Jim Mitchum, the actor who made his own way in Hollywood but paid tribute to his father’s legacy as a movie great, Robert Mitchum, has died at 84. He died Sunday, Sept. 20 at his Skull Valley, Arizona ranch after a long illness. He was with his wife, Pamela, and their favorite poodle.
Born May 8, 1941, in Los Angeles to Robert Mitchum and Dorothy Spence, Jim was introduced at the age of eight in Colorado Territory (1949). Although his mother had wished him away from the acting profession, Jim’s resemblance to his father and his presence on the screen led him to pursue acting. His breakthrough was in the 1958 cult film Thunder Road, which his father produced, as the younger brother to Robert Mitchum’s character. Not only did this solidify himself in Hollywood, but it also ignited a lifelong passion for automobiles.
During the 1960s, Jim had a diverse range of films such as The Victors (1963), Ride the Wild Surf (1964), In Harm’s Way (1965), and Ambush Bay (1966). He also pursued other creative pursuits, including music with a 1961 solo record “Lonely Birthday” and collaborating on Elvis Presley’s race cars. During the 1970s, he made an appearance in Two-Lane Blacktop and accompanied Dennis Hopper to Peru for The Last Movie, shooting behind-the-scenes material. His 1975 film Moonrunners would eventually be the basis for hit television show The Dukes of Hazzard.
Jim retired from acting during the mid-1990s in order to pursue ranch life and breed Quarter Horses. He eventually started his own brand of whiskey as a tribute to Thunder Road.
He is survived by his wife, six children, and a number of grandchildren.
