Actor Jim Mitchum, son of screen legend Robert Mitchum, has passed away at the age of 84.
He died on September 20 at his Arizona ranch in Skull Valley following a long illness, with his third wife Pamela K. Smith by his side, a family spokesperson confirmed.
Jim is survived by Pamela and his four children, Will, Brian, Ana, and Caitlin Ann.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Jim carved out his own path in Hollywood.
He first gained attention in the 1958 cult classic Thunder Road, a role originally intended for Elvis Presley, in which he played a mechanic and shared the screen as his father’s character’s younger brother.
That early role also sparked a lifelong passion for cars — leading to a stint working on Elvis Presley’s hot rods and forming a friendship with the King himself.
He died on September 20 at his Arizona ranch in Skull Valley following a long illness, with his third wife Pamela K. Smith by his side, a family spokesperson confirmed (Robert Mitchum with wife Dorothy and sons Jim and Chris)
Over the years, sometimes credited as James Mitchum, he appeared in more than 30 films, including 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), the film that inspired the iconic TV series The Dukes of Hazzard.
Born in Los Angeles to Robert Mitchum and Dorothy Spence Mitchum, Jim made his screen debut at just eight years old in the Raoul Walsh Western Colorado Territory.
Though his mother had hoped he would avoid Hollywood, he ultimately entered the industry at 16 with his breakout role in Thunder Road.
In addition to acting, Jim briefly pursued a singing career, releasing the 1961 single Lonely Birthday, though it failed to gain traction.
Later, he retired from acting in 1994 and focused on life at his Arizona ranch, breeding horses and developing 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 was to actress Wende Wagner in 1968; the couple divorced after ten years.
He then wed Vivian Ferrand in 1985, with that marriage ending in 1995, before marrying Pamela K. Smith.
Jim Mitchum may have walked in the shadow of a Hollywood titan, but he built a life and career all his own, leaving behind a legacy both on-screen and off.
