Highest rated as cast or director
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.
Acted in 133
2000s
- 2004
Malevolence
Don Fabrizio De Martino
- 2002
An Enraged New World
General Murchison
1990s
- 1995
Bikini Drive-In
Goliath
1980s
- 1989
Overdose
Costa
I promessi sposi
Don Gonzalo · 5 episodes
- 1988
Blood Delirium
Hermann
Faida
Movie
SFX Retaliator
Morgan
- 1987
Cross of the Seven Jewels
Black Mass Leader
Commando Invasion
Movie
- 1986
Three Men on Fire
Dr. Andrew Milhench
The Mines of Kilimanjaro
Rolf
Cobra Mission
Col. Mortimer
- 1984
White Fire
Olaf
She
Hector
- 1983
If All Goes Well We Are Ruined
Jack Volpetti
Rush
Yor
Secret Force
Movie
- 1982
Diamond Connection
Abdul Pascha
Curse of the Red Butterfly
Brado
- 1981
The Doctor Prefers Sailors
killer russo
Kopfschuß
Maserati
Trois filles dans le vent
Gordon Mitchell
- 1980
Holocaust II
Felix Oppenheimer
Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados
Robert
Fever of 40!
Mr. Temple
The Iron Hand of the Mafia
Don Nicola
1970s
- 1979
Porno erotico western
(as Charles Pendleton)
Strategy for a Mission of Death
Paul
A Very Special Woman
Gordon
- 1978
White Fang and the Kid
Morgan
Operation Orient
Haine
Fists, Dollars and Spinach
Frank Stilo
- 1977
The Slayers
Pablo
Natascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau
Gooming
Oil
Joe
Achtung! The Desert Tigers
Kommandant von Stolzen
- 1976
Special Squad Shoots on Sight
David
- 1975
Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion
Renato Proietti
The Tiger From the River Kwai
Jack Mason
The Man from Chicago
Mike
The Skin Under the Claws
Professor Helmut
Seven Savage Men
Cooper
Four for All
Margherito
Anasının Gözü
Movie
- 1974
The Household
General Von Werner
Little Godfather from Hong Kong
Movie
- 1973
His Colt, Himself, His Revenge
Martin
From the Archives of the Criminal Police
Peter Wilcox
Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West
Mike
My Darling Slave
Von Thirac
Anything for a Friend
Miller
- 1972
Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado
Jonathan Duke
My Name Is Texas Bill
Martin
The Crucified Girls of San Ramon
El Kadir
A Gunman Called Dakota
Dakota
- 1971
His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria
Ray Potter
Savage Guns
Gordon Mitchell
Angel's Leap
Henry Di Fusco
Day of Judgment
Deputy
Let's Go And Kill Sartana
Greg "The Crazy Person"
Down with Your Hands... You Scum!
Buck/Butch Bradley
Finders Killers
Chris Forest
Tre nel mille
Movie
Io non spezzo... rompo
Joe il Rosso
Treasure of the Lost Desert
Movie
- 1970
1960s
- 1969
Ora X Pattuglia Suicida
Movie
The Wings of War
Movie
- 1968
Cry of Death
Donkey / Morgan Pitt
Dead for a Dollar
Roy Fulton
Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten
Alfredo
All on the Red
Erikson
Seven Times Seven
Big Ben
The Killer Likes Candy
Toni
Cheers... Cyanide!
Al Rubino
I'll Die for Vengeance
Clayton
Fenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen
Gregory Falco
- 1967
John the Bastard
Danite
Reflections in a Golden Eye
Stables Sergeant
Death on the Run
The Albanian
The Crazy Westerners
Bandit Leader
Born to Kill
Rod Gordon
- 1966
È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere
Van Himst
Kill or Be Killed
Baltimore Joe/Ringo
Thompson 1880
Glenn Sheppard
- 1965
Lady Morgan's Vengeance
Roger
Erik the Viking
Sven
The Stone Forest
Hunding
Hercules and the Princess of Troy
Pirate Captain
- 1964
Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens
Omar
The Revenge of the Gladiators
Arminio
Seven Slaves Against the World
Balisten
- 1963
- 1962
The Fury of Achilles
Achilles
Invasion 1700
Ulrich
Kerim, Son of the Sheik
Yussuf
Vulcan, Son of Giove
Pluto
- 1961
The Centurion
General Metellus
- 1960
1950s
- 1959
- 1958
- 1957
- 1956
- 1955
Appearances2
2000s
- 2000
Kino kolossal - Herkules, Maciste & Co
Self
1960s
- 1966
L'Estate
Self