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.
Media of
Gordon Mitchell
Photos (21)
Filmography of
Gordon Mitchell
Don Fabrizio De Martino
... 2004
General Murchison
... 2002
... 2000
Goliath
... 1995
Dan Thorn
... 1990
Costa
... 1989
Hermann
... 1988
Morgan
... 1988
... 1987
Black Mass Leader
... 1987
... 1986
... 1986
Col. Mortimer
... 1986
Olaf
... 1984
Hector
... 1984
Jack Volpetti
... 1983
Col. Morgan
... 1983
Yor
... 1983
... 1983
killer
... 1982
Abdul Pascha
... 1982
... 1982
The Killer
... 1981
... 1981
Gordon Mitchell
... 1981
Moskovitz, le tueur
... 1980
Felix Oppenheimer
... 1980
Robert
... 1980
Don Nicola
... 1980
Mr. Temple
... 1980
(as Charles Pendleton)
... 1979
Pretorius
... 1979
... 1979
Gordon
... 1979
Amerikaner
... 1979
Morgan
... 1978
Haine
... 1978
Frank Stilo
... 1978
Pablo
... 1977
Gooming
... 1977
Joe
... 1977
Kommandant von Stolzen
... 1977
... 1976
Renato Proietti
... 1975
Jack Mason
... 1975
Mike
... 1975
Professor Helmut
... 1975
Cooper
... 1975
Margherito
... 1975
... 1975
General Von Werner
... 1974
... 1974
Gordon
... 1974
... 1974
Burying Sam
... 1973
... 1973
Peter Wilcox
... 1973
... 1973
Von Thirac
... 1973
Miller
... 1973
Gordon
... 1973
Dr. Otto Frankenstein
... 1972
Jonathan Duke
... 1972
Man in nightclub
... 1972
Martin
... 1972
El Kadir
... 1972
Dakota
... 1972
... 1971
Gordon Mitchell
... 1971
Henry Di Fusco
... 1971
Deputy
... 1971
Greg "The Crazy Person"
... 1971
Buck/Butch Bradley
... 1971
Ironhead
... 1971
John Hamilton
... 1971
Chris Forest
... 1971
... 1971
Joe il Rosso
... 1971
... 1971
Roger Murdock
... 1970
Black Burt Keller / Burt Kelly
... 1970
Coyote
... 1970
Football player
... 1969
Degueyo
... 1969
Il predone
... 1969
... 1969
... 1969
Donkey / Morgan Pitt
... 1968
Roy Fulton
... 1968
... 1968
Erikson
... 1968
Big Ben
... 1968
Burton
... 1968
Al Rubino
... 1968
Clayton
... 1968
Gregory Falco
... 1968
Danite
... 1967
Stables Sergeant
... 1967
The Albanian
... 1967
Häuptling Sitzender Büffel
... 1967
Rod Gordon
... 1967
Ringo
... 1967
Van Himst
... 1966
Self
... 1966
Baltimore Joe/Ringo
... 1966
Glenn Sheppard
... 1966
Murdu
... 1966
Frank
... 1966
Roger
... 1965
Sven
... 1965
Hunding
... 1965
Pirate Captain
... 1965
... 1964
Arminio
... 1964
Balisten
... 1964
Brenno
... 1963
Achilles
... 1962
Ulrich
... 1962
Yussuf
... 1962
... 1962
Pluto
... 1962
... 1961
General Metellus
... 1961
Maciste
... 1961
Gladiator (uncredited)
... 1960
Bar Cowboy Watching Fistfight (uncredited)
... 1959
Extra (uncredited)
... 1956
... 1955