Photo: ABC Television / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
David Janssen was credited as a film actor, television actor and dramaturge. David Janssen was born in Naponee, Nebraska, United States on March 27, 1931. Death is recorded on February 13, 1980, at the age of 48. Schooling on record includes Fairfax High School. Awards on record include Golden Globe Awards (1966) and star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
My Take
David Janssen is one of those actors who absolutely owned the early television era, and I don't think he gets nearly enough credit for it today. His run as Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive from 1963 to 1967 was genuinely gripping television — that perpetual-man-on-the-run premise sounds simple, but Janssen brought a quiet, weathered intensity to it that made viewers care deeply every single week. He had this naturally lined, world-weary face that conveyed exhaustion and determination at the same time, and that's not something you can fake. The 1966 Golden Globe was well deserved. Beyond The Fugitive he kept working steadily in film and TV right up until his death in 1980 at just 48 — a loss that felt genuinely premature, because you sensed there was still a lot of good work left in him. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame says it all: the industry knew what it had.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- David Janssen
- Name (Japanese)
- デビッド・ジャンセン
- Reading
- でびっど・じゃんせん
- Born
- March 27, 1931 – February 13, 1980
- Origin
- Naponee, Nebraska, United States
- Occupation
- actor / film actor / television actor / dramaturge
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Goat
2. Background
- High school
- Fairfax High School
Awards & achievements
- 1966 Golden Globe Awards
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was David Janssen born?
David Janssen was born on March 27, 1931.
When did David Janssen die?
David Janssen died on February 13, 1980, aged 48.
Where was David Janssen from?
David Janssen was from Naponee, Nebraska, United States.
What did David Janssen do?
David Janssen worked as actor, film actor, television actor, dramaturge.
Which high school did David Janssen attend?
David Janssen attended Fairfax High School.
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