In 1962, actor David Janssen was feeling a bit stuck in his career. Despite earning critical praise for his performances, many of the films he starred in simply didn't resonate with audiences. He had enjoyed three successful years starring in Richard Diamond, Private Detective, a show that introduced Mary Tyler Moore—well, at least her legs—to the world as his never-seen secretary. David truly believed that this success would catapult him to big-screen superstardom. But, as luck would have it, things didn’t quite go as planned. This was also just about a year before he took on the role that would define his career—Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive, a character Harrison Ford would later bring to life on the big screen.
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David Janssen's Struggles in Hollywood
David once told The Times of San Mateo, California, about his experiences in the film industry. "My first picture, Hell to Eternity, was a hit with the critics and it made money," he said. "But after that, it was one disaster after another. Do you remember Dondi? No? Well, neither does anyone else. That movie brought back radio and home slides; it was one of the biggest bombs of its time. Then there was King of the Roaring '20s. I played a gangster. The movie wasn't a total catastrophe, but it wasn't exactly threatening West Side Story either. Twenty Plus Two was a real turkey—not just your average one, but a fancy, deluxe turkey. After that, I settled for an adventure drama, Ring of Fire, and it was a qualified disappointment. The sixth movie was Mantrap, and it just kind of laid there. You might say it got less than critical acclaim."
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The Breakthrough Role: Dr. Richard Kimble
Fast forward just two years later, and David gave an interview to the Oakland Tribune before The Fugitive had even finished its first season. He shared, "I’ve had many surprises in my acting career, but nothing compares to the astonishment I feel over the number of calls I get each week about Dr. Richard Kimble, the man I play on The Fugitive. Recently, a two-line personal ad in the Los Angeles Times notified Dr. Richard Kimble that the one-armed man had been spotted in Laguna Beach. None of our publicists had anything to do with this, and to this day, I don’t know who placed the ad or why."
The newspaper added a peculiar twist to this story. "A few days later, David received a phone call from a woman who introduced herself as Mrs. Richard Kimble. She wanted to know the first name of the Mrs. Kimble that Janssen had been falsely accused of murdering. When David informed her that the show's Mrs. Kimble's name was Helen, the caller sighed with relief and revealed her name was Marian."
While you're pondering whether or not that Mrs. Kimble ever figured out her reality, please scroll down for more insights into the life and career of David Janssen.
