Robert Mitchum Net Worth

May 2024 · 14 minute read
#Fact1In his 1973 autobiography "Anything for a Quiet Life" Jack Hawkins wrote that Mitchum would drink 49 glasses of rum before having dinner when they were filming Rampage (1963).2Mitchum wrote an oratorio that was produced and directed by Orson Welles at the Hollywood Bowl in the 1940s.3Was said to have been a candidate for the role of Samson in Samson and Delilah (1949).4One of the lesser-known aspects of Mitchum's career were his forays into music, both as singer and composer. Critic Greg Adams writes that "Unlike most celebrity vocalists, Robert Mitchum actually had musical talent." Mitchum's voice was often used instead of that of a professional singer when his character sang in his films. Notable productions featuring Mitchum's own singing voice included Rachel and the Stranger (1948), River of No Return (1954) and The Night of the Hunter (1955). After hearing traditional calypso music and meeting artists such as Mighty Sparrow and Lord Invader while filming Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957) in the Caribbean island of Tobago, he recorded Calypso - is like so... in 1957. On the album, he emulated the calypso sound and style, even adopting the style's unique pronunciations and slang. A year later, he recorded a song he had written for the film Thunder Road (1958), titled "The Ballad of Thunder Road". The country-style song became a modest hit for Mitchum, reaching No. 69 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart. The song was included as a bonus track on a successful reissue of Calypso... and helped market the film to a wider audience.5Became good friends with legendary animal trainer Ralph Helfer's famous African Lion Zamba while filming the movie Rampage (1963).6In 1975 he was offered his high school diploma if he attended a ceremony at his old school. Mitchum did not attend the ceremony, but the diploma was still posted to him.7Mitchum refused to be interviewed for George Eells' biography of the actor.8While at RKO Radio Pictures, Mitchum became the first male movie star to refuse to shave his chest for shirtless roles. In order to avoid that, he allowed himself to develop a pot belly to avoid having to take his shirt off at all.9As of November 2013, Mitchum remains the subject of a documentary, still in progress after some 20 years, by Bruce Weber, which was screened at the Venice Film Festival in August 2013.10He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6240 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on January 25, 1984.11Was announced as co star with Spencer Tracy and Paul Newman in the Jerry Wald production of "The Enemy Within", based on the book by Attorney General Robert Kennedy, which at 1962/63 was in preparation for Twentieth Century Fox.12As a teenager, Mitchum was sentenced to a Georgia chain gang on a charge of vagrancy.13According to Mitchum biographer John Belton, during the shooting of Undercurrent (1946) Katharine Hepburn told Mitchum, "You know you can't act, and if you hadn't been good-looking, you would have never gotten a picture. I'm tired of playing with people who have nothing to offer.".14Dwight Whitney wrote in "TV Guide" on June 7, 1969 about Mitchum that there is the "suggestion, implicit in every utterance, that within the body of this 'movie-star' lies imprisoned the soul of a poet.".15Turned down the role that eventually went to Tony Curtis in The Defiant Ones (1958). Mitchum, a real-life veteran of a Southern chain gang, did not believe the premise that a black man and a white man would be chained together and said that such a thing would never happen in the South. Over the years, this reason was corrupted to the point where many people now believe Mitchum turned down the role because he did not want to be chained to a black man, an absolute falsehood. Curtis repeated the inaccurate story in his autobiography, but later recanted after Mitchum's real reason was explained to him.16Mitchum was cast by Howard Hughes in Holiday Affair (1949) because Hughes felt that Mitchum needed to "soften" his image after his marijuana conviction and prison sentence.17Is the subject of the song "Robert Mitchum" by Swedish singer Olle Ljungström, available on his album "Världens Räddaste Man" (translates "The World's Most Terrified Man").18Was the inspiration for the Kurt Busiek's Astro City character "Steeljack".19Was mentioned in the song "One More Arrow" by Elton John.20Early in his career many newspapers and fan magazines promoted him as a "new" Clark Gable, perhaps because both actors had strongly masculine images and powerful, distinctive voices. With Out of the Past (1947) however, Mitchum proved that he was a great star in his own right.21Is mentioned in the Queens of the Stone Age song "The Fun Machine Took a Shit and Died", off their 2007 album "Era Vulgaris".22The 60-year-old Mitchum impressed Oliver Reed, Britain's legendary hellraiser, by drinking a whole bottle of gin in 55 minutes on the set of The Big Sleep (1978).23In 1959, the Mitchums moved out of Hollywood and into a farm they had bought on the Maryland shore of Chesapeake Bay, near the town of Trappe. In 1965, the family returned to Hollywood, largely at wife Dorothy Mitchum's insistence, and moved into a modest, ivy-covered mansion in Bel Air. Mitchum also purchased a 76-acre ranch near Los Angeles, mostly as a home for his growing collection of quarter horses.24He claimed his famous eyes were the result of a combination of injuries from his boxing days and chronic insomnia, which he suffered from throughout his life.25Mitchum was in poor health while filming The Winds of War (1983), and once again there was talk of retirement. He filmed Maria's Lovers (1984) despite suffering from a solid case of pneumonia.26While filming