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 Golds Gym), joining Mae Wests 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 Ramseys 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 Italys Sword & Sandal craze of the early 60s, 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 Fellinis 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 1980s 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 Mitchells Memorial Service at the World Gym Headquarters along with many other bodybuilders who credit Mitchell with getting them into their careers.
Igor
Film 1974
Dr. Otto Frankenstein
Film 1972
killer russo
Film 1981
Chris Forest
Film 1971
Mr. Temple
Film 1980
Burying Sam
Film 1973
Obro
Film 1961
Burton
Film 1968
Black Mass Leader
Film 1987
Col. Morgan
Film 1983
Rolf
Film 1986
Frank Stilo
Film 1978
Film 1971
Degueyo
Film 1969
Häuptling Sitzender Büffel
Film 1967
Hector
Film 1984
Col. Mortimer
Film 1986
Murdu
Film 1966
Achilles
Film 1962
killer
Film 1982
Omar
Film 1964
David
Film 1976
El Kadir
Film 1972
Maciste
Film 1961
Olaf
Film 1984
Frank
Film 1966
Roy Fulton
Film 1968
Morgan
Film 1988
Henry Di Fusco
Film 1971
Deputy
Film 1971
Ironhead
Film 1971
Gordon Mitchell
Film 1971
John Hamilton
Film 1971
Martin
Film 1972
Ray Potter
Film 1971
Joe il Rosso
Film 1971
Rod Gordon
Film 1967
Danite
Film 1967
Greg "The Crazy Person"
Film 1971
Dakota
Film 1972
Mike
Film 1973
Glenn Sheppard
Film 1966
Black Burt Keller / Burt Kelly
Film 1970
Hermann
Film 1988
Jonathan Duke
Film 1972
Miller
Film 1973
Jack Mason
Film 1975
Morgan
Film 1978
Pluto
Film 1962
Peter Wilcox
Film 1973
Cooper
Film 1975
Martin
Film 1973
Buck/Butch Bradley
Film 1971
Roger Murdock
Film 1970
Kommandant von Stolzen
Film 1977
Paul
Film 1979
Yussuf
Film 1962
Hamar
Film 1962
Film 1975
Film 1955
Gregory Falco
Film 1968
Yor
Film 1983
Film 1974
Il predone
Film 1969
Baltimore Joe/Ringo
Film 1966
Ulrich
Film 1962
Costa
Film 1989
Toni
Film 1968
Alfredo
Film 1968
Roger
Film 1965
Margherito
Film 1975
Coyote
Film 1970
Film 1971
Abdul Pascha
Film 1982
Renato Proietti
Film 1975
Don Nicola
Film 1980
Balisten
Film 1964
Arminio
Film 1964
Ringo
Film 1967
Sven
Film 1965
General Metellus
Film 1961
Hunding
Film 1965
Haine
Film 1978
Goliath
Film 1995
Brenno
Film 1963
Gladiator (uncredited)
Film 1960
Minor Role (uncredited)
Film 1958
Von Thirac
Film 1973
Bar Cowboy Watching Fistfight (uncredited)
Film 1959
Film 1969
Pirate Captain
Film 1965
Film 1987
(uncredited)
Film 1957
Dan Thorn
Film 1990
Professor Helmut
Film 1975
Brado
Film 1982
Robert
Film 1980
Al Rubino
Film 1968
Extra (uncredited)
Film 1956
Erikson
Film 1968
Maserati
Film 1981
Film 1986
General Murchison
Film 2002
Don Fabrizio De Martino
Film 2004
Self
Film 2000
Jack Volpetti
Film 1983
Gordon
Film 1974
Gooming
Film 1977
Amerikaner
Film 1979
Gordon Mitchell
Film 1981
Football player
Film 1969
Gordon
Film 1972
Film 1983
Pretorius
Film 1979
Clayton
Film 1968
Donkey / Morgan Pitt
Film 1968
Van Himst
Film 1966
Pablo
Film 1977
Mike
Film 1975
Film 1969
Felix Oppenheimer
Film 1980
Self
Film 1966
Tv 1965
Capitano Arnolfo
Tv 1982