History Creator / ThomasMitchell

1946 brought the film he's probably most famous for, ''It's a Wonderful Life'', wherein he played George Bailey's alcoholic (again) Uncle Billy. In ''High Noon'' he appeared as the cynical mayor who tells Creator/GaryCooper to give up and run for his life. As the studio system declined in the 1950s Mitchell started to work more on the stage and in television, and wound up winning an UsefulNotes/{{Emmy|Award}} and a UsefulNotes/{{Tony|Award Winners}} to go with his Oscar, thereby capturing the coveted [[UsefulNotes/TheEGOTs Triple Crown of Acting]]. His final screen appearance prior to his death from abdominal cancer was in ''Pocketful of Miracles'', which coincidentally enough was also the final film for Frank Capra. It wasn't Mitchell's last acting gig, however; before his death, he originated the role of Lt. Series/{{Columbo}} on stage.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest character actors to ever live, carving out a spectacular career that encompassed stage, film, radio, and television and spanned the entirety of UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood. He never played the lead, but if you needed to cast a brash Irishman or a sidekick for TheHero, Mitchell was your first choice.

Mitchell was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His father and brother were newspaper reporters, but after briefly trying his hand at that profession he soon gravitated to acting, making his stage debut in 1913. His first film appearance was in 1923 but he didn't act in movies again until 1936, when he appeared in the screen adaptation of the UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize-winning drama ''Craig's Wife''. The next year he landed a prominent part in ''Lost Horizon'', which made him a star and was also his first collaboration with director Creator/FrankCapra. Mitchell quickly rocketed to spectacular success. In a single year, 1939, he appeared in ''five'' of the greatest films that Hollywood made in that era: ''Stagecoach'' (as the alcoholic doctor), ''Gone with the Wind'' (as Scarlett's alcoholic father), ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (as a hard-drinking reporter -- notice a theme?), the most famous screen adaptation of ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', and ''Only Angels Have Wings''. He earned an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in ''Stagecoach''.

1946 brought the film he's probably most famous for, ''It's a Wonderful Life'', wherein he played George Bailey's alcoholic (again) Uncle Billy. In ''High Noon'' he appeared as the cynical mayor who tells Creator/GaryCooper to give up and run for his life. As the studio system declined in the 1950s Mitchell started to work more on the stage and in television, and wound up winning an UsefulNotes/{{Emmy|Award}} and a UsefulNotes/{{Tony|Award Winners}} to go with his Oscar, thereby capturing the coveted [[UsefulNotes/TheEGOTs Triple Crown of Acting]]. His final film before his death from abdominal cancer was ''Pocketful of Miracles'', which was also the final film for Frank Capra. It wasn't Mitchell's last acting gig, though; before his death, he originated the role of Lt. Series/{{Columbo}} on stage.

Mitchell was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His father and brother were newspaper reporters, but after briefly trying his hand at that profession he soon gravitated to acting, making his stage debut in 1913. He made his first film appearance in 1923 but didn't act in movies again until 1936, when he appeared in the screen adaptation of the UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize-winning drama ''Craig's Wife''. The next year he landed a prominent part in ''Lost Horizon'', which made him a star and was also his first collaboration with director Creator/FrankCapra. Mitchell soon rocketed to spectacular success. In one year, 1939, he appeared in ''five'' of the best films Hollywood ever made in that era: ''Stagecoach'' (as the alcoholic doctor), ''Gone with the Wind'' (as Scarlett's alcoholic father), ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (as a hard-drinking reporter--sense a theme?), the most famous adaptation of ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', and ''Only Angels Have Wings''. ''Stagecoach'' earned him an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Supporting Actor.

Mitchell was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His father and brother were newspaper reporters, but after briefly trying his hand at that profession he soon gravitated to acting, making his stage debut in 1913. He made his first film appearance in 1923 but didn't act in movies again until 1936, when he appeared in the screen adaptation of the UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize-winning drama ''Craig's Wife''. The next year he landed a prominent part in ''Lost Horizon'', which made him a star and was also his first collaboration with director Creator/FrankCapra. Mitchell soon rocketed to spectacular success. In one year, 1939, he appeared in ''five'' of the best films Hollywood ever made in that era: ''Stagecoach'' (as the alcoholic doctor), ''Gone with the Wind'' (as Scarlett's alcoholic father), ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (as a hard-drinking reporter--sense a theme?), the most famous adaptation of ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', and ''Only Angels Have Wings''. ''Stagecoach'' earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

