Acting
Gordon Mitchell
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.
Filmography
Malevolence
Film · 2004
An Enraged New World
Film · 2002
Kino kolossal - Herkules, Maciste & Co
Film · 2000
Bikini Drive-In
Film · 1995
The Alien Within
Film · 1990
Overdose
Film · 1989
I promessi sposi
Series · 1989
SFX Retaliator
Film · 1988
Blood Delirium
Film · 1988
Faida
Film · 1988
Cross of the Seven Jewels
Film · 1987
Commando Invasion
Film · 1987
The Mines of Kilimanjaro
Film · 1986
Cobra Mission
Film · 1986
Three Men on Fire
Film · 1986
She
Film · 1984
White Fire
Film · 1984
Endgame
Film · 1983
Rush
Film · 1983
If All Goes Well We Are Ruined
Film · 1983
Secret Force
Film · 1983
The Commissioner
Film · 1983
The Yellow Panther
Film · 1982
Diamond Connection
Film · 1982
Curse of the Red Butterfly
Film · 1982
Marco Polo
Series · 1982
The Doctor Prefers Sailors
Film · 1981
Kopfschuß
Film · 1981
Trois filles dans le vent
Film · 1981
Fever of 40!
Film · 1980
Umbrella Coup
Film · 1980
The Iron Hand of the Mafia
Film · 1980
Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados
Film · 1980
Holocaust II
Film · 1980
Strategy for a Mission of Death
Film · 1979
A Very Special Woman
Film · 1979
Santa Lucia
Film · 1979
Porno erotico western
Film · 1979
Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot
Film · 1979
Fists, Dollars and Spinach
Film · 1978
White Fang and the Kid
Film · 1978
Operation Orient
Film · 1978
Achtung! The Desert Tigers
Film · 1977
Natascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau
Film · 1977
Oil
Film · 1977
The Slayers
Film · 1977
Special Squad Shoots on Sight
Film · 1976
The Tiger From the River Kwai
Film · 1975
Seven Savage Men
Film · 1975
Anasının Gözü
Film · 1975
Four for All
Film · 1975
Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion
Film · 1975
The Skin Under the Claws
Film · 1975
The Man from Chicago
Film · 1975
Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks
Film · 1974
The Household
Film · 1974
Little Godfather from Hong Kong
Film · 1974
The Sewer Rats
Film · 1974
The Fighting Fist of Shanghai Joe
Film · 1973
Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West
Film · 1973
Anything for a Friend
Film · 1973
From the Archives of the Criminal Police
Film · 1973
His Colt, Himself, His Revenge
Film · 1973
My Darling Slave
Film · 1973
Frankenstein '80
Film · 1972
The Crucified Girls of San Ramon
Film · 1972
My Name Is Texas Bill
Film · 1972
A Gunman Called Dakota
Film · 1972
Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado
Film · 1972
The French Sex Murders
Film · 1972
Slaughter Day
Film · 1972
Finders Killers
Film · 1971
Treasure of the Lost Desert
Film · 1971
Angel's Leap
Film · 1971
Day of Judgment
Film · 1971
Savage Guns
Film · 1971
Adios Compañeros
Film · 1971
Coffin Full of Dollars
Film · 1971
His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria
Film · 1971
Io non spezzo... rompo
Film · 1971
Let's Go And Kill Sartana
Film · 1971
Down with Your Hands... You Scum!
Film · 1971
Tre nel mille
Film · 1971
Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End
Film · 1970
Dead Men Don't Make Shadows
Film · 1970
The Arizona Kid
Film · 1970
I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death
Film · 1969
Satyricon
Film · 1969
The Wings of War
Film · 1969
Lisa with the Blue Eyes
Film · 1969
Ora X Pattuglia Suicida
Film · 1969
Beyond the Law
Film · 1968
Dead for a Dollar
Film · 1968
Seven Times Seven
Film · 1968
Fenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen
Film · 1968
The Killer Likes Candy
Film · 1968
Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten
Film · 1968
Cheers... Cyanide!
Film · 1968
All on the Red
Film · 1968
I'll Die for Vengeance
Film · 1968
Cry of Death
Film · 1968
Reflections in a Golden Eye
Film · 1967
The Crazy Westerners
Film · 1967
Born to Kill
Film · 1967
John the Bastard
Film · 1967
Death on the Run
Film · 1967
Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak
Film · 1967
Star Pilot
Film · 1966
Three Bullets for Ringo
Film · 1966
Thompson 1880
Film · 1966
Kill or Be Killed
Film · 1966
È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere
Film · 1966
L'Estate
Film · 1966
Lady Morgan's Vengeance
Film · 1965
Erik the Viking
Film · 1965
The Stone Forest
Film · 1965
Hercules and the Princess of Troy
Film · 1965
I Spy
Series · 1965
Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens
Film · 1964
Seven Slaves Against the World
Film · 1964
The Revenge of the Gladiators
Film · 1964
Brennus, Enemy of Rome
Film · 1963
The Fury of Achilles
Film · 1962
Vulcan, Son of Giove
Film · 1962
Kerim, Son of the Sheik
Film · 1962
Caesar Against the Pirates
Film · 1962
Invasion 1700
Film · 1962
The Giant of Metropolis
Film · 1961
Atlas Against the Cyclops
Film · 1961
The Centurion
Film · 1961
Spartacus
Film · 1960
Rio Bravo
Film · 1959
The Twilight Zone
Series · 1959
The Young Lions
Film · 1958
The Spirit of St. Louis
Film · 1957
The Enemy Below
Film · 1957
Around the World in 80 Days
Film · 1956
The Man with the Golden Arm
Film · 1955