
James Mitchum
ActingAbout James Mitchum
James Mitchum (born May 8, 1941 in Los Angeles, California) was an American actor and the eldest son of actor Robert Mitchum. His brother is actor Christopher Mitchum, and he was the uncle of actor Bentley Mitchum. He had his first role, which was small and unbilled, at the age of eight in the Western Colorado Territory (1949) with Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo, and Dorothy Malone. His credited debut was in Thunder Road (1958), in which he played his father's much younger brother, a role written for Elvis Presley, who was eager to do it until his manager demanded too much money. This film became a drive-in cult favorite, revived in the 1970s and ’80s. Curiously, he was again credited as being "introduced" in the Have Gun Will Travel pilot episode "Genesis" (1962). He has appeared in more than 30 films including The Beat Generation in 1959; The Victors in 1963; as a surfer named Eskimo in Ride the Wild Surf in 1964; In Harm's Way (1965) with John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, and Henry Fonda; Ambush Bay (1966); The Invincible Six (1970); Two-Lane Blacktop (1971); and The Last Movie (1971). In 1975 he starred in the movie Moonrunners, where he played the character Grady Hagg in the influence for the television series The Dukes of Hazzard. He was also in Zebra Force and Trackdown co-starring Karen Lamm and Erik Estrada in 1976; Ransom (a k a Assault on Paradise) (1977); Blackout (1978); Monstroid (1980); Crazy Jungle Adventure (1982); Code Name Zebra (1987); Hollywood Cop (1987); Jake Spanner, Private Eye (1989); and Fatal Mission (1990). Description above from the Wikipedia article James Mitchum, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
James Mitchum Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of James Mitchum reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 32 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of James Mitchum's work falls within the Action genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 19% of James Mitchum's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Fatal Mission, which stands out as a key performance.
Best James Mitchum Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from James Mitchum's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie James Mitchum has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Robert Mitchum, le mauvais garçon d'Hollywood | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Stickfighter | Mule (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1990 | Beyond Kilimanjaro, Across the River of Blood | James Mitchum | Flop | Similar → |
| 1990 | Fatal Mission | Maj. Bauer | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Hoodwinked | Lieutenant Kevin Spanner | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | Leathernecks | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Marked for Murder | Rainier | Flop | Similar → |
| 1988 | Raiders of the Magic Ivory | Sugar | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | Mercenary Fighters | Wilson Jeffords | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | Code Name: Zebra | Frank Barnes (as Jim Mitchum) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | Hollywood Cop | Feliciano | Flop | Similar → |
| 1982 | Crazy Jungle Adventure | Butch Donovan | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | Monstroid | Travis | Flop | Similar → |
| 1978 | Blackout | Dan Evans | Flop | Similar → |
| 1977 | Ransom | Tracker | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | Trackdown | Jim Calhoun | Flop | Similar → |
| 1975 | Moonrunners | Grady Hagg | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Last Movie | Art | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Two-Lane Blacktop | Man #2 at Race Track | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Invincible Six | Nazar | Flop | Similar → |
| 1966 | Ambush Bay | Pvt. James Grenier | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Tramplers | Hoby Cordeen | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Money Trap | Detective Wolski | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | In Harm's Way | Ensign Griggs | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Ride the Wild Surf | Eskimo | Flop | Similar → |
| 1964 | Massacre At Grand Canyon | Wes Evans | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Victors | Grogan | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | Young Guns of Texas | Morgan Coe | Flop | Similar → |
| 1959 | Girls Town | Charley Boy | Flop | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Beat Generation | Art Jester | Flop | Similar → |
| 1958 | Thunder Road | Robin Doolin | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Colorado Territory | Child (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
James Mitchum - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of James Mitchum?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring James Mitchum is "Fatal Mission" with a rating of 9.0/10.
How many movies has James Mitchum acted in?
James Mitchum has been featured in at least 32 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by James Mitchum?
Other notable films include "Robert Mitchum, le mauvais garçon d'Hollywood", "Leathernecks", and "Colorado Territory".




