Character Actor, Poet and Songwriter. Known to his friends as "Big John," he was the younger brother of film star Robert Mitchum and, with his brother, struggled with their family's Depression-era challenges before striking out on his own. As Robert became a film star in the mid 1940s, John remained his elder sibling's boon companion, severest critic and drinking buddy. In later years, John was a convivial anecdotal source for books and articles about Robert, each reminiscence becoming more colorful as it was repeated for the next interview. After holding down a variety of jobs, John decided to give acting a try as a result of hearing Robert's tales of his life in Hollywood. He became too heavyset to be a leading man, John became a reliable character actor, usually in military or western roles. He frequently had small parts in his brother's starring films, notably "One Minute to Zero"(1951) and "The Way West" (1967). Most of John's movie work was done outside Robert's orbit, however, in such films as "Cattle King" (1963) and "Paint Your Wagon" (1970). Some film critics feel that he did his best work as Hermann Goering in "Hitler" (1962). In addition to his acting, he authored patriotic poems, many of which actor John Wayne recorded on the 1973 album "America, Why I Love Her."
Character Actor, Poet and Songwriter. Known to his friends as "Big John," he was the younger brother of film star Robert Mitchum and, with his brother, struggled with their family's Depression-era challenges before striking out on his own. As Robert became a film star in the mid 1940s, John remained his elder sibling's boon companion, severest critic and drinking buddy. In later years, John was a convivial anecdotal source for books and articles about Robert, each reminiscence becoming more colorful as it was repeated for the next interview. After holding down a variety of jobs, John decided to give acting a try as a result of hearing Robert's tales of his life in Hollywood. He became too heavyset to be a leading man, John became a reliable character actor, usually in military or western roles. He frequently had small parts in his brother's starring films, notably "One Minute to Zero"(1951) and "The Way West" (1967). Most of John's movie work was done outside Robert's orbit, however, in such films as "Cattle King" (1963) and "Paint Your Wagon" (1970). Some film critics feel that he did his best work as Hermann Goering in "Hitler" (1962). In addition to his acting, he authored patriotic poems, many of which actor John Wayne recorded on the 1973 album "America, Why I Love Her."
Bio by: Warrick L. Barrett
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