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

  • Secret Force

    Secret Force

  • Rush

    Rush

  • Spartacus

    Spartacus

  • Slaughter Day

    Slaughter Day

  • Bikini Drive-In

    Bikini Drive-In

  • Rio Bravo

    Rio Bravo

  • The Slayers

    The Slayers

  • She

    She

  • The Man from Chicago

    The Man from Chicago

  • Natascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau

    Natascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau

  • Lisa with the Blue Eyes

    Lisa with the Blue Eyes

  • Kopfschuß

    Kopfschuß

  • Kill or Be Killed

    Kill or Be Killed

  • SFX Retaliator

    SFX Retaliator

  • I Spy

    I Spy

  • Overdose

    Overdose

  • Faida

    Faida

  • Four for All

    Four for All

  • Curse of the Red Butterfly

    Curse of the Red Butterfly

  • Cobra Mission

    Cobra Mission

  • Marco Polo

    Marco Polo

  • Kino kolossal - Herkules, Maciste & Co

    Kino kolossal - Herkules, Maciste & Co

  • Operation Orient

    Operation Orient

  • Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados

    Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados

  • Adios Compañeros

    Adios Compañeros

  • The Commissioner

    The Commissioner

  • Around the World in 80 Days

    Around the World in 80 Days

  • Santa Lucia

    Santa Lucia

  • My Name Is Texas Bill

    My Name Is Texas Bill

  • I promessi sposi

    I promessi sposi

  • The Young Lions

    The Young Lions

  • Vulcan, Son of Giove

    Vulcan, Son of Giove

  • The Enemy Below

    The Enemy Below

  • The Spirit of St. Louis

    The Spirit of St. Louis

  • Satyricon

    Satyricon

  • The Man with the Golden Arm

    The Man with the Golden Arm

  • Seven Savage Men

    Seven Savage Men

  • Umbrella Coup

    Umbrella Coup

  • Reflections in a Golden Eye

    Reflections in a Golden Eye

  • Fists, Dollars and Spinach

    Fists, Dollars and Spinach

  • Star Pilot

    Star Pilot

  • Beyond the Law

    Beyond the Law

  • Anasının Gözü

    Anasının Gözü

  • Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten

    Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten

  • Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens

    Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens

  • Little Godfather from Hong Kong

    Little Godfather from Hong Kong

  • The Crazy Westerners

    The Crazy Westerners

  • The French Sex Murders

    The French Sex Murders

  • The Giant of Metropolis

    The Giant of Metropolis

  • I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death

    I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death

  • Fever of 40!

    Fever of 40!

  • White Fire

    White Fire

  • The Killer Likes Candy

    The Killer Likes Candy

  • A Gunman Called Dakota

    A Gunman Called Dakota

  • Hercules and the Princess of Troy

    Hercules and the Princess of Troy

  • Death on the Run

    Death on the Run

  • All on the Red

    All on the Red

  • Frankenstein '80

    Frankenstein '80

  • The Doctor Prefers Sailors

    The Doctor Prefers Sailors

  • Seven Times Seven

    Seven Times Seven

  • Endgame

    Endgame

  • The Yellow Panther

    The Yellow Panther

  • Achtung! The Desert Tigers

    Achtung! The Desert Tigers

  • Thompson 1880

    Thompson 1880

  • Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks

    Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks

  • Dead for a Dollar

    Dead for a Dollar

  • Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot

    Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot

  • Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak

    Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak

  • Ora X Pattuglia Suicida

    Ora X Pattuglia Suicida

  • The Fury of Achilles

    The Fury of Achilles

  • The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe

    The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe

  • My Darling Slave

    My Darling Slave

  • Angel's Leap

    Angel's Leap

  • Atlas Against the Cyclops

    Atlas Against the Cyclops

  • Caesar Against the Pirates

    Caesar Against the Pirates

  • Savage Guns

    Savage Guns

  • Invasion 1700

    Invasion 1700

  • Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado

    Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado

  • Strategy for a Mission of Death

    Strategy for a Mission of Death

  • Dead Men Don't Make Shadows

    Dead Men Don't Make Shadows

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

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

  • Three Bullets for Ringo

    Three Bullets for Ringo

  • Day of Judgment

    Day of Judgment

  • Erik the Viking

    Erik the Viking

  • John the Bastard

    John the Bastard

  • His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria

    His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria

  • The Alien Within

    The Alien Within

  • The Crucified Girls of San Ramon

    The Crucified Girls of San Ramon

  • Cry of Death

    Cry of Death

  • L'Estate

    L'Estate

  • The Iron Hand of the Mafia

    The Iron Hand of the Mafia

  • The Centurion

    The Centurion

  • Cross of the Seven Jewels

    Cross of the Seven Jewels

  • The Revenge of the Gladiators

    The Revenge of the Gladiators

  • Oil

    Oil

  • The Household

    The Household

  • I'll Die for Vengeance

    I'll Die for Vengeance

  • Tre nel mille

    Tre nel mille

  • The Stone Forest

    The Stone Forest

  • The Mines of Kilimanjaro

    The Mines of Kilimanjaro

  • Brennus, Enemy of Rome

    Brennus, Enemy of Rome

  • Kerim, Son of the Sheik

    Kerim, Son of the Sheik

  • Coffin Full of Dollars

    Coffin Full of Dollars

  • Malevolence

    Malevolence

  • Three Men on Fire

    Three Men on Fire

  • An Enraged New World

    An Enraged New World

  • Cheers... Cyanide!

    Cheers... Cyanide!

  • The Tiger From the River Kwai

    The Tiger From the River Kwai

  • Lady Morgan's Vengeance

    Lady Morgan's Vengeance

  • Trois filles dans le vent

    Trois filles dans le vent

  • Porno erotico western

    Porno erotico western

  • Blood Delirium

    Blood Delirium

  • Let's Go And Kill Sartana

    Let's Go And Kill Sartana

  • Special Squad Shoots on Sight

    Special Squad Shoots on Sight

  • Seven Slaves Against the World

    Seven Slaves Against the World

  • Io non spezzo... rompo

    Io non spezzo... rompo

  • Holocaust II

    Holocaust II

  • White Fang and the Kid

    White Fang and the Kid

  • È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere

    È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere

  • Phenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen

    Phenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen

  • Anything for a Friend

    Anything for a Friend

  • If All Goes Well We Are Ruined

    If All Goes Well We Are Ruined

  • Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West

    Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West

  • Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion

    Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion

  • The Skin Under the Claws

    The Skin Under the Claws

  • Finders Killers

    Finders Killers

  • The Sewer Rats

    The Sewer Rats

  • Diamond Connection

    Diamond Connection

  • The Arizona Kid

    The Arizona Kid

  • Commando Invasion

    Commando Invasion

  • Born to Kill

    Born to Kill

  • Down with Your Hands... You Scum!

    Down with Your Hands... You Scum!

  • The Wings of War

    The Wings of War

  • From the Archives of the Criminal Police

    From the Archives of the Criminal Police

  • His Colt, Himself, His Revenge

    His Colt, Himself, His Revenge

  • Treasure of the Lost Desert

    Treasure of the Lost Desert

  • A Very Special Woman

    A Very Special Woman