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Gordon Mitchell

Gordon Mitchell

Actor · Died September 20, 2003, aged 80 · Denver, Colorado, USA

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 29, 1923
Died
September 20, 2003 (aged 80)
From
Denver, Colorado, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 136 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 54% in 30 days

What are Gordon Mitchell's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
40%
Bonds
16%
Self
15%
Power
12%
Survival
12%
Society
5%
Revenge7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 6 · Wry 4 · Earnest 15

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 12

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 11 · Intense 10

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 5

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 3

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 19 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 7 of 13 analyzed roles.

Shadow
7 of 13
Hero
2 of 13
Shapeshifter
1 of 13
Mentor
1 of 13
Ally
1 of 13
Threshold guardian
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Thrilling
15
Absurd
12
Joyful
4
Melancholic
4
Other
13

How their films linger

Fun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Gordon Mitchell's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gordon Mitchell's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

136 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Malevolence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Don Fabrizio De Martino

  • An Enraged New World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as General Murchison

  • Bikini Drive-In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Goliath

  • The Alien Within (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Dan Thorn

  • Overdose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Costa

  • I promessi sposi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 5 episodes · as Don Gonzalo

  • Blood Delirium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Hermann

  • Faida (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • SFX Retaliator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Morgan

  • Cross of the Seven Jewels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Black Mass Leader

  • Commando Invasion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Three Men on Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Dr. Andrew Milhench

  • Cobra Mission(1986)

    as Col. Mortimer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Mines of Kilimanjaro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Rolf

  • White Fire(1984)

    as Olaf

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • She(1984)

    as Hector

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • If All Goes Well We Are Ruined (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Jack Volpetti

  • Endgame - Bronx lotta finale(1983)

    as Col. Morgan

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Rush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Yor

  • The Commissioner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as (uncredited)

  • Secret Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Marco Polo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 3 episodes · as Capitano Arnolfo

  • The Yellow Panther (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as killer

  • Curse of the Red Butterfly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Brado

  • Diamond Connection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Abdul Pascha

  • La dottoressa preferisce i marinai(1981)

    as killer russo

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Kopfschuß (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Maserati

  • Trois filles dans le vent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Gordon Mitchell

  • The Umbrella Coup(1980)

    as Moskovitz, le tueur à gages

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Holocaust II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Felix Oppenheimer

  • Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Robert

  • Fever of 40! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Mr. Temple

  • The Iron Hand of the Mafia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Don Nicola

  • Porno erotico western (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as (as Charles Pendleton)

  • Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot(1979)

    as Pretorius

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Strategy for a Mission of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Paul

  • A Very Special Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Gordon

  • Santa Lucia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Amerikaner

  • White Fang and the Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Morgan

  • Operation Orient (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Haine

  • Fists, Dollars and Spinach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Frank Stilo

  • The Slayers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Pablo

  • Natascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Gooming

  • Oil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Joe

  • Achtung! The Desert Tigers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Kommandant von Stolzen

  • Special Squad Shoots on Sight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as David

  • Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Renato Proietti

  • The Tiger From the River Kwai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Jack Mason

  • The Man from Chicago (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Mike

  • The Skin Under the Claws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Professor Helmut

  • Seven Devils on Horseback(1975)

    as Cooper

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Four for All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Margherito

  • Anasının Gözü (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • The Household (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as General Von Werner

  • Little Godfather from Hong Kong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • The Sewer Rats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Gordon

  • Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Igor

  • The Dragon Strikes Back(1973)

    as Burying Sam

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • His Colt, Himself, His Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Martin

  • From the Archives of the Criminal Police (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Peter Wilcox

  • Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Mike

  • My Darling Slave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Von Thirac

  • Anything for a Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Miller

  • Frankenstein '80(1972)

    as Dr. Otto Frankenstein

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Jonathan Duke

  • The French Sex Murders(1972)

    as Man in Nightclub

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • My Name Is Texas Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Martin

