Jim Mitchum, the son of Hollywood icon Robert Mitchum, has died.
A family spokesperson shared that Jim passed away on September 20 at his Arizona ranch in Skull Valley after a long battle with illness.A copy of his dad
Hollywood’s original “bad boy,” Robert Mitchum, captivated audiences with his chilling villains and heroic roles alike. But did you know his son, Jim Mitchum, also made his own mark in Hollywood?
Jim Mitchum was born on May 8, 1941, in Los Angeles, California, as the eldest son of actor Robert Mitchum — whom he closely resembled — and his wife, Dorothy Spence.
Jim made his first screen appearance at just eight years old in Raoul Walsh’s Western Colorado Territory. Though his mother had hoped he would stay away from Hollywood, he ultimately stepped into the industry at 16 with his breakout role in the 1958 cult classic Thunder Road.
The part that had originally been intended for Elvis Presley and he had been very interested in the role. But the plan was scrapped by his manager, Col. Tom Parker, who asked for more money than the producers were willing to pay.
A drive-in cult favorite
In Thunder Road, Jim Mitchum played a mechanic and shared the screen as the younger brother of his father Robert Mitchum’s character. That early experience also ignited a lifelong love of cars, leading to a stint working on Elvis Presley’s hot rods and sparking a friendship with the King himself.
The movie became a drive-in cult favorite, revived in the 1970s and ’80s.
Over the years, sometimes credited as James Mitchum, he appeared in more than 30 films. His credits include In Harm’s Way (1965) alongside Kirk Douglas and John Wayne, and Ambush Bay (1966) with Mickey Rooney and Hugh O’Brian.
He also starred in Moonrunners (1975), which would later inspire the iconic TV series The Dukes of Hazzard.
In addition to acting, Jim briefly pursued music, releasing the 1961 single Lonely Birthday, though it failed to gain traction.
Outspoken about Hollywood
In a 1976 interview, Jim shared that he loved acting — otherwise, he wouldn’t have stayed in the business for 19 years — but he also had strong opinions about the industry and the direction it was heading.
”It’s sad to see it’s not magic anymore. There are some shoe clerks and key punch operators running things who would put dog food on the screen if they thought i’d make a profit,” he said.
”You take another thing – the Oscars. A sideshow. A carnie. I can think of 10 movies my dad should’ve been nominated for, be he’s been nominated only once. The academy is full of pretentious phonies.”
He retired from acting in 1994 and devoted himself to life on his Arizona ranch, where he bred horses and developed a line of premium moonshine inspired by his father’s legendary films Thunder Road and Out of the Past.
Jim was married three times. His first marriage, to actress Wende Wagner in 1968, ended in divorce after ten years. He then married Vivian Ferrand in 1985, which ended in 1995, before marrying Pamela K. Smith.
The actor passed away on September 20 at his ranch in Skull Valley, Arizona, after a long illness, a family spokesperson told Deadline over the weekend.
His wife, Pamela K. Smith, was at his side when he died. He is survived by his children Will, Brian, Caitlin Ann, and Ana; his stepdaughter; his brother; his sister Petrine; and grandchildren Jack, Wagner, Paige, and Winnry.
Jim Mitchum may have lived in the shadow of a Hollywood icon, but he carved out his own path, building a career and life all his own.
From the big screen to his Arizona ranch, he leaves behind a legacy filled with passion, creativity, and family memories that will not be forgotten.
