James Flavin
Acting
Biography
American character actor whose career lasted nearly half a century. James Wilson Flavin Jr. was the son of a hotel waiter of Canadian-English extraction and a mother, Katherine, whose father was an Irish immigrant. (Thus Flavin, well-known in Hollywood as an "Irish" type, was only one-quarter Irish.) Flavin was born and raised in Portland, Maine (a fact that may have enrichened his later working relationship with director John Ford, also a Portland native). He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, but (contrary to some sources) did not graduate. Instead he dropped out and returned to Portland where he drove a taxi. Then as now, summer stock companies flocked to Maine each year, and in 1929 he was asked to fill in for an actor. He did well with the part and the company manager offered him $150 per week to go with the troupe back to New York. Flavin accepted and by the spring of 1930 was living in a rooming house at 108 W. 87th Street in Manhattan. Flavin didn't manage to crack Broadway at this time (his Broadway debut would not occur for another thirty-nine years, in the 1971 revival of "The Front Page," in which Flavin played Murphy and briefly took over the lead role of Walter Burns from star Robert Ryan). He worked his way across the country in stock productions and tours, arriving in Los Angeles around 1932. He quickly made the transition to movies, landing the lead in his very first film, a Universal serial, The Airmail Mystery (1932). He also landed his leading lady, marrying the serial's female star Lucile Browne that same year. However, the serial marked virtually the last time that Flavin would play the lead in a film. Thereafter, he was restricted almost exclusively to supporting characters, many of them without so much as a name. He specialized in uniformed cops and hard-bitten detectives, but played chauffeurs, cabbies, and even a 16th-century palace guard with aplomb. Flavin appeared in nearly four hundred films between 1932 and 1971, and in almost a hundred television episodes before his final appearance, as President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident (1976). Flavin died of a heart ailment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on April 23, 1976. His widow Lucile died seventeen days later. They were survived by their son, William James Flavin, subsequently a professor at the United States Army War College. James and Lucile Brown Flavin were buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Born: May 14, 1906
Place of Birth: Portland, Maine, USA
Known For
New York Town
Victor Ballard, a happy-go-lucky albeit impoverished sidewalk photographer, shares a New York City studio apartment with Polish immigrant painter Stefan Janowski. The big city doles out joy and misery indiscriminately: In the apartment below Victor and Steve, Gus Nelson learns that his wife has given birth to quintuplets, while the lonely tenant in the apartment below Gus has given up on life and committed suicide.
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The longest-running primetime series in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning during 1951 and continuing into 2013. From 1954 onward, all of its productions have been shown in color, although color television video productions were extremely rare in 1954. Many television movies have been shown on the program since its debut, though the program began with live telecasts of dramas and then changed to videotaped productions before finally changing to filmed ones. The series has received eighty Emmy Awards, twenty-four Christopher Awards, eleven Peabody Awards, nine Golden Globes, and four Humanitas Prizes. Once a common practice in American television, it is the last remaining television program such that the title includes the name of the sponsor. Unlike other long-running TV series still on the air, it differs in that it broadcasts only occasionally and not on a weekly broadcast programming schedule.
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The longest-running primetime series in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning during 1951 and continuing into 2013. From 1954 onward, all of its productions have been shown in color, although color television video productions were extremely rare in 1954. Many television movies have been shown on the program since its debut, though the program began with live telecasts of dramas and then changed to videotaped productions before finally changing to filmed ones. The series has received eighty Emmy Awards, twenty-four Christopher Awards, eleven Peabody Awards, nine Golden Globes, and four Humanitas Prizes. Once a common practice in American television, it is the last remaining television program such that the title includes the name of the sponsor. Unlike other long-running TV series still on the air, it differs in that it broadcasts only occasionally and not on a weekly broadcast programming schedule.
The Twilight Zone
An anthology series containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and/or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist.
The Twilight Zone
An anthology series containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and/or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist.
The Addams Family
A satirical inversion of the ideal of the perfect American nuclear family, they are an eccentric wealthy family who delight in everything grotesque and macabre, and are never really aware that people find them bizarre or frightening. In fact, they themselves are often terrified by "normal" people.
I Love Lucy
Cuban Bandleader Ricky Ricardo would be happy if his wife Lucy would just be a housewife. Instead she tries constantly to perform at the Tropicana where he works, and make life comically frantic in the apartment building they share with landlords Fred and Ethel Mertz, who also happen to be their best friends.
