THOMAS MITCHELL BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Thomas Mitchell was born July 11th, 1892 to James and Mary.  He as the youngest of seven children and was the son of Irish immigrants who settled in New Jersey.  Many of his family members were journalists and civic leaders.  Mitchell attended Elizabeth High School in New Jersey and had his first experience working as a newspaper journalist in high school.  Following his youth education, Mitchell became a news reporter, however he preferred to write comical theatrical skits.
 
In 1913, he chose to pursue a career in acting.  He had the chance to tour for a while with Charles Coburn's Shakespeare Company after meeting Charles Coburn and his wife who provided Mitchell with the experience he needed to work in the entertainment industry.

In late 1916 Mitchell debuted on Broadway in the original play "Under Sentence". He also chose to use his talent in writing and decided to write and direct his own plays.  Beginning with, "Little Accident" (1928) and "Cloudy with Showers" (1931).  He continued to direct, write, and produce for other companies through the 1930's.  In total he was involved in the creation of 29 plays. 
 
In 1934, Mitchell decided to try working on some films.  His first role to note was in, "Lost Horizon" (1937) which had already been produced as a film twice before in 1930 and 1932.  From his role in this film, he was quite liked and demanded in Hollywood to fill the lead character.  That same year he was memorable and Oscar-nominated as Dr. Kersaint in the John Ford dramatic adventure, "The Hurricane" (1937) starring Jon Hall.
 
Mitchell's career was at an all time high with memorable roles in a variety of feature films beginning in 1939.  Some classics were, "Gone With the Wind" starring Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard, Hattie McDaniel, Rand Brooks, George Reeves and Butterfly McQueen, "Only Angels Have Wings" (1939), "Stagecoach" (1939) starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor, John Carradine, Tim Holt and Andy Devine, Howard Hughes' "The Outlaw" (1943) starring Jane Russell and Walter Huston, "The Fighting Sullivans" (1944) with Anne Baxter and "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore.  He won an Oscar for his role in, "Stagecoach" portraying a drunk doctor.  1952 brought about the classic western film "High Noon" starring Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Robert J. Wilke, Lee Van Cleef and Sheb Wooley and two years later another great western film came his way titled "Destry" (1954) starring alongside Audie Murphy, Mari Blanchard, Lori Nelson, Lyle Bettger, Edgar Buchanan, George Wallace, Mary Wickes, Wallace Ford and Alan Hale Jr.
 
By 1951 he was immersed in the phenomenon of television playhouse, particularly and frequently appearing on "Studio One", "Lux Video Theater", "The O'Henry Playhouse", "The Ford Television Theater", but several others including "Zane Grey Theatre".

In the 1950's, Mitchell won an Emmy in 1952, a Tony award for, "Wonderful Town" in 1954, and starred in the TV series, "Mayor of the Town" (1954) and "Glencannon" (1959).
 
1960, followed with a role in the Broadway play, "Prescription Murder".  Sadly on December 17th, 1962 Mitchell died of cancer.  He was cremated and his ashes are stored at a crematorium in California.
 
Tomas Mitchell was an actor who was known for so many great roles in a variety of feature films throughout the 20th century.  His portrayals were so diverse that many can not believe that one man could have played them all.  He was married twice, first to Anne Stuart Brewer in 1916 and together they had one child, a daughter Anne.  He then divorced and married Rachel Hartzell from 1938 to his death in 1962.
 

Filmography
 
1961   Pocketful of Miracles
1961   By Love Possessed
1960   Too Young to Love
1958   Handle with Care
1956   While the City Sleeps
1955   The Hour of Stars: Miracle on 34th Street
1954   Secret of the Incas
1954   Destry
1952   High Noon
1951   Journey into Light
1950   The Toast of New Orleans
1949   The Big Wheel
1949   Contact Man
1948   Silver River
1947   The Romance of Rosy Ridge
1947   The High Barbaree
1946   Three Wise Fools
1946   The Dark Mirror
1946   It's a Wonderful Life
1945   Within These Walls
1945   Captain Eddie
1945   Adventure
1944   Wilson
1944   The Fighting Sullivans
1944   The Keys of the Kingdom
1944   Dark Waters
1944   Casanova Brown
1944   Buffalo Bill
1943   The Outlaw
1943   The Immortal Sergeant
1943   Flesh and Fantasy
1943   Bataan
1942   This Above All
1942   The Black Swan
1942   Tales of Manhattan
1942   Song of the Islands
1942   Moontide
1942   Joan of Paris
1941   Out of the Fog
1941   Flight from Destiny
1940   Three Cheers for the Irish
1940   The Long Voyage Home
1940   Swiss Family Robinson
1940   Our Town
1940   Angels over Broadway
1939   The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1939   Stagecoach
1939   Only Angels Have Wings
1939   Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939   Little Accident
1939   Gone With the Wind
1938   Trade Winds
1938   Love, Honor and Behave
1937   When You're in Love
1937   The Hurricane
1937   Man of the People
1937   Make Way for Tomorrow
1937   Lost Horizon
1937   I Promise to Pay
1936   Theodora Goes Wild
1936   Craig's Wife
1936   Adventure in Manhattan
1923   Six Cylinder Love