Gordon Mitchell
Acting
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
Acting138
movieMalevolence
2004
Don Fabrizio De Martino
movieAn Enraged New World
2002
General Murchison
movieBikini Drive-In
1995
Goliath
movieOverdose
1989
Costa
tvI promessi sposi
1989
Don Gonzalo
movieBlood Delirium
1988
Hermann
movieSFX Retaliator
1988
Morgan
movieCross of the Seven Jewels
1987
Black Mass Leader
movieThree Men on Fire
1986
Dr. Andrew Milhench
movieCobra Mission
1986
Col. Mortimer
movieShe
1984
Hector
movieIf All Goes Well We Are Ruined
1983
Jack Volpetti
movieEndgame
1983
Col. Morgan
movieThe Commissioner
1983
(uncredited)
tvMarco Polo
1982
Capitano Arnolfo
movieDiamond Connection
1982
Abdul Pascha
movieThe Doctor Prefers Sailors
1981
killer russo
movieKopfschuß
1981
Maserati
movieTrois filles dans le vent
1981
Gordon Mitchell
movieUmbrella Coup
1980
Moskovitz, le tueur à gages
movieHolocaust II
1980
Felix Oppenheimer
movieFever of 40!
1980
Mr. Temple
movieThe Iron Hand of the Mafia
1980
Don Nicola
moviePorno erotico western
1979
(as Charles Pendleton)
movieDr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot
1979
Pretorius
Santa Lucia
1979
Amerikaner
movieFists, Dollars and Spinach
1978
Frank Stilo
movieThe Slayers
1977
Pablo
movieOil
1977
Joe
movieAchtung! The Desert Tigers
1977
Kommandant von Stolzen
movieTwo .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion
1975
Renato Proietti
movieThe Tiger From the River Kwai
1975
Jack Mason
movieThe Skin Under the Claws
1975
Professor Helmut
movieFour for All
1975
Margherito
movieThe Household
1974
General Von Werner
movieThe Sewer Rats
1974
Gordon
movieThe Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe
1973
Burying Sam
movieMy Darling Slave
1973
Von Thirac
movieFrankenstein '80
1972
Dr. Otto Frankenstein
movieGo Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado
1972
Jonathan Duke
movieThe French Sex Murders
1972
Man in Nightclub
movieSlaughter Day
1972
Gordon
movieSavage Guns
1971
Gordon Mitchell
movieAngel's Leap
1971
Henry Di Fusco
movieDay of Judgment
1971
Deputy
movieLet's Go And Kill Sartana
1971
Greg "The Crazy Person"
movieDown with Your Hands... You Scum!
1971
Buck/Butch Bradley
movieAdios Compañeros
1971
Ironhead
movieCoffin Full of Dollars
1971
John Hamilton
movieFinders Killers
1971
Chris Forest
movieIo non spezzo... rompo
1971
Joe il Rosso
movieDead Men Don't Make Shadows
1970
Roger Murdock
movieDjango and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End
1970
Black Burt Keller / Burt Kelly
movieLisa with the Blue Eyes
1969
Football player
movieSatyricon
1969
Il predone
movieCry of Death
1968
Donkey / Morgan Pitt
movieDead for a Dollar
1968
Roy Fulton
movieAll on the Red
1968
Erikson
movieSeven Times Seven
1968
Big Ben
movieBeyond the Law
1968
Burton
movieCheers... Cyanide!
1968
Al Rubino
movieFenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen
1968
Gregory Falco
movieReflections in a Golden Eye
1967
Stables Sergeant
movieDeath on the Run
1967
The Albanian
movieThe Crazy Westerners
1967
Bandit Leader
movieBorn to Kill
1967
Rod Gordon
movieKill or Be Killed
1966
Baltimore Joe/Ringo
movieThompson 1880
1966
Glenn Sheppard
movieStar Pilot
1966
Murdu
movieThe Stone Forest
1965
Hunding
movieHercules and the Princess of Troy
1965
Pirate Captain
movieThe Fury of Achilles
1962
Achilles
movieInvasion 1700
1962
Ulrich
movieThe Centurion
1961
General Metellus
movieSpartacus
1960
Gladiator (uncredited)
tvThe Twilight Zone
1959
Soldier
movieRio Bravo
1959
Bar Cowboy Watching Fistfight (uncredited)
movieThe Young Lions
1958
Minor Role (uncredited)
movieThe Enemy Below
1957
German Sailor
movieThe Spirit of St. Louis
1957
(uncredited)
movieAround the World in 80 Days
1956
Extra (uncredited)