The Grapes of Wrath
Tom Joad returns to his home after a jail sentence to find his family kicked out of their farm due to foreclosure. He catches up with them on his Uncle’s farm, and joins them the next day as they head for California and a new life... Hopefully.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
A television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock featuring dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
A television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock featuring dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.
Filmography
as Second Mate Briggs (archive footage)
as President Dwight D. Eisenhower
as Capt. Toomey
as Clarence Duntz
as Lieutenant
as Lt. Flynn
as Ft. Robinson Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited)
as Lt. Poston
as Patrolman (uncredited)
as Fire Chief Hawkins
as Officer Danny Robin
as Security Guard (uncredited)
as Sergeant Wilcox
as Moose
as John Dolan
as Arnie Kellwin
as 1962 Policeman
as Truck Driver
as Police Capt. Michael J. Shanahan (uncredited)
as Mooney
as Wool Buyer
as Gavin Marshall
as Tim Riley
as Sam Cooper
as Secret Service Chief
as Mr. Bradbury
as Jake Morgan
as Police Chief Martin
as Timmy
as Joe Felix
as Tony - The Doorman
as Col. Marshall
as Attorney Michael X. Flanders
as Military Policeman
as Dan Mulcahy
as Hogan
as Judd Harrison
as Col. Tarant
as Doctor
as Kelly
as Col. Allison
as Al Bragg
as MacNamara
as Sgt. Danny Doofle
as Deputy Mason
as First Policeman in Bank
as Coach Buck Holman
as Longinus
as Harry (uncredited)
as Callahan
as Texas Rangers Capt. Sturdivant
as Joe Kelly
as Conductor
as Perry
as Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem") (uncredited)
as Mike - Bartender (uncredited)
as Lieutenant-Colonel at End
as Petty Officer (uncredited)
as Captain Kimble
as General Charles Lee
as Russ - Homicide Captain (uncredited)
as Immigration Officer
as O'Leary, Manhattan Police Chief (uncredited)
as Commander Rogers
as Henry Gibbs
as Prosecuting Attorney
as Capt. Worth
as SP Commander
as Longinus
as Andrews
as Police Lt. Brewster
as Lt. Phillips
as Guard
as Railroad Workman
as Gen. Brevort (uncredited)
as Secret Service Chief
as Guard Capt. Peter Butler
as Police Sergeant Briggs
as Brophy
as Schultz
as Stan Caldwell
as Insp. Wellman
as Det. Lt. Boylan
as Policeman in Park (Uncredited)
as Lt. Sam Wilson
as Sergeant Major
as Kerrigan
as Sgt. Oliphant
as Police Inspector Thorndyke
as Traffic Cop (uncredited)
as Lieutenant Mitchell
as Guard (uncredited)
as Villager (uncredited)
as Hoatley / First Carnival Owner (uncredited)
as Policeman
as Policeman Reardon (uncredited)
as Pat Johnson
as Captain Danforth
as Police Sergeant Patella
as First Policeman (uncredited)
as Det. Lt. 'Mac' Hennessey (uncredited)
as District Attorney
as Shake Thomas
as Col. Walsh
as Dan Bellamy
as Woods
as Police Detective #1
as Police Insp. Cardona
as Joe
as Turnkey (uncredited)
as Policeman (uncredited)
as Investigator (uncredited)
as Detective Sgt. McFarland (uncredited)
as Subway Conductor (Uncredited)
as Chief Bosun Mate Gurney
as Officer Johnny Tracy
as Laundry Truck Driver (uncredited)
as Flavin, Mate of the Quincy (uncredited)
as Detective (uncredited)
as H.R. Jarvis
as Radio Cop
as Captain (uncredited)
as Police Officer (uncredited)
as Guard
as Major at Kweilin Airbase (uncredited)
as Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
as Det. McEveety (uncredited)
as Bank Security Guard (Uncredited)
as Sgt. Wiggins
as Man in Subway (uncredited)
as Policeman (uncredited)
as Captain of Mobile Guard
as Train Conductor
as Radio Policeman (Uncredited)
as 1st Lt. Bill Gardner
as Policeman (uncredited)
as Cmdr. Kalin
as Captain O'Brien (Uncredited)
as Federal Agent (uncredited)
as Policeman (uncredited)
as Merchant Marine School Lieutenant-Commander (uncredited)