El Dorado (1967) Mitchum was amused by co-star John Wayne's attempts to play his screen persona to the hilt in real life. He recalled that Wayne wore four-inch lifts to increase his height and had the roof of his car raised so he could drive wearing his Stetson.27Turned down Gene Hackman's role as drug-busting policeman Popeye Doyle in The French Connection (1971) because he found the story offensive.28Presented with a People's Choice Award backstage by Charlton Heston for War and Remembrance (1988) during the 1989 ceremony in Beverly Hills, California.29Many critics were unconvinced by the 65-year-old Mitchum winning World War II in The Winds of War (1983). When the producers made a sequel, War and Remembrance (1988), they worried that a 70-year-old Mitchum would be even less convincing and considered replacing him with James Coburn. Eventually they decided that what they would gain in fewer wrinkles, they would lose in Mitchum's formidable screen presence and charisma.30Though respectful of Robert De Niro's talent, Mitchum was amused by the young Method actor's habit of remaining in character all day as film studio chief Monroe Stahr during the filming of The Last Tycoon (1976). Mitchum gave De Niro the nickname "Kid Monroe", and made many jokes about him with the older actors on the set like Ray Milland and Dana Andrews.31After two weeks of shooting on the movie Tombstone (1993), the studio fired writer (director) Kevin Jarre and hired George P. Cosmatos. He, with Kurt Russell's input, cut a number of scenes (for actors) and changed them to new action scenes, weakening a beautifully written script. Part of what was cut was the old man Ike's character. As Mitchum had already signed the contract, they had him do the voice-over instead.32Replaced Burt Lancaster in Maria's Lovers (1984) after the elder actor was forced to undergo emergency quadruple heart bypass surgery.33President Dwight D. Eisenhower would never allow any of Mitchum's movies to be played in the White House, due to the actor's marijuana possession conviction.34Had a longstanding dislike of fellow tough guy actors Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson.355 Card Stud (1968), the showdown between Hollywood's two deities of indifference, produced no sparks on or off the screen. Dean Martin remained in his trailer watching television after filming was completed, and delivered his lines as though he had memorized them phonetically. The only excitement came when a massive camera collapsed and nearly hammered Mitchum into the ground. Instead, the star moved casually aside while thousands of dollars worth of equipment smashed around him.36Turned down the leading role in Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece The Wild Bunch (1969), which went to his old friend William Holden, and made 5 Card Stud (1968). His excuse was they were both westerns.37He was fired from Blood Alley (1955), allegedly for getting drunk and arguing with a crew member whom he then proceeded to throw into a nearby river, a charge Mitchum always denied.38Visited his son Christopher Mitchum on the set of Rio Lobo (1970). Director Howard Hawks asked the elder Mitchum to reprise his El Dorado (1967) role as a drunken sheriff, but Mitchum claimed he was now retired. John Wayne responded, "Mitch has been retiring ever since the first day I met him.".39He seriously considered retiring from acting in 1968 due to concerns over the quality of his recent movies. After a year's absence, during which he spent much of the time driving around America visiting old friends and staying in motels, he was lured back to star in Ryan's Daughter (1970).40Mitchum once said that Reverend Harry Powell, the murderous villain he played in The Night of the Hunter (1955), was his favorite role.41His performance as Reverend Harry Powell in The Night of the Hunter (1955) is ranked #71 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.42He was persuaded by his manager Antonio Consentino, a die-hard Republican, to campaign for George Bush in the 1992 presidential election. He also narrated a biographical film of the President for the Republican National Convention, and attended a fundraiser at Bob Hope's house in Hollywood.43In 1981, he fired his secretary, Reva Frederick, when he closed his office. Mitchum was subsequently sued as she claimed he owed her a pension back-dated to 1961. There was no paperwork to support this claim, and she dropped her suit when evidence was discovered that she had stolen millions of dollars from Mitchum over the years. As part of the "deal", he agreed not to prosecute. During the course of these events, Ms. Fredrick suffered a stroke from which she never fully recovered.44He was a huge fan of Elvis Presley's early music, and wanted Presley to star with him in Thunder Road (1958). Unfortunately, Tom Parker's demands for Presley's salary could not be met in this independent production, which Mitchum was financing himself.45Was the defendant in FTC (Federal Taxation Commissioner) vs. Mitchum (1965), a famous taxation case in Australia, in relation to income earned in Australia while working there on The Sundowners (1960).46His arrest for marijuana possession in the late 1940s was one of the first times a major actor had been jailed for this crime. According to Lee Server's 2001 biography, "Robert Mitchum: Baby I Don't Care", he was still smoking pot into his old age.47During a break in filming War and Remembrance (1988) in August 1987, Mitchum replaced his friend John Huston as an aging millionaire in Mr. North (1988) after Huston, who suffered from emphysema, was hospitalized with pneumonia. In October 1987, Mitchum filled in for Edward Woodward, who was recovering from a heart attack, in a special two-part episode of The Equalizer (1985).48His vocal support for the