  • The Big Bust-Out(1972)

    as El Kadir

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • A Gunman Called Dakota (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Dakota

  • Slaughter Day(1972)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Ray Potter

  • Savage Guns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Gordon Mitchell

  • Angel's Leap(1971)

    as Henry Di Fusco

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Day of Judgment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Deputy

  • Let's Go And Kill Sartana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Greg "The Crazy Person"

  • Down with Your Hands... You Scum! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Buck/Butch Bradley

  • Adios Compañeros(1971)

    as Ironhead

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Coffin Full of Dollars(1971)

    as John Hamilton

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Finders Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Chris Forest

  • Tre nel mille (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Io non spezzo... rompo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Joe il Rosso

  • Treasure of the Lost Desert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Dead Men Don't Make Shadows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Roger Murdock

  • Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Black Burt Keller / Burt Kelly

  • The Arizona Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Coyote

  • Lisa with the Blue Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Football player

  • I Am Sartana, Your Angel of Death(1969)

    as Degueyo

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Satyricon(1969)

    as Il predone

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Ora X Pattuglia Suicida (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • The Wings of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Cry of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Donkey / Morgan Pitt

  • Dead for a Dollar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Roy Fulton

  • Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Alfredo

  • All on the Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Erikson

  • Seven Times Seven(1969)

    as Big Ben

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Killer Likes Candy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Toni

  • Beyond the Law(1968)

    as Burton

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Cheers... Cyanide! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Al Rubino

  • Sapevano solo uccidere(1968)

    as Clayton

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Fenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Gregory Falco

  • John the Bastard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Danite

  • Reflections in a Golden Eye(1967)

    as Stables Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Death on the Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as The Albanian

  • Crazy Westerners(1967)

    as Bandit Leader

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Born to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Rod Gordon

  • Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Ringo

  • È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Van Himst

  • Kill or Be Killed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Baltimore Joe/Ringo

  • Thompson 1880 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Glenn Sheppard

  • Star Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Murdu

  • Three Graves for a Winchester(1966)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Lady Morgan's Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Roger

  • Erik the Viking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Sven

  • I Spy(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Stone Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Hunding

  • Hercules and the Princess of Troy(1965)

    as Pirate Captain

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Omar

  • The Revenge of the Gladiators (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Arminio

  • Seven Slaves Against the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Balisten

  • Brennus, Enemy of Rome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Brenno

  • Fury of Achilles(1962)

    as Achilles

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Invasion 1700 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Ulrich

  • Kerim, Son of the Sheik (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Yussuf

  • Caesar Against the Pirates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Hamar

  • Vulcan, Son of Giove (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Pluto

  • The Giant of Metropolis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Obro

  • The Centurion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as General Metellus

  • Atlas Against the Cyclops(1961)

    as Maciste

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Spartacus(1960)

    as Gladiator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Soldier

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Rio Bravo(1959)

    as Bar Cowboy Watching Fistfight (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Young Lions(1958)

    as Minor Role (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Enemy Below(1957)

    as German Sailor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Spirit of St. Louis(1957)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Around the World in 80 Days(1956)

    as Extra (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Man with the Golden Arm(1955)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 136 titles from 1955 to 2004; peak year 1968.

Biggest box office

Satyricon (1969)

$1.1M worldwide

Highest rated

Satyricon (1969)

Midcredits 76th

Film career

19552004

Peak 1968 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting136 of 136: 136 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score28th

By decade

1950s7 · acting1960s44 · acting1970s52 · acting1980s29 · acting1990s2 · acting2000s2 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 20 roles
5570

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Gordon Mitchell's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 21st percentile, the median of all 34; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 23rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

23rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

15thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th18

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 36 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned5
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

Slaughter Day (1972)

68th percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rio Bravo (1959)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 47/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles; fans 61, detractors 30. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Gordon Mitchell's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity6 titles37–75 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Gordon Mitchell work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gordon Mitchell's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Klaus Kinski shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors