Skip to content
Join free
James Flavin
Actor

James Flavin

14 May 1906Born
23 Apr 1976Died
69Age at death
322Credits

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.

Read the full biography

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.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 322 credits.

  1. 2005The Lost Spider Pit SequenceFilm: Second Mate Briggs (archive footage)
  2. 1976Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy IncidentFilm: President Dwight D. Eisenhower
  3. 1976Law and OrderFilm: Capt. Toomey
  4. 1969The Brady BunchSeries (1 episode)
  5. 1968It Takes a ThiefSeries: Gen. Levin (2 episodes)
  6. 1967In Cold BloodFilm: Clarence Duntz
  7. 1967Good TimesFilm: Lieutenant
  8. 1966The Pruitts of SouthamptonSeries (1 episode)
  9. 1965The Further Adventures of GallegherFilm: Lt. Flynn
  10. 1964Cheyenne AutumnFilm: Ft. Robinson Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited)
  11. 1964The Addams FamilySeries: Lt. Poston (1 episode)
  12. 1963It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldFilm: Patrolman (uncredited)
  13. 1963Mr. NovakSeries: Fire Chief Hawkins (1 episode)
  14. 1963Burke's LawSeries: Officer Danny Robin (1 episode)
  15. 1963Critic's ChoiceFilm: Security Guard (uncredited)
  16. 1962The Lucy ShowSeries: Sergeant Wilcox (2 episodes)
  17. 1962Sam BenedictSeries (1 episode)
  18. 1961The New BreedSeries: Moose (1 episode)
  19. 1961Dr. KildareSeries: John Dolan (2 episodes)
  20. 1961Cain's HundredSeries: Arnie Kellwin (1 episode)
  21. 1961Mister EdSeries (7 episodes)
  22. 1960The Roaring 20'sSeries: Robert Howard (14 episodes)
  23. 1960Surfside 6Series (1 episode)
  24. 1960Pete and GladysSeries (2 episodes)
  25. 1960Coronado 9Series (1 episode)
  26. 1960Johnny MidnightSeries (1 episode)
  27. 1959The Twilight ZoneSeries: 1962 Policeman, Truck Driver (1 episode)
  28. 1958The Last HurrahFilm: Police Capt. Michael J. Shanahan (uncredited)
  29. 1958Johnny RoccoFilm: Mooney
  30. 1958Man with a CameraSeries (29 episodes)
  31. 1958The RiflemanSeries (1 episode)
  32. 1957Wild Is the WindFilm: Wool Buyer
  33. 1957Alcoa TheatreSeries: Gavin Marshall (1 episode)
  34. 1957Night PassageFilm: Tim Riley
  35. 1957Richard Diamond, Private DetectiveSeries: Sam Cooper (1 episode)
  36. 1957The Restless BreedFilm: Secret Service Chief
  37. 1957Footsteps in the NightFilm: Mr. Bradbury
  38. 1957Hold That HypnotistFilm: Jake Morgan
  39. 1957The Wings of EaglesFilm: MP at Garden Party (uncredited)
  40. 1956State TrooperSeries: Police Capt. Daniel Box (1 episode)
  41. 1956Francis in the Haunted HouseFilm: Police Chief Martin
  42. 1956Never Say GoodbyeFilm: Timmy
  43. 1955Matinee TheaterSeries (1 episode)
  44. 1955Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSeries: Joe Felix, Tony - The Doorman, Dan (1 episode)
  45. 1955Navy LogSeries: Col. Flynn (2 episodes)
  46. 1955Apache AmbushFilm: Col. Marshall
  47. 1955The Naked StreetFilm: Attorney Michael X. Flanders
  48. 1955Mister RobertsFilm: Military Policeman
  49. 1955The MillionaireSeries: Dan Mulcahy (1 episode)
  50. 1954Climax!Series: Hogan (1 episode)
  51. 1954December BrideSeries (2 episodes)
  52. 1954Return of the DeadFilm: Judd Harrison
  53. 1954Massacre CanyonFilm: Col. Tarant
  54. 1954Dragonfly SquadronFilm: Doctor
  55. 1954Public DefenderSeries (1 episode)
  56. 1953The Eddie Cantor StoryFilm: Kelly
  57. 1953Fighter AttackFilm: Col. Allison
  58. 1953Hot NewsFilm: Al Bragg
  59. 1953Letter to LorettaSeries: MacNamara, Deputy Mason, Sgt. Danny Doofle (1 episode)
  60. 1953City DetectiveSeries (1 episode)
  61. 1953Abbott and Costello Go to MarsFilm: First Policeman in Bank
  62. 1953Trouble Along the WayFilm: Coach Buck Holman
  63. 1953I Beheld His GloryFilm: Longinus
  64. 1953Confidentially ConnieFilm: Harry (uncredited)
  65. 1953General Electric TheaterSeries: Callahan (1 episode)
  66. 1953Star of TexasFilm: Texas Rangers Capt. Sturdivant
  67. 1952The Abbott and Costello ShowSeries: Joe Kelly (1 episode)
  68. 1952Million Dollar MermaidFilm: Conductor
  69. 1952Cavalcade of AmericaSeries (2 episodes)
  70. 1952Death Valley DaysSeries: Perry (1 episode)
  71. 1952Four Star PlayhouseSeries: Mr. Swanson (1 episode)
  72. 1952O. Henry's Full HouseFilm: Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem") (uncredited)
  73. 1952CarrieFilm: Mike - Bartender (uncredited)
  74. 1952Here Come the MarinesFilm: Lieutenant-Colonel at End
  75. 1952Sailor BewareFilm: Petty Officer (uncredited)
  76. 1952As We ForgiveFilm
  77. 1952Dangerous AssignmentSeries (2 episodes)
  78. 1951Hallmark Hall of FameSeries: Captain Kimble, General Charles Lee (1 episode)
  79. 1951Come Fill the CupFilm: Russ - Homicide Captain (uncredited)
  80. 1951I Love LucySeries: Immigration Officer (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.