as American Senator (uncredited)
as Maj. A.M. Bagley
as Policeman
as Cop (uncredited)
as Policeman
as George Corbett (uncredited)
as Egan (uncredited)
as Capt. Luddy
as Thomas
as Process Server
as Doorman (uncredited)
as Motorcycle Cop (voice) (uncredited)
as Police Lieutenant Schaeffer
as Keenan - Detective Grilling Eddie (uncredited)
as Girl's Father (uncredited)
as Joe Trosper
as Police Dispatcher
as Hotel Guest in Room 625 (uncredited)
as Moving Man
as Policeman Kelly
as Railroad Detective #2 (uncredited)
as Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
as Detective (uncredited)
as Abilene Fight Announcer
as Immigration Guard (uncredited)
as Police Lt. Bardette
as Sergeant
as Orderly About to Give Bath (uncredited)
as Tomassetti
as Buck (uncredited)
as Officer Johnson
as Sheriff Bud Connolly (uncredited)
as Sheriff Bud Connolly
as Ticket Inspector on Boat (uncredited)
as Deputy Sheriff
as Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
as Policeman (uncredited)
as Demolition Man (uncredited)
as Army Sergeant (uncredited)
as Buck Miller
as Dock Policeman
as Dowling
as Mountie
as Army Assistant Coach (uncredited)
as Detective
as Detective
as Annabella's Brother
as Cop (uncredited)
as Cafe Customer
as Truck Driver
as Policeman
as Doorman (uncredited)
as Ranch Foreman
as Third FBI Director
as Hotel Porter (uncredited)
as Parking Attendant at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
as Policeman
as Grogin
as Det. Carvin
as Storm Swenson
as Prison Guard In Library (uncredited)
as Roaring 90's Club Doorman (uncredited)
as McRafferty
as Guard (uncredited)
as Guard
as Patrolman Johnson
as Death Row Guard (uncredited)
as Clancy (uncredited)
as Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
as Court Attendant (uncredited)
as Sergeant
as Policeman
as Policeman (uncredited)
as Policeman Guarding Entrance (uncredited)
as Fluger
as Policeman (uncredited)
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
as Coard Guard Man on Road (uncredited)
as Officer (uncredited)
as Police Sgt. Jerry
as Sanders
as Officer Simmons (uncredited)
as Turnkey
as Paddy (uncredited)
as Guard (uncredited)
as George Mitchell
as Doorman
as Police Interrogator
as Police Announcer (uncredited)
as Doorman (uncredited)
as Cavalry Captain (uncredited)
as Plebe Hockey Coach
as 2nd Cop
as Detective Sgt. Berkovich
as Policeman in Accident Car (uncredited)
as Justice Department Agent
as Young Reporter (uncredited)
as Jack's Friend (uncredited)
as Jailer (uncredited)
as George - Witness (uncredited)
as Guard
as Jenks - Chauffeur (uncredited)
as Army Captain (uncredited)
as Pilot (uncredited)
as Cop (uncredited)
as Gas Station Attendant
as Kidnapper
as Striker (uncredited)
as Burly Man (Uncredited)
as Detective Hayes
as State Trooper
as Marine Who Likes Painting (uncredited)
as Policeman (uncredited)
as Driver
as Dr. Spitzy Calahan (uncredited)
as Det. Bill O'Malley
as Detective
as Bill Seaver
as Detective McCormick
as State Trooper (uncredited)
as Cab Driver
as Policeman
as Policeman
as Detective (uncredited)
as Detective
as Man in Manhole (uncredited)
as Ed
as 2st Military Policeman (uncredited)
as Lieutenant (uncredited)
as Agent Arresting Julie (uncredited)
as Chauffeur (uncredited)
as Mac - Policeman (uncredited)
as Informant on Telephone
as Policeman at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)
as Flavin - Federal Agent (uncredited)
as Detective
as Agent with Jean (uncredited)
as Policeman
as Freighter Officer
as Brandhma
as Holt Larkins
as Palace Guard (uncredited)
as Flannigan
as Detective (uncredited)
as Bill Figg
as Wilcox
as Billy (Uncredited)
as Frank Busch
as Det. Mack McCue
as Fireman
as Mate Briggs
as Don Lindsay
as First Mate on Yacht (uncredited)
as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
as Corporal Randall McKenna
as Reporter (uncredited)
as Bob Lee