1946 brought the film he's probably most famous for, ''It's a Wonderful Life'', wherein he played George Bailey's alcoholic (again) Uncle Billy. In ''High Noon'' he appeared as the cynical mayor who tells Creator/GaryCooper to give up and run for his life. As the studio system declined in the 1950s Mitchell started to work more on the stage and in television, and wound up winning an Emmy and a Tony to go with his Oscar, thereby capturing the coveted [[UsefulNotes/TheEGOTs Triple Crown of Acting]]. His final film before his death from abdominal cancer was ''Pocketful of Miracles'', which was also the final film for Frank Capra. It wasn't Mitchell's last acting gig, though; before his death, he originated the role of Lt. Series/{{Columbo}} on stage.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest character actors to ever live, carving out a spectacular career that encompassed stage, film, radio, and television and spanned the entirety of UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood. He never played the lead, but if you needed a brash Irishman or a sidekick for TheHero, Mitchell was your first choice.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest character actors to ever live, carving out a spectacular career that encompassed stage, film, radio, and television and spanned the entirety of UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood. He never played the lead, but if you needed you needed a brash Irishman or a sidekick for TheHero, Mitchell was your first choice.

Mitchell was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His father and brother were newspaper reporters, but after briefly trying his hand at that profession he soon gravitated to acting, making his stage debut in 1913. He made his first film appearance in 1923 but didn't act in movies again until 1936, when he appeared in the screen adaptation of the UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize-winning drama ''Craig's Wife''. The next year he landed a prominent part in ''Lost Horizon'', which made him a star and was also his first collaboration with director Creator/FrankCapra. Mitchell soon rocketed to spectacular success. In one year, 1939, he appeared in ''five'' of the best films Hollywood ever made in that era: ''Stagecoach'' (as the alcoholic doctor), ''Gone with the Wind'' (as Scarlett's alcoholic father), ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (as a hard-drinking reporter--sense a theme?), the most famous adaptation of ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', and ''Only Angels Have Wings''. ''Stagecoach'' earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

1946 brought the film he's probably most famous for, ''It's a Wonderful Life'', wherein he played George Bailey's alcoholic (again) Uncle Billy. In ''High Noon'' he appeared as the cynical mayor who tells Creator/GaryCooper to give up and run for his life. As the studio system declined in the 1950s Mitchell started to work more on the stage and in television, and wound up winning an Emmy and a Tony to go with his Oscar (if the Grammys had been given out before 1959, maybe he could have cut an album and gotten an EGOT). His final film before his death from abdominal cancer was in ''Pocketful of Miracles'', which was also the final film for Frank Capra. It wasn't Mitchell's last acting gig, though; before his death, he originated the role of Lt. Series/{{Columbo}} on stage.

He was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His father and brother were newspaper reporters, but Mitchell gravitated to acting, making his stage debut in 1913. He made his first film appearance in 1923 but didn't act in movies again until 1936, when he appeared in the adaptation of UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize-winning drama ''Craig's Wife''. The next year he landed a prominent part in ''Lost Horizon'', which made him a star and was also his first collaboration with director Creator/FrankCapra. Mitchell soon rocketed to spectacular success. In one year, 1939, he appeared in ''five'' of the best films Hollywood ever made in that era: ''Stagecoach'' (as the alcoholic doctor), ''Gone with the Wind'' (as Scarlett's alcoholic father), ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (as a hard-drinking reporter--sense a theme?), the most famous adaptation of ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', and ''Only Angels Have Wings''. ''Stagecoach'' earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Thomas John Mitchell (July 11, 1892 – December 17, 1962) was one of the greatest character actors to ever live, carving out a spectacular career that spanned the entirety of UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood. He never played the lead, but if you needed TheHero to have a sidekick, or you needed a brash Irishman, Mitchell was your first choice.

