James ‘Jim’ Mitchum, known formally as James Robin Spence Mitchum, the eldest son of Hollywood legend Robert Mitchum, has died. He passed away on September 20, 2025, at his ranch in Skull Valley, Arizona, after a long illness. He was 84.
Born on May 8, 1941, in Los Angeles, Jim Mitchum followed in his father’s footsteps into film acting. His career spanned from childhood appearances to more established roles in midcentury cinema.
Mitchum’s first screen appearance occurred when he was just eight years old, uncredited in the 1949 Western Colorado Territory. His first credited role came in Thunder Road (1958), a film starring his father. In that film, he played his father’s younger brother, an interesting casting choice since the role was originally written for Elvis Presley, who had to back out due to salary disputes.
Over his career, he appeared in more than thirty films. His credits include The Beat Generation (1959), The Victors (1963), Ride the Wild Surf (1964), In Harm’s Way (1965) and Moonrunners (1975).
Mitchum’s final credited acting role was as a police captain in Hollywood Cop (1987). He was also associated with the long-delayed film Genghis Khan: The Story of a Lifetime, which was shot in the early 1990s but remained unreleased for decades. While the latter is sometimes listed among his last appearances, Hollywood Cop is regarded as his final released feature film.
In addition to theatrical films, Mitchum also appeared in television episodes, such as in Have Gun – Will Travel.
After stepping away from acting, Mitchum lived a more private life, dedicating much of his time to ranching and caring for horses on his property in Arizona.
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