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Thomas Mitchell, actor
Actor

Thomas Mitchell: Movies, Awards & Box Office

films
70
on screen
1936–2025
box office
$4.5M
award win
1
average score
79
Born
July 11, 1892
Birthplace
Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
Full name
Thomas John Mitchell
Citizenship
Irish, American
Occupations
Actor, Writer
Years active
1916-1962
Spouses
Ann Stuart Breswer, Rachel Hartzell
Career at a glance

Thomas Mitchell's Career in Numbers

Thomas Mitchell's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Thomas Mitchell works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Theodora Goes Wild (1936) to Drive Back Home (2025), and the 1940s were the busiest decade.

Thomas Mitchell Movies by Decade

  1. 1930s 14
  2. 1940s 29
  3. 1950s 8
  4. 1960s 3
  5. 1980s 1
  6. 1990s 3
  7. 2010s 4
  8. 2020s 2

The 1940s were Thomas Mitchell's busiest decade, with 29 films.

Thomas Mitchell Movies by Genre

  • Drama 22
  • Romance 8
  • Comedy 7
  • Thriller 5
  • Tv movie 3
  • Action 3
  • War 3
  • Mystery 3
  • Adventure 3
  • Crime 2

Drama is the genre Thomas Mitchell has worked in most, with 22 films, ahead of romance (8).

Thomas Mitchell Career Milestones

First film
Theodora Goes Wild 1936
Biggest box office hit
PCU $4.33M worldwide
Best-rated film
Goalie Movie Echo Score 79
Newest film
Drive Back Home 2025
70 credits

Thomas Mitchell Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Thomas Mitchell is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 79. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Thomas Mitchell Movies as an Actor

64
  1. 2025 Drive Back Home (2025) movie poster Drive Back Home as Desk Sergeant · Drama
  2. 2024 The Daughter I Gave Away (2024) movie poster The Daughter I Gave Away as Gary · Thriller
  3. 2019 Goalie (2019) movie poster Goalie as Punch Imlach · Drama Movie Echo Score: 79
  4. 2018 Twisted (2018) movie poster Twisted as Chief Lloyd · Thriller
  5. 2016 Deadly Voltage (2016) movie poster Deadly Voltage as Bailey's Dad · Drama
  6. 2011 Salem Falls (2011) movie poster Salem Falls as Chief Mitchell · Tv movie
  7. 1996 Trilogy of Terror II (1996) movie poster Trilogy of Terror II as Lew · Tv movie
  8. 1995 Rude (1995) movie poster Rude as Cop · Crime
  9. 1994 PCU (1994) movie poster PCU as Bantam Draper · Comedy
  10. 1984 Going Hollywood: The ’30s (1984) movie poster Going Hollywood: The ’30s as (archive footage) · Documentary
  11. 1961 Pocketful of Miracles (1961) movie poster Pocketful of Miracles as Judge Henry G. Blake · Comedy
  12. 1961 By Love Possessed (1961) movie poster By Love Possessed as Noah Tuttle · Drama
  13. 1960 Too Young to Love (1960) movie poster Too Young to Love as Judge Bentley · Drama
  14. 1956 While the City Sleeps (1956) movie poster While the City Sleeps as John Day Griffith · Thriller
  15. 1955 The Miracle on 34th Street (1955) movie poster The Miracle on 34th Street as Kris Kringle · Tv movie
  16. 1955 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1955) movie poster The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as 'Pap' Finn · Drama
  17. 1954 Secret of the Incas (1954) movie poster Secret of the Incas as Ed Morgan · Action
  18. 1954 The Big Moment (1954) movie poster The Big Moment as Blumenau · Drama
  19. 1952 High Noon (1952) movie poster High Noon Action
  20. 1952 A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1952) movie poster A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court as Hank Morgan
  21. 1951 Journey Into Light (1951) movie poster Journey Into Light as Gandy · Drama
  22. 1949 The Big Wheel (1949) movie poster The Big Wheel as Arthur 'Red' Stanley · Romance
  23. 1949 Alias Nick Beal (1949) movie poster Alias Nick Beal as Joseph Foster · Fantasy
  24. 1947 The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947) movie poster The Romance of Rosy Ridge as Gill MacBean · Drama
  25. 1947 High Barbaree (1947) movie poster High Barbaree as Capt. Thad Vail · War
  26. 1946 The Dark Mirror (1946) movie poster The Dark Mirror as Lt. Stevenson · Thriller
  27. 1946 Three Wise Fools (1946) movie poster Three Wise Fools as Terence Alaysius O'Davern · Comedy
  28. 1945 Adventure (1945) movie poster Adventure as Mudgin · Romance
  29. 1945 Captain Eddie (1945) movie poster Captain Eddie as Ike Howard · Drama
  30. 1944 The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) movie poster The Keys of the Kingdom as Willie Tulloch · Drama
  31. 1944 Dark Waters (1944) movie poster Dark Waters as Mr. Sydney · Mystery
  32. 1944 Wilson (1944) movie poster Wilson as Joseph Tumulty · Drama
  33. 1944 Buffalo Bill (1944) movie poster Buffalo Bill as Ned Buntline · Action
  34. 1944 The Fighting Sullivans (1944) movie poster The Fighting Sullivans as Mr. Thomas F. Sullivan · War
  35. 1943 Flesh and Fantasy (1943) movie poster Flesh and Fantasy as Septimus Podgers (segment 2) · Horror
  36. 1943 Bataan (1943) movie poster Bataan as Cpl. Jake Feingold · Drama
  37. 1943 Immortal Sergeant (1943) movie poster Immortal Sergeant as Sergeant Kelly · Drama
  38. 1943 The Outlaw (1943) movie poster The Outlaw as Pat Garrett · Western
  39. 1942 Tales of Manhattan (1942) movie poster Tales of Manhattan as John Halloway · Drama
  40. 1942 Moontide (1942) movie poster Moontide as Tiny · Romance
  41. 1942 This Above All (1942) movie poster This Above All as "Monty" Montague · War
  42. 1942 Song of the Islands (1942) movie poster Song of the Islands as Dennis O'Brien · Comedy
  43. 1942 Joan of Paris (1942) movie poster Joan of Paris as Father Antoine · Romance
  44. 1941 Out of the Fog (1941) movie poster Out of the Fog as Jonah Goodwin · Thriller
  45. 1941 Flight from Destiny (1941) movie poster Flight from Destiny as Prof. Henry Todhunter · Drama
  46. 1940 The Long Voyage Home (1940) movie poster The Long Voyage Home as Driscoll · Drama
  47. 1940 Angels Over Broadway (1940) movie poster Angels Over Broadway as Gene Gibbons · Drama
  48. 1940 Our Town (1940) movie poster Our Town as Doc Gibbs · Romance
  49. 1940 Three Cheers for the Irish (1940) movie poster Three Cheers for the Irish as Peter Casey · Comedy
  50. 1940 Swiss Family Robinson (1940) movie poster Swiss Family Robinson Adventure
  51. 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) movie poster Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Drama
  52. 1939 The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) movie poster The Hunchback of Notre Dame as Clopin · Drama
  53. 1939 Stagecoach (1939) movie poster Stagecoach Adventure
  54. 1938 Trade Winds (1938) movie poster Trade Winds as Commissioner Blackton · Mystery
  55. 1938 Love, Honor and Behave (1938) movie poster Love, Honor and Behave as Dan Painter · Comedy
  56. 1937 The Hurricane (1937) movie poster The Hurricane as Dr. Kersaint · Romance
  57. 1937 Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) movie poster Make Way for Tomorrow as George Cooper · Romance
  58. 1937 I Promise to Pay (1937) movie poster I Promise to Pay as District Attorney J.E. Curtis · Crime
  59. 1937 Lost Horizon (1937) movie poster Lost Horizon as Henry Barnard · Adventure
  60. 1937 When You’re in Love (1937) movie poster When You’re in Love as Hank Miller · Comedy
  61. 1937 Man Of The People (1937) movie poster Man Of The People as William J. Grady · Drama
  62. 1936 Theodora Goes Wild (1936) movie poster Theodora Goes Wild as Jed Waterbury · Romance
  63. 1936 Adventure in Manhattan (1936) movie poster Adventure in Manhattan as Phil Bane · Mystery
  64. 1936 Craig’s Wife (1936) movie poster Craig’s Wife as Fergus Passmore · Drama
1 win · 1 nomination

