Posted on 10/04/2025 9:48:52 AM PDT by DFG
Jim Mitchum, who starred alongside his father, Oscar-nominated actor Robert Mitchum, in the 1958 moonshine drama Thunder Road while appearing in about three dozen films and TV shows during his career, has died. He was 84.
Mitchum died Sept. 20 at his ranch home in Skull Valley, Arizona, after a long illness, a family spokesperson announced.
He also had a part in Dennis Hopper’s critical and financial disaster The Last Movie (1971) and made a short documentary about the experience working in Peru with Hopper, Peter Fonda and Kris Kristofferson called The Last Movie Movie.
Mitchum’s mom was determined to keep him out of show business as long as possible, but when he was 16, he was cast as Robert’s younger brother, Robin Doolin, in the cult classic Thunder Road. It was his first credited film role. (The part was originally written for Elvis Presley, a family friend of the Mitchums, but he wanted too much money.)
Also produced by Robert, the movie, about Southern whiskey runners pitted against federal agents and organized crime, was filled with car chases and stunts. Playing a car mechanic, James discovered a talent for tinkering with engines and had a stint as a stock car racer and real mechanic, notably working on Presley’s hot rods.
The first-born son of Robert Mitchum and Dorothy Spence Mitchum, Jim Mitchum appeared in the war films The Victors (1963), starring George Peppard, Albert Finney and George Hamilton; the Otto Preminger-directed In Harm’s Way (1965), starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas; and Ambush Bay (1966), starring Hugh O’Brian and Mickey Rooney.
(Excerpt) Read more at hollywoodreporter.com ...
Born (I was) and raised in Florida, watched this movie while vacationing in the Smoky mountains as a kid in the late 50’s. still have vivid memories of this movie. RIP Jim.
Used to drive through Skull Valley fairly often, had no idea he lived there.
When his dad was a NY stage actor, he got his first Hollywood movie roll.
He told his wife they were moving by saying (as he told Dick Cavett in an interview) “Stick with me baby and you’ll be farting through silk soon!”
That was a line WW II US Pilots used in England, to pick up girls. They had access to silk stockings, the I inference being companionship for the stockings.
I saw the movie as an adult and was disappointed at the anemic muffled six cylinder sound effects for Robert Mitchum's hot rods.
Boy! Did he have Robert Mitchum’s eyes!
That is One...
Maybe Hanoi Jane will be Two
and his voice!
He had a short bit in In Harms Way and a co-staring role in Ride the Wild Surf.
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