

  • Kino kolossal - Herkules, Maciste & Co

    Kino kolossal - Herkules, Maciste & Co

  • Atlas Against the Cyclops

    Atlas Against the Cyclops

  • The Iron Hand of the Mafia

    The Iron Hand of the Mafia

  • Dead for a Dollar

    Dead for a Dollar

  • The Doctor Prefers Sailors

    The Doctor Prefers Sailors

  • Trois filles dans le vent

    Trois filles dans le vent

  • Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks

    Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks

  • Santa Lucia

    Santa Lucia

  • I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death

    I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death

  • The Tiger From the River Kwai

    The Tiger From the River Kwai

  • Born to Kill

    Born to Kill

  • The Commissioner

    The Commissioner

  • Three Bullets for Ringo

    Three Bullets for Ringo

  • My Darling Slave

    My Darling Slave

  • If All Goes Well We Are Ruined

    If All Goes Well We Are Ruined

  • Vulcan, Son of Giove

    Vulcan, Son of Giove

  • Seven Slaves Against the World

    Seven Slaves Against the World

  • Lady Morgan's Vengeance

    Lady Morgan's Vengeance

  • Brennus, Enemy of Rome

    Brennus, Enemy of Rome

  • Day of Judgment

    Day of Judgment

  • Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West

    Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West

  • White Fang and the Kid

    White Fang and the Kid

  • The Revenge of the Gladiators

    The Revenge of the Gladiators

  • The Killer Likes Candy

    The Killer Likes Candy

  • My Name Is Texas Bill

    My Name Is Texas Bill

  • The Stone Forest

    The Stone Forest

  • Phenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen

    Phenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen

  • The Centurion

    The Centurion

  • The Giant of Metropolis

    The Giant of Metropolis

  • Faida

    Faida

  • Strategy for a Mission of Death

    Strategy for a Mission of Death

  • Anasının Gözü

    Anasının Gözü

  • Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten

    Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten

  • Seven Savage Men

    Seven Savage Men

  • A Gunman Called Dakota

    A Gunman Called Dakota

  • Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens

    Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens

  • Frankenstein '80

    Frankenstein '80

  • Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion

    Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion

  • Anything for a Friend

    Anything for a Friend

  • The Alien Within

    The Alien Within

  • An Enraged New World

    An Enraged New World

  • Let's Go And Kill Sartana

    Let's Go And Kill Sartana

  • Four for All

    Four for All

  • Cheers... Cyanide!

    Cheers... Cyanide!

  • Ora X Pattuglia Suicida

    Ora X Pattuglia Suicida

  • A Very Special Woman

    A Very Special Woman

  • Porno erotico western

    Porno erotico western