James Robin Spence Mitchum, the eldest son of silver screen icon Robert Mitchum and an actor in more than three dozen films, has died at the age of 84, according to a family spokesperson, who confirmed it to The Hollywood Reporter.
The spokesperson said Mitchum died on September 20 at his ranch in Skull Valley, Arizona, following a long illness. His life will be celebrated privately by his family.
Born May 8, 1941, in Los Angeles, James was the first child of Robert Mitchum and Dorothy Spence Mitchum. He spent his early years in modest surroundings, even living with his parents in a converted chicken coop before Robert’s Hollywood career took off.
Robert Mitchum sitting with his son Jim Mitchum from the film 'Home From The Hill', 1960.Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty Images
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At just 16, Jim found himself cast opposite his father in the 1958 moonshine classic Thunder Road. He played the younger brother to his father's character, a role that was originally intended for family friend Elvis Presley, but when Presley passed, it became Jim’s big break.
The film, packed with car chases and Southern whiskey-running drama, launched his career and sparked his own love for cars — eventually leading him to work as a mechanic on Presley’s hot rods and even dabble in stock car racing.
Jim Mitchum carved his own path in Hollywood, appearing in several 1960s war dramas, including The Victors (1963), In Harm’s Way (1965), and Ambush Bay (1966). He also joined his father again in the comedy The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961).
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He went on to star in beach-era fare like Ride the Wild Surf (1964) and the moonshine-themed Moonrunners (1975), which later inspired the CBS hit The Dukes of Hazzard. He retired from acting in the mid-1990s, with his résumé stretching from war epics to cult classics.
Outside the spotlight, Jim explored music, signing briefly with 20th Century Fox and releasing the single “Lonely Birthday," though acting remained his primary calling. In his later years, he shifted focus to ranch life, managing his parents’ quarter horse operations in Arizona and eventually developing a line of premium whiskey in tribute to his father.
Mitchum’s personal life included three marriages. He wed actress Wende Wagner in 1968, with whom he had a son, Will. Later marriages to Vivian Ferrand and Pamela K. Smith brought children Brian, Caitlin Ann, and Ana into the family.
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In addition to his wife Pamela, children, grandchildren, siblings Christopher and Petrine, and stepdaughter Tiffany, James is remembered by his extended family and the many colleagues and fans who admired both his resemblance to and work alongside his legendary father.
While Robert Mitchum is remembered for landmark films like Out of the Past, Cape Fear, and The Night of the Hunter, Jim carved his own place in cinema history. His career may have been forever linked to his father’s, but he leaves behind a legacy of dedication to film, family, and the enduring Mitchum name.
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