Vietnam War failed to affect his appeal with American youth, and in 1968, a poll of teenagers declared him the coolest celebrity. Mitchum responded that they must have missed his recent films.49His driving license from 1950 gave his height as 6' even, one inch less than usually reported. However, Mitchum described himself as being exactly six feet tall in interviews.50He was cremated and his ashes scattered at sea by wife Dorothy Mitchum and neighbor Jane Russell. At Mitchum's insistence, no memorial service was held.51Robert's father, James Thomas Mitchum, was born in Lane, Williamsburg, South Carolina. James had English ancestry. Robert's mother, Ann Harriet (Gunderson), was Norwegian, from Kristiania, Oslo, Norway. Robert is sometimes described as having Native American ancestry on his father's side. It is not clear if this ancestry has been verified/documented.52Addressed the Republican National Convention in 1992.53Although he had numerous affairs throughout his marriage, he remained with wife Dorothy Mitchum for nearly 60 years.54Biography in: "American National Biography." Supplement 1, pp. 414-416. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.55Died one day before his The Big Sleep (1978) co-star James Stewart.56Treated for alcoholism at the Betty Ford Center in 1984.57Turned down the lead role of Gen. George S. Patton in Patton (1970), allegedly because he believed he would ruin the film due to his indifference. During a Turner Classic Movies interview with Robert Osborne, Mitchum said that he knew the movie could be a great one due to the script, but that the studio would want to concentrate on battles and tanks moving around on screen rather than on the character of Patton. Mitchum believed that with himself in the role, the movie would turn out mediocre; what was needed was a passionate actor who would fight his corner to keep the focus on Patton, an actor like George C. Scott, whom Mitchum recommended to the producers.58Great-grandfather of Allexanne Mitchum, Cappy Van Dien and Grace Van Dien.59Was named #23 greatest actor on The 50 Greatest Screen Legends by the American Film Institute.60Was close friends with Richard Egan, and served as a pallbearer at his funeral in 1987.61Michael Madsen called Mitchum his "role model" and inspiration to take up acting as a profession.62In the 1950s, he was selected by Howard Hughes to appear in a series of films he was producing. Hughes considered Mitchum a "friend," but (as a paranoid recluse) hardly met the actor. Mitchum was halfway put off and halfway amused by the "crazy old man" and clearly saw that he was a surrogate for Hughes as the strapping actor "romanced" young starlets on screen.63Was mentioned by name as part of The Velvet Underground song "New Age" (from the 1970 album "Loaded").64He was voted the 61st Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.65Carefully maintained a facade of indifference, always lazily insisting that he made movies just so he could get laid, score some pot, and make money, and cared nothing about art. This is surely true of some films, which he likely picked to make money, but certain directors and films seemed to secretly pique his interest, including his work with Charles Laughton, John Huston and Howard Hawks.66He was accused of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial after an interview he gave to Barry Rehfeld of "Esquire" magazine promoting The Winds of War (1983) at his home in February 1983. Mitchum wrote an apologetic letter on 9 March 1983 to Herbert Luft, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency's Hollywood columnist. Mitchum claimed he had recited views expressed by the bigoted football coach he had played in That Championship Season (1982), which Rehfeld "mistakenly believed to be my own. From that point on, he approached me as the character in the script and in playing the devil's advocate in a prankish attempt to string him along we compounded a tragedy of errors." Mitchum added he was "truly sorry that this misunderstanding has upset so many people, especially since it is so foreign to my principle. The attendant misfortune is that it has brought me a spate of mail from people and organizations who are encouraged to believe that I share their bigotry and discrimination.".67Was one of four actors (with Jack Nicholson, Bette Davis, and Faye Dunaway) to have two villainous roles ranked in the American Film Institute's 100 years of The Greatest Heroes and Villains, as Max Cady in Cape Fear (1962) at #28 and as Reverend Harry Powell in The Night of the Hunter (1955) at #29.68Briefly served in the United States Army during World War II, with service number 39 744 068, from April 12 - October 11, 1945, after he was drafted. According to Lee Server's 2001 biography, "Robert Mitchum: Baby I Don't Care", Mitchum said he served as a medic at an induction department, checking recruits' genitals for venereal disease (a "pecker checker"). Always the iconoclast, although he did not want to join the military, he served honorably and was discharged as a Private First Class and received the World War II Victory Medal.69In 1947, he and Gary Gray recorded the songs from Rachel and the Stranger (1948) for Delta Records' soundtrack album. In 1968, he recorded another album, entitled "That Man Robert Mitchum... Sings". It included the track "Little Old Wine Drinker Me", which later became a hit for Dean Martin. In 1998, these songs were released on CD as "Robert Mitchum Sings".70Sidelines: Played the saxophone and wrote poetry.71Grandfather of actors Bentley Mitchum and Price Mitchum, actress Carrie Mitchum and male model Kian Mitchum.72Brother of John Mitchum and Julie Mitchum.73Father of James Mitchum, Christopher Mitchum, and Trini Mitchum.

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