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.
as Don Fabrizio De Martino
as General Murchison
as Goliath
as Dan Thorn
as Costa
as Don Gonzalo(5 eps)
as Hermann
as Morgan
as Black Mass Leader
as Dr. Andrew Milhench
as Rolf
as Col. Mortimer
as Olaf
as Hector
as Jack Volpetti
as Col. Morgan
as Yor
as (uncredited)
as Capitano Arnolfo(3 eps)
as killer
as Abdul Pascha
as Brado
as killer russo
as Maserati
as Gordon Mitchell
as Moskovitz, le tueur à gages
as Felix Oppenheimer
as Robert
as Mr. Temple
as Don Nicola
as (as Charles Pendleton)
as Pretorius
as Gordon
as Amerikaner
as Morgan
as Haine
as Frank Stilo
as Pablo
as Gooming
as Joe
as Kommandant von Stolzen
as David
as Renato Proietti
as Jack Mason
as Mike
as Professor Helmut
as Cooper
as Margherito
as General Von Werner
as Gordon
as Burying Sam
as Martin
as Peter Wilcox
as Von Thirac
as Miller
as Dr. Otto Frankenstein
as Jonathan Duke
as Man in Nightclub
as Martin
as El Kadir
as Dakota
as Gordon
as Ray Potter
as Gordon Mitchell
as Henry Di Fusco
as Deputy
as Greg "The Crazy Person"
as Buck/Butch Bradley
as Ironhead
as John Hamilton
as Chris Forest
as Joe il Rosso
as Roger Murdock
as Black Burt Keller / Burt Kelly
as Coyote
as Football player
as Degueyo
as Il predone
as Donkey / Morgan Pitt
as Roy Fulton
as Alfredo
as Erikson
as Big Ben
as Toni
as Burton
as Al Rubino
as Clayton
as Gregory Falco
as Danite
as Stables Sergeant
as The Albanian
as Bandit Leader
as Rod Gordon
as Ringo
as Van Himst
as Self
as Baltimore Joe/Ringo
as Glenn Sheppard
as Murdu
as Frank
as Roger
as Sven
as Hunding
as Pirate Captain
as Arminio
as Balisten
as Brenno
as Achilles
as Ulrich
as Yussuf
as Hamar
as Pluto
as Obro
as General Metellus
as Maciste
as Gladiator (uncredited)
as Soldier(1 ep)
as Bar Cowboy Watching Fistfight (uncredited)
as Minor Role (uncredited)
as German Sailor
as (uncredited)
as Extra (uncredited)