He was born in New Jersey. His father and brother were newspaper reporters, but Mitchell gravitated to acting, making his stage debut in 1913. He made his first film appearance in 1923 but didn't act in movies again until 1936, when he appeared in the adaptation of UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize-winning drama ''Craig's Wife''. The next year he landed a prominent part in ''Lost Horizon'', which made him a star and was also his first collaboration with director Creator/FrankCapra. Mitchell soon rocketed to spectacular success. In one year, 1939, he appeared in ''five'' of the best films Hollywood ever made in that era: ''Stagecoach'' (as the alcoholic doctor), ''Gone with the Wind'' (as Scarlett's alcoholic father), ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (as a hard-drinking reporter--sense a theme?), the most famous adaptation of ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', and ''Only Angels Have Wings''. ''Stagecoach'' earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

* ''Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' (1939)

1946 brought the film he's probably most famous for, ''It's a Wonderful Life'', where he played George Bailey's alcoholic (again) Uncle Billy. In ''High Noon'' he appeared as the cynical mayor who tells Creator/GaryCooper to give up and run for his life. As the studio system declined in the 1950s Mitchell started to work more on the stage and in television, and wound up winning an Emmy and a Tony to go with his Oscar (if the Grammys had been given out before 1959, maybe he could have cut an album and gotten an EGOT). His final film before his death from abdominal cancer was in ''Pocketful of Miracles'', which was also the final film for Frank Capra. It wasn't Mitchell's last acting gig, though; before his death, he originated the role of Lt. Series/{{Columbo}} on stage.

Thomas John Mitchell (1892–1962) was one of the greatest character actors to ever live, carving out a spectacular career that spanned the entirety of UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood. He never played the lead, but if you needed TheHero to have a sidekick, or you needed a brash Irishman, Mitchell was your first choice.

Thomas Mitchell (1892-1962) was one of the greatest character actors to ever live, carving out a spectacular career that spanned the entirety of UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood. He never played the lead, but if you needed TheHero to have a sidekick, or you needed a brash Irishman, Mitchell was your first choice.

Thomas Mitchell (1892-1962) was one of the greatest character actors to ever live, carving out a spectacular career that spanned the entirety of UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood. He never played the lead, but if you needed TheHero to have a sidekick, Mitchell was your first choice.

He was born in New Jersey. His father and brother were newspaper reporters, but Mitchell gravitated to acting, making his stage debut in 1913. He made his first film appearance in 1923 but didn't act in movies again until 1936, when he appeared in the adaptation of UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize-winning drama ''Craig's Wife''. The next year he landed a prominent part in ''Lost Horizon'', which made him a star and was also the first film in a long series of collaborations with director Creator/FrankCapra. Mitchell soon rocketed to spectacular success. In one year, 1939, he appeared in ''five'' of the best films Hollywood ever made in that era: ''Stagecoach'' (as the alcoholic doctor), ''Gone with the Wind'' (as Scarlett's alcoholic father), ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (as a hard-drinking reporter--sense a theme?), the most famous adaptation of ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', and ''Only Angels Have Wings''. ''Stagecoach'' earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

1946 brought the film he's probably most famous for, ''It's a Wonderful Life'', where he played George Bailey's alcoholic (again) Uncle Billy. In ''High Noon'' he appeared as the cynical mayor who tells Creator/GaryCooper to give up and run for his life. As the studio system declined in the 1950s Mitchell started to work more on the stage and in television, and wound up winning an Emmy and a Tony to go with his Oscar (if the Grammys had been given out before 1959, maybe he could have cut an album and gotten an EGOT). His final film before his death from abdominal cancer was in ''Pocketful of Miracles'', which was also the final film for Frank Capra. It wasn't Mitchell's last acting gig, though; before his death, he originated the role of Lt. Series/{{Columbo}} on stage.

Thomas Mitchell (1892-1962) was one of the greatest character actors to ever live, carving out a spectacular career that spanned the entirety of UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood.

He was born in New Jersey. His father and brother were newspaper reporters, but Mitchell gravitated to acting, making his stage debut in 1913. He made his first film appearance in 1923 but didn't act in movies again until 1936, when he appeared in the adaptation of UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize-winning drama ''Craig's Wife''. The next year he landed a prominent part in ''Lost Horizon'', which made him a star and was also the first film in a long series of collaborations with director Creator/FrankCapra. Mitchell soon rocketed to spectacular success. In one year, 1939, he appeared in ''five'' of the best films Hollywood ever made in that era: ''Stagecoach'' (as the alcoholic doctor), ''Gone with the Wind'' (as Scarlett's alcoholic father), ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (as a hard-drinking reporter--sense a theme?), the most famous adaptation of ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', and ''Only Angels Have Wings''.