Robert Charles Duran Mitchum was a famous actor who played many tough guys and criminals during his long career. Mitchum also is remembered for his conviction on narcotics charge in the late 1940s, a conviction that contrary to the standards of the time did not end his budding career. Mitchum was born on August 5, 1917 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Expelled from a New York City high school in the 1930s, Mitchum took to the road, traveling around the United States and taking odd jobs. In 1936 he joined his sister in Long Beach, California, and the pair soon became active in the local theater guild. In 1943 Mitchum began taking small parts in films, and in 1946 he was nominated for an Academy Award as best supporting actor in The Story of G.I. Joe.

In 1948 Mitchum was arrested in Los Angeles for possession of marijuana. He served two weeks in jail and was placed on probation for two years, after which the conviction was struck from his record. Despite this conviction, the movie studio did not drop Mitchum. Moreover, Mitchum was unapologetic about the incident. This "bad boy" image seemed to merge with his film roles. He continued to work regularly for over forty years.

Mitchum's best roles had him playing private detectives(Out of the Past, Farewell, My Lovely)and terrifying criminals (Night of the Hunter, Cape Fear, The Friends of Eddie Coyle). Mitchum's antihero persona marked a change from traditional Hollywood leading men stereotypes. Mitchum died on July 1, 1997 in Santa Barbara, California.