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.
134 movies · 4 shows
Malevolence
2004·3.8
An Enraged New World
2002·7.3
Kino kolossal - Herkules, Maciste & Co
2000·9.0
Bikini Drive-In
1995·5.0
The Alien Within
1990·0.0
Overdose
1989·7.5
Blood Delirium
1988·4.5
Faida
1988·10.0
SFX Retaliator
1988·5.3
Cross of the Seven Jewels
1987·2.3
Commando Invasion
1987·6.8
Three Men on Fire
1986·7.5
The Mines of Kilimanjaro
1986·4.5
Cobra Mission
1986·4.9
White Fire
1984·4.3
She
1984·5.1
If All Goes Well We Are Ruined
1983·4.5
Endgame
1983·4.9
Rush
1983·5.1
The Commissioner
1983·9.0
Secret Force
1983·6.5
The Yellow Panther
1982·6.0
Diamond Connection
1982·4.0
Curse of the Red Butterfly
1982·0.0
The Doctor Prefers Sailors
1981·4.8
Kopfschuß
1981·3.3
Trois filles dans le vent
1981·5.0
Umbrella Coup
1980·6.9
Holocaust II
1980·3.8
Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados
1980·6.1
Fever of 40!
1980·7.0
The Iron Hand of the Mafia
1980·5.9
Porno erotico western
1979·5.2
Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot
1979·4.9
Strategy for a Mission of Death
1979·3.3
A Very Special Woman
1979·4.4
Santa Lucia
1979·7.5
White Fang and the Kid
1978·6.4
Operation Orient
1978·3.3
Fists, Dollars and Spinach
1978·2.0
The Slayers
1977·10.0
Natascha - Todesgrüsse aus Moskau
1977·6.5
Oil
1977·5.6
Achtung! The Desert Tigers
1977·3.9
Special Squad Shoots on Sight
1976·6.3
Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion
1975·8.0
The Tiger From the River Kwai
1975·7.0
The Man from Chicago
1975·7.0
The Skin Under the Claws
1975·4.1
Seven Savage Men
1975·9.0
Four for All
1975·6.7
Anasının Gözü
1975·0.0
The Household
1974·6.1
Little Godfather from Hong Kong
1974·8.0
The Sewer Rats
1974·4.8
Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks
1974·4.3
The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe
1973·5.1
His Colt, Himself, His Revenge
1973·9.0
From the Archives of the Criminal Police
1973·5.3
Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West
1973·8.0
My Darling Slave
1973·4.9
Anything for a Friend
1973·5.8
Frankenstein '80
1972·4.8
Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado
1972·9.0
The French Sex Murders
1972·4.9
My Name Is Texas Bill
1972·10.0
The Crucified Girls of San Ramon
1972·4.4
A Gunman Called Dakota
1972·9.0
Slaughter Day
1972·7.0
His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria
1971·6.0
Savage Guns
1971·4.8
Angel's Leap
1971·5.8
Day of Judgment
1971·5.7
Let's Go And Kill Sartana
1971·10.0
Down with Your Hands... You Scum!
1971·3.7
Adios Compañeros
1971·7.0
Coffin Full of Dollars
1971·6.0
Finders Killers
1971·5.7
Tre nel mille
1971·7.5
Io non spezzo... rompo
1971·3.8
Treasure of the Lost Desert
1971·10.0
Dead Men Don't Make Shadows
1970·4.5
Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End
1970·5.3
The Arizona Kid
1970·5.0
Lisa with the Blue Eyes
1969·6.3
I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death
1969·6.5
Satyricon
1969·6.7
Ora X Pattuglia Suicida
1969·0.0
The Wings of War
1969·6.0
Cry of Death
1968·4.3
Dead for a Dollar
1968·7.5
Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten
1968·10.0
All on the Red
1968·7.5
Seven Times Seven
1968·7.0
The Killer Likes Candy
1968·5.3
Beyond the Law
1968·5.8
Cheers... Cyanide!
1968·9.0
I'll Die for Vengeance
1968·5.0
Fenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen
1968·4.8
John the Bastard
1967·6.6
Reflections in a Golden Eye
1967·6.5
Death on the Run
1967·7.0
The Crazy Westerners
1967·5.7
Born to Kill
1967·8.7
Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak
1967·5.9
È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere
1966·10.0
L'Estate
1966·7.0
Kill or Be Killed
1966·4.0
Thompson 1880
1966·4.8
Star Pilot
1966·4.8
Three Bullets for Ringo
1966·6.5
Lady Morgan's Vengeance
1965·6.0
Erik the Viking
1965·6.8
The Stone Forest
1965·7.0
Hercules and the Princess of Troy
1965·5.9
Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens
1964·5.3
The Revenge of the Gladiators
1964·7.0
Seven Slaves Against the World
1964·9.0
Brennus, Enemy of Rome
1963·5.0
The Fury of Achilles
1962·5.3
Invasion 1700
1962·6.6
Kerim, Son of the Sheik
1962·6.0
Caesar Against the Pirates
1962·5.6
Vulcan, Son of Giove
1962·3.8
The Giant of Metropolis
1961·4.7
The Centurion
1961·5.5
Atlas Against the Cyclops
1961·6.5
Spartacus
1960·7.5
Rio Bravo
1959·7.8
The Young Lions
1958·6.8
The Enemy Below
1957·7.1
The Spirit of St. Louis
1957·6.7
Around the World in 80 Days
1956·6.7
The Man with the Golden Arm
1955·7.1