Thomas Mitchell: Awards & Nominations

1 win from 1 nomination across 1 award body. That includes an Oscar: Best Supporting Actor for Stagecoach. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.

All movie awards
Biography

Who Is Thomas Mitchell?

Thomas Mitchell was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. in 1892. Credited on films since 1936, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Thomas John Mitchell, better known as Thomas Mitchell, was a highly respected Irish-American actor and writer with a career that spanned over four decades starting from 1916. His acting chops and versatility earned him prominent roles in significant films like 'Gerald O'Hara in Gone with the Wind', 'Doc Boone in Stagecoach' and 'Uncle Billy in It's a Wonderful Life'. Mitchell was the first male actor to receive the Triple Crown of Acting, a prestigious accolade that symbolizes recognition from the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, and Tony Awards. His successful career witnessed him get nominated for two Academy Awards, the Best Supporting Actor for his roles in 'The Hurricane' (1937) and 'Stagecoach' (1939), eventually winning the latter. He also won an Emmy in 1953 and the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in the same year for his role as Dr. Downer in 'Hazel Flagg'.

Born to Irish immigrants in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Mitchell came from a background of journalism, a legacy he initially followed before realizing his true passion for acting and writing theatrical skits. His acting career began in earnest in 1913, and his talent and perseverance soon paid off, making him one of the finest character actors in cinema. His role as an embezzler in Frank Capra's film 'Lost Horizon' (1937) brought him under the limelight, and there was no looking back since then. Apart from films, Mitchell also had successful stints on television, appearing in well-regarded series in the 1950s and early 1960s. Mitchell passed away at age 70 from peritoneal mesothelioma and was cremated at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory.

Works with

Who Thomas Mitchell Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Thomas Mitchell shares the most films with. Frank Capra comes first, with 7 films together, followed by Bette Davis (6).

FAQ

Thomas Mitchell: Questions & Answers

How many movies Thomas Mitchell has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Thomas Mitchell been in?

Thomas Mitchell is credited on 70 films, from 1936 to 2025. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Thomas Mitchell's highest-grossing movie?

PCU (1994) is Thomas Mitchell's biggest box office hit, with $4.33M worldwide, ahead of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) ($146K). Across every film with box office figures, Thomas Mitchell's movies have made $4.5M.

Thomas Mitchell's biggest hits

What is the best Thomas Mitchell movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Thomas Mitchell's best-rated film is Goalie (2019) with a score of 79.

Best Thomas Mitchell movies, ranked

Has Thomas Mitchell won an Oscar?

Thomas Mitchell has won an Oscar: Best Supporting Actor for Stagecoach at the 1940 ceremony. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Thomas Mitchell has 1 win from 1 nomination.

What is Thomas Mitchell's newest movie?

The most recent film on Thomas Mitchell's filmography is Drive Back Home (2025), in the role of Desk Sergeant.

Who does Thomas Mitchell work with most often?

Thomas Mitchell shares the most films with Frank Capra (7 films), Bette Davis (6 films) and Claude Rains (6 films).

The Best Thomas Mitchell Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 70 credits.

See the ranking

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