40 Wild Facts About Robert Mitchum, Hollywood's Original Bad Boy
Everybody loves a rebel... and Hollywood has had plenty of them over the years. Robert Mitchum — the film noir icon who exuded low-key danger at all times — was a genuine bad boy, though. As he put it himself, “The only difference between me and other actors is that I’ve spent more time in jail than any of them.” Here are 40 wild facts about the life and career of a true one-of-a-kind movie star.
40. Two of his villains made AFI’s ‘Greatest’ list
In 2003 the American Film Institute included two of Mitchum’s characters in its list of the Top 50 villains in cinema history. His searing portrayal of Max Cady in Cape Fear was ranked at number 28, while serial killer Reverend Harry Powell from The Night of the Hunter was number 29. It was a fitting tribute to an actor who knew exactly how to get under an audience’s skin.
39. Harry Powell was his favorite role
Speaking of Harry Powell, it was reportedly the part Mitchum most enjoyed playing. Interestingly, he once revealed director Charles Laughton got cold feet about his truly frightening performance, though. He claimed Laughton “didn’t want people to drag their children off the streets every time I passed. The character was too strong for him, but that is what he asked me to begin with.”
38. He thought George C. Scott would be a better Patton
George C. Scott won the Best Actor Oscar for 1970’s Patton. Revealingly, though, Mitchum was approached to play the role first and turned it down. It wasn’t because he didn’t like the material: he thought the script was incredible. Yet he felt the movie needed an actor who could fight the studio to keep the focus on the character, not the battles. He therefore recommended Scott.
37. He could memorize dialogue instantly
Mitchum always told anyone who would listen that he went into acting because he found it easy. Whether this is true or not is debatable, but one thing that isn’t debated is how natural he made it all seem. Perhaps this ease in front of a camera had something to do with how he could look at a script and immediately memorize his dialogue. We’re sure most actors would kill to have that particular talent!
