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Overdose

as Costa

1989
SFX Retaliator

as Morgan

1988
Blood Delirium

as Hermann

1988
Cross of the Seven Jewels

as Black Mass Leader

1987
Cobra Mission

as Col. Mortimer

1986
She

as Hector

1984
White Fire

as Olaf

1984
Endgame

as Col. Morgan

1983
Rush

as Yor

1983
Diamond Connection

as Abdul Pascha

1982
Fever of 40!

as Mr. Temple

1980
Umbrella Coup

as Moskovitz, le tueur

1980
White Fang and the Kid

as Morgan

1978
Seven Savage Men

as Cooper

1975
Four for All

as Margherito

1975
The Sewer Rats

as Gordon

1974
Frankenstein '80

as Dr. Otto Frankenstein

1972
The Big Bust Out

as El Kadir

1972
Finders Killers

as Chris Forest

1971
Coffin Full of Dollars

as John Hamilton

1971
Down with Your Hands... You Scum!

as Buck/Butch Bradley

1971
Day of Judgment

as Deputy

1971
Dead Men Don't Make Shadows

as Roger Murdock

1970
The Arizona Kid

as Coyote

1970
Gordon Mitchell Gordon Mitchell

Birthday

1923-07-29

Place of Birth

Denver, Colorado, USA

Biography

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.
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