
Gordon Mitchell
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.
Acting (129 movies)

Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks
1974

Frankenstein '80
1972

Reflections in a Golden Eye
1967

The Doctor Prefers Sailors
1981

Finders Killers
1971

Fever of 40!
1980

The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe
1973

The Giant of Metropolis
1961

Beyond the Law
1968

Cross of the Seven Jewels
1987

Endgame
1983

The Mines of Kilimanjaro
1986

Umbrella Coup
1980

Fists, Dollars and Spinach
1978

Treasure of the Lost Desert
1971

I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death
1969

The Crazy Westerners
1967

She
1984

Cobra Mission
1986

Star Pilot
1966

The Fury of Achilles
1962

The Yellow Panther
1982

Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens
1964

Special Squad Shoots on Sight
1976

The Crucified Girls of San Ramon
1972

Atlas Against the Cyclops
1961

White Fire
1984

Three Bullets for Ringo
1966

Dead for a Dollar
1968

SFX Retaliator
1988

Angel's Leap
1971

Day of Judgment
1971

Adios Compañeros
1971

Savage Guns
1971

Coffin Full of Dollars
1971

My Name Is Texas Bill
1972

His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria
1971

Io non spezzo... rompo
1971

Born to Kill
1967

John the Bastard
1967

Let's Go And Kill Sartana
1971

A Gunman Called Dakota
1972

Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West
1973

Thompson 1880
1966

Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End
1970

Seven Times Seven
1968

Blood Delirium
1988

Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado
1972

Anything for a Friend
1973

The Tiger From the River Kwai
1975

White Fang and the Kid
1978

Vulcan, Son of Giove
1962

From the Archives of the Criminal Police
1973

His Colt, Himself, His Revenge
1973

Down with Your Hands... You Scum!
1971

Dead Men Don't Make Shadows
1970

Achtung! The Desert Tigers
1977

Strategy for a Mission of Death
1979

Kerim, Son of the Sheik
1962

Caesar Against the Pirates
1962

The Household
1974

The Man with the Golden Arm
1955

Phenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen
1968

Rush
1983

Death on the Run
1967

Little Godfather from Hong Kong
1974

Satyricon
1969

Kill or Be Killed
1966

Invasion 1700
1962

Overdose
1989

The Killer Likes Candy
1968

Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten
1968

Lady Morgan's Vengeance
1965

Four for All
1975

Tre nel mille
1971

Diamond Connection
1982

Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion
1975

The Iron Hand of the Mafia
1980

Seven Slaves Against the World
1964

The Revenge of the Gladiators
1964

Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak
1967

Erik the Viking
1965

The Centurion
1961

The Stone Forest
1965

Operation Orient
1978

Bikini Drive-In
1995

Brennus, Enemy of Rome
1963

Spartacus
1960

The Young Lions
1958

My Darling Slave
1973

Rio Bravo
1959

The Wings of War
1969

Hercules and the Princess of Troy
1965

Commando Invasion
1987

The Spirit of St. Louis
1957

The Skin Under the Claws
1975

The French Sex Murders
1972

Curse of the Red Butterfly
1982

Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados
1980

Cheers... Cyanide!
1968
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