Gordon Mitchell

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.

Known For	Acting
Most Rating	3.174
Birthday	1923-07-29
Place of Birth	Denver, Colorado, USA
Also Known As	Charles Allen Pendleton, Charles Pendleton,

Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks

Frankenstein '80

Reflections in a Golden Eye

The Doctor Prefers Sailors

Fever of 40!

Finders Killers

The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe

Emmanuelle: Queen of Sados

The Giant of Metropolis

Beyond the Law

Cross of the Seven Jewels

Endgame

The Mines of Kilimanjaro

Umbrella Coup

I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death

The Crazy Westerners

She

Cobra Mission

Star Pilot

The Fury of Achilles

The Yellow Panther

Tre nel mille

Nightfall

Special Squad Shoots on Sight

Ali Baba and the Seven Saracens

The Big Bust Out

White Fire

SFX Retaliator

Three Bullets for Ringo

Angel's Leap

Coffin Full of Dollars

Savage Guns

Adios Compañeros

Day of Judgment

His Name Was Pot, but They Called Him Allegria

A Gunman Called Dakota

Let's Go And Kill Sartana

John the Bastard

Born to Kill

Thompson 1880

Once Upon a Time in the Wild, Wild West

Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End

Blood Delirium

Anything for a Friend

Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado

Down with Your Hands... You Scum!

Dead Men Don't Make Shadows

The Tiger From the River Kwai

His Colt, Himself, His Revenge

Seven Savage Men

Vulcan, Son of Giove

Achtung! The Desert Tigers

Strategy for a Mission of Death

Kerim, Son of the Sheik

Caesar Against the Pirates

Rush

Death on the Run

Little Godfather from Hong Kong

Fellini Satyricon

Kill or Be Killed

Overdose

Radhapura – Endstation der Verdammten

Lady Morgan's Vengeance

The Arizona Kid

Two .38 Magnums for a City of Carrion

The Iron Hand of the Mafia

Seven Slaves Against the World

The Revenge of the Gladiators

Tutto Totò - Totò Ciak

Phenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen

The Stone Forest

Operation Orient

Brennus, Enemy of Rome

Spartacus

Invasion 1700

Rio Bravo

White Fang and the Kid

My Darling Slave

The Wings of War

Hercules and the Princess of Troy