We are deeply saddened to announce the death of this much-loved actor.

Jim Mitchum, the eldest son of Hollywood legend Robert Mitchum, has passed away at his ranch in Skull Valley, Arizona, after a long illness. A family spokesperson confirmed that he died on September 20, surrounded by his loved ones. Born on May 8, 1941, in Los Angeles to Robert Mitchum and Dorothy Spence, Jim shared the same strong features and calm, relaxed presence that made his father a Hollywood icon—traits that stayed with him throughout his acting career.

Jim first appeared on screen at the age of eight in Raoul Walsh’s Western Colorado Territory. His mother had hoped he would avoid the film industry, but by age sixteen, Jim was making a name for himself with a breakthrough role in the 1958 cult classic Thunder Road. The part was originally intended for Elvis Presley, but when Elvis’s manager, Col. Tom Parker, demanded more money than the production could afford, Jim took the role, acting alongside his father as the younger brother. The film became a popular drive-in movie throughout the 1970s and 1980s, building Jim’s early fan base and sparking a lifelong love of cars. He even worked on Elvis’s hot rods and developed a lasting friendship with the King of Rock ’n’ Roll.

Over his career, Jim appeared in more than thirty films, sometimes credited as James Mitchum. He gave steady and understated performances that reflected the tough, quiet qualities that audiences loved in his father, yet he maintained his own distinct style. Some of his notable movies include In Harm’s Way (1965), starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas; Ambush Bay (1966), alongside Mickey Rooney and Hugh O’Brian; and Moonrunners (1975), the action film that inspired the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard. Jim also explored music, releasing a single called “Lonely Birthday” in 1961, though it did not become a hit.

Known for his candid nature, Jim often spoke openly about changes in the film industry. In a 1976 interview, he expressed sadness about how Hollywood had lost its magic, criticizing the growing focus on profit over creativity:
“It’s sad to see it’s not magic anymore. There are some shoe clerks and key punch operators running things who would put dog food on the screen if they thought it’d make a profit.”

He was also critical of awards shows, especially the Oscars, which he viewed as superficial:
“You take another thing – the Oscars. A sideshow. A carnie. I can think of 10 movies my dad should’ve been nominated for, but he’s been nominated only once. The academy is full of pretentious phonies.”

By 1994, Jim stepped away from acting and left Hollywood for the quieter life of his Arizona ranch. There, he raised horses and pursued a hands-on entrepreneurial lifestyle, including creating a premium moonshine brand inspired by his father’s outlaw films Thunder Road and Out of the Past. This change was not a retreat, but rather a return to a more authentic way of life—one requiring hard work, patience, and steady dedication.

Jim’s personal life included three marriages. He married actress Wende Wagner in 1968; they divorced after ten years. In 1985, he married Vivian Ferrand, and they divorced in 1995. His third wife, Pamela K. Smith, was with him at the time of his passing. He is survived by his children Will, Brian, Caitlin Ann, and Ana; his stepdaughter; his brother; his sister Petrine; and his grandchildren Jack, Wagner, Paige, and Winnry.

For many who admired Robert Mitchum’s cool, smoky presence, Jim’s resemblance to his father was striking. But over time, audiences and colleagues came to appreciate the quieter legacy Jim left behind—a legacy of hard work, cult film appeal, and honesty about an industry he often criticized for losing its soul. From the drive-in theaters of his youth to the peaceful desert ranch of his later years, Jim Mitchum upheld a name closely tied to American cinema while creating a life that was his own: practical, straightforward, and deeply passionate about the people and things he loved.

Jim Mitchum, the eldest son of Hollywood legend Robert Mitchum, has passed away at his ranch in Skull Valley, Arizona, after a long illness. A family spokesperson confirmed that he died on September 20, surrounded by his loved ones. Born on May 8, 1941, in Los Angeles to Robert Mitchum and Dorothy Spence, Jim shared the same strong features and calm, relaxed presence that made his father a Hollywood icon—traits that stayed with him throughout his acting career.

Jim first appeared on screen at the age of eight in Raoul Walsh’s Western Colorado Territory. His mother had hoped he would avoid the film industry, but by age sixteen, Jim was making a name for himself with a breakthrough role in the 1958 cult classic Thunder Road. The part was originally intended for Elvis Presley, but when Elvis’s manager, Col. Tom Parker, demanded more money than the production could afford, Jim took the role, acting alongside his father as the younger brother. The film became a popular drive-in movie throughout the 1970s and 1980s, building Jim’s early fan base and sparking a lifelong love of cars. He even worked on Elvis’s hot rods and developed a lasting friendship with the King of Rock ’n’ Roll.

Over his career, Jim appeared in more than thirty films, sometimes credited as James Mitchum. He gave steady and understated performances that reflected the tough, quiet qualities that audiences loved in his father, yet he maintained his own distinct style. Some of his notable movies include In Harm’s Way (1965), starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas; Ambush Bay (1966), alongside Mickey Rooney and Hugh O’Brian; and Moonrunners (1975), the action film that inspired the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard. Jim also explored music, releasing a single called “Lonely Birthday” in 1961, though it did not become a hit.

Known for his candid nature, Jim often spoke openly about changes in the film industry. In a 1976 interview, he expressed sadness about how Hollywood had lost its magic, criticizing the growing focus on profit over creativity:
“It’s sad to see it’s not magic anymore. There are some shoe clerks and key punch operators running things who would put dog food on the screen if they thought it’d make a profit.”

He was also critical of awards shows, especially the Oscars, which he viewed as superficial:
“You take another thing – the Oscars. A sideshow. A carnie. I can think of 10 movies my dad should’ve been nominated for, but he’s been nominated only once. The academy is full of pretentious phonies.”

By 1994, Jim stepped away from acting and left Hollywood for the quieter life of his Arizona ranch. There, he raised horses and pursued a hands-on entrepreneurial lifestyle, including creating a premium moonshine brand inspired by his father’s outlaw films Thunder Road and Out of the Past. This change was not a retreat, but rather a return to a more authentic way of life—one requiring hard work, patience, and steady dedication.

Jim’s personal life included three marriages. He married actress Wende Wagner in 1968; they divorced after ten years. In 1985, he married Vivian Ferrand, and they divorced in 1995. His third wife, Pamela K. Smith, was with him at the time of his passing. He is survived by his children Will, Brian, Caitlin Ann, and Ana; his stepdaughter; his brother; his sister Petrine; and his grandchildren Jack, Wagner, Paige, and Winnry.

For many who admired Robert Mitchum’s cool, smoky presence, Jim’s resemblance to his father was striking. But over time, audiences and colleagues came to appreciate the quieter legacy Jim left behind—a legacy of hard work, cult film appeal, and honesty about an industry he often criticized for losing its soul. From the drive-in theaters of his youth to the peaceful desert ranch of his later years, Jim Mitchum upheld a name closely tied to American cinema while creating a life that was his own: practical, straightforward, and deeply passionate about the people and things he loved.