How Did Robert Mitchum Die?
Robert Mitchum died of Lung cancer on July 1, 1997, at age 79.
What was Robert Mitchum's cause of death?
Robert Mitchum died of lung cancer, complicated by emphysema, on July 1, 1997, at his home in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of 79. A lifelong heavy smoker, he had been diagnosed shortly before his death. He died in his sleep, and fellow screen legend James Stewart died the very next day, marking the end of an era.
How old was Robert Mitchum when they died?
Robert Mitchum was 79 years old at the time of death.
When did Robert Mitchum die?
Robert Mitchum died on July 1, 1997.
Robert Mitchum Biography
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was born on August 6, 1917, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. With his heavy-lidded cool and effortless menace, he became the archetypal film-noir anti-hero in Out of the Past and delivered one of cinema's most chilling villains as the murderous preacher in The Night of the Hunter.
Personal Life
Who are Robert Mitchum's parents?
Unknown
Was Robert Mitchum married?
Robert Mitchum was married once, to Dorothy Spence (1940–None).
Did Robert Mitchum have children?
Robert Mitchum had 3 children: James Mitchum, Christopher Mitchum, Petrine Mitchum.
What religion was Robert Mitchum?
Robert Mitchum was N/A.
What was Robert Mitchum's ethnicity?
Robert Mitchum was of American heritage.
Career Highlights
Movies
- Out of the Past (1947) — Watch on Amazon
- The Night of the Hunter (1955) — Watch on Amazon
- Cape Fear (1962) — Watch on Amazon
- The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) — Watch on Amazon
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TV Shows
- The Winds of War (1983)
Facts About Robert Mitchum
- Became the definitive laconic anti-hero of film noir
- His terrifying preacher in The Night of the Hunter is a screen classic
- Was known for his 'sleepy-eyed' cool and devil-may-care off-screen persona
- Had 'LOVE' and 'HATE' tattooed knuckles decades before it became a trope
Robert Mitchum Quotes
"People think I have an interesting walk. Hell, I'm just trying to hold my gut in."
Legacy
Robert Mitchum is remembered as one of the coolest and most magnetic leading men of classic Hollywood, an enduring icon of film noir.
Sources
Last verified: 2026-08-17