Robert Mitchum was born on August 6, 1917 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He left home at the age of 12 and worked a variety of odd jobs (from aircraft assembler to shoe salesman) before serving time on a chain gang for vagrancy when he was 16. Known for his tough-guy roles, Mitchum's career began in westerns and spanned more than 125 films. The London Times said of Mitchum, "He could be menacing or charming and was sometimes both at once." Over the course of his career, Mitchum encountered Native Americans onscreen but many people are surprised to learn of his Blackfeet ancestry. Mitchum died on July 1, 1997 of emphysema and